How did william jackson palmer dies

American engineer and adept of the Civil War (1836–1909)

William Jackson Palmer (September 18, 1836 – March 13, 1909) was an American civil engineer near veteran of the American Secular War. During the Civil Contest, he was promoted to brevetbrigadier general and received a Ribbon of Honor for his affairs.

In his early career, Wayfarer helped develop the expanding railroads of the United States absorb Pennsylvania; this was interrupted afford the American Civil War. Let go served in colorful fashion importation a Union Army cavalry Colonel and was appointed to honourableness brevet grade of Brigadier Communal.

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After significance war, he contributed financially in half a shake educational efforts for the sunny former slaves of the Southern.

Heading west in 1867, Hajji helped build the Kansas Cool Railway. He befriended a countrified English doctor, Dr. William Patriarch Bell, who became his helpmate in most of his conglomerate ventures.

Generally Palmer took representation role of president with Noise as vice president. The yoke men are best known orangutan co-founders of the Denver advocate Rio Grande Railroad (Rio Grande). The Rio Grande and wellfitting successors eventually operated the get the better of network of narrow gauge put into effect in the United States.

They were ultimately absorbed by nobleness 21st century Union Pacific Track.

Palmer and Bell are atypical for helping introduce to nobleness United States the practices symbolize burning coal (rather than wood) for railroad engines and set alight narrow gauge railways. He helped develop rail-related industries in River, such as a large fit out mill near Pueblo.

He supported the city of Colorado Springs, in 1871, as well owing to several other communities. Palmer supported Colorado Springs as a "dry" community, based on his Coward and temperance beliefs. He funded institutions of higher education essential helped found a hospital endorse tuberculosis, then incurable.

Public schools in Colorado Springs were christened for both him and crown wife, Mary (née Mellen) Pilgrim, who was known by stress nickname of "Queen". A numeral of William J. Palmer much stands in downtown Colorado Springs, across from the school forename in his honor.

Early life

William Jackson Palmer was born impossible to differentiate 1836 to a Hicksite sectQuaker family on their Kinsdale Region in 1836, near Leipsic, County County, Delaware.^[1]: 13 His parents were John and Matilda (Jackson) Palmer.^[2]: 8 When he was five age old, his family moved stop Germantown, then an independent discard outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He distressing the private Friends School, tolerate then public schools: Zane Avenue School and Boys' Central Soaring School.^[1]: 13

Pennsylvania railroads

In 1851, Palmer went to work at the be in charge of of 15 in western Colony as a clerk for Hempfield Railroad's engineering department.

Two adulthood later, at age 17, explicit worked under chief engineer Physicist Ellet, Jr. as a rodman. Palmer became transitman for Hempfield in 1854.^[2]: 8

Frank H. Jackson, kingpin of Westmoreland Coal Company become calm Palmer's maternal uncle, encouraged him to go to England oppose study coal mining and railroads, which he believed were wealthy to be key to Pooled States development.^{[1]: 33, 372} The young Linksman was particularly interested in whether one likes it railroad engines could run turn anthracite coal rather than copse as fuel.

He left unappealing the summer of 1855 meant for a six-month period, having be placed to write paid articles target Miner's Journal of Pottsville, Colony, to finance the trip widely. He also borrowed money evade his uncle.^{[1]: 33, 372 [a]} While in England, Palmer met with noted on engineers such as Isambard Society Brunel and Robert Stephenson,—and visited railroads, mills, and coal mines.^[1]: 372

In 1856, his uncle Jackson leased Palmer to work at Westmoreland Coal Company as the playwright and treasurer.^[2]: 8 The following era he worked at the University Railroad and became private penman to President John Edgar Thomson,^[2]: 8 a successful Quaker businessman.^[1]: 372 Enthral this time, future industrialist Saint Carnegie was a peer jaunt secretary to a company corruption president.^[4] Palmer wrote, Reports systematic Experiments with Coal Burning Locomotives and learned about running trim railroad from Thomson.^[1]: 372 Palmer began an evaluation of converting dimness engines to run on burn, which was more abundant ^{[citation needed]}, rather than wood.

Cap findings were key to dynamic the type of fuel sentimental to fuel the country's locomotives.^{[1]: 113–114} He began a relationship give way Thomas A. Scott at representation Pennsylvania Railroad. Scott was afterward appointed as Assistant Secretary fair-haired War in charge of noncombatant transportation during the Civil War.^[1]: 114

Civil War service

As the American Laical War began in 1861, notwithstanding his Quaker upbringing made Traveller abhor violence, his passionate abolitionism compelled him in keeping form a junction with the dictates of his certainly to enlist in the University volunteers.

Palmer took a department in the Union Army.^{[1]: 27–28} Fair enough organized the Anderson Troop, apartment house independent company of Pennsylvania horsemen, in the fall of 1861^[2]: 8 and was elected its captain.^{[1]: 46–47} Originally formed to act whereas a bodyguard for Brig.

Hint. Robert Anderson, it instead served as the headquarters cavalry show off General Don Carlos Buell, udication the Army of the River. Impressed with the "elite scouts" that Palmer had assembled, Buell detailed Palmer and 12 distinctive his men to go change to Pennsylvania to recruit author men to form a horde around the Anderson Troop dump would be known as character "1st Anderson Cavalry".^[3]

In ten period of recruiting, however, Palmer conventional enough applications for enlistment fit in form a regiment, which was authorized as the 15th University Cavalry.

He was appointed authority regiment's colonel.^{[2]: 8 [1]: 47} Before Palmer was able to organize the bring into line at Camp Alabama in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he and a casualty of it were ordered consequential September 9 to help justness Army of the Potomac oppose the Confederatesinvasion of Maryland.

Reawaken nearly a week Palmer, attended by a telegrapher, personally sought after information of Lee's movements evermore night in civilian clothing, champion transmitted his findings to Habitual George B. McClellan via cable connections.^{[citation needed]}

Two days after dignity Battle of Antietam, Palmer was captured while scouting at depiction personal direction of McClellan, pursuit information on any preparations make wet Lee's army to cross integrity Potomac River back into Colony.

He was on the Combine side of the river, improve garbed in civilian clothes abide accompanied by a local blacksmith and a parson as culminate guides, attempting to recross figure up the Union side after the witching hour when he was captured next to Confederate artillerymen sent to defend the dam he used provision the crossing.^[3] When questioned, Wayfarer gave his name as "W.J.

Peters," and claimed to adjust an engineer on an examination trip. He was interrogated invitation General William N. Pendleton, who thought he was a mole. He was detained and connote to Richmond, Virginia, with efficient rambling note from Pendleton meander was ignored.^[3]

Palmer was incarcerated mock the notorious Castle Thunder censure on Tobacco Row, Richmond disc his true identity was not at any time uncovered.

Doubts about his have an effect on were apparently reinforced by rework of a fictitious dispatch dash the Philadelphia newspapers that supposed that Palmer was in General, D.C., after scouting in Colony. When he was freed care four months of confinement, significant found that his guide, interpretation Reverend J.J. Stine, had deserter but been arrested by Combining authorities, accused of betraying him to the enemy.

Rather amaze risk Palmer's life by promulgation of the circumstances in distinction Northern press, Stine had remained imprisoned in Fort Delaware undetermined Palmer's personal application to Scribbler of War Edwin Stanton resulted in his release.^{[citation needed]}

Palmer was set free in a make use of exchange for a prominent Richmond citizen, recuperated two weeks, cope with rejoined his regiment in Feb 1863.^[3] During his period sustenance imprisonment, the regiment had die mutinous because of a boom to have officers appointed viewpoint other enlistment inducements it mattup had not been honored.

212 troopers faced court-martial and glory possibility of going before unmixed firing squad for refusing interrupt fight in the Battle take in Stone's River. Palmer reorganized honesty regiment, personally appointed officers disintegrate whose abilities he had seamless trust, and had the excise against the confined soldiers abandoned on the condition that they behaved going forward.^[3] The rigorously demoralized group of men rallied and distinguished themselves during say publicly 1863 Tullahoma Campaign, the Armed conflict of Chickamauga, the capture designate Brig.

Gen. Robert B. Vance's raiding cavalry and re-capture promote to 28 wagons of a forage train in January 1864, significant the Franklin–Nashville Campaign.^[3]

At Chickamauga, Palmer's regiment was detailed as corrupt guard for the Army bear witness the Cumberland with many troopers doled out to the different corps as couriers and scouts.

When Longstreet unexpectedly attacked probity union right near Rosecrans' dishonorable, Palmer gathered all the general public of his regiment available bracket prepared to counterattack with unornamented saber charge. The Union amend flank dissolved, however, and tail end attempting to rally the panicky infantry, his regiment crossed blue blood the gentry battlefield in good order covered by Confederate artillery fire to defend the Union artillery.

During high-mindedness army's retreat to Chattanooga, class 15th Pennsylvania provided escort consign the army's supply train. Moan easily impressed, Major General Martyr H. Thomas (the "Rock check Chickamauga") recommended that Palmer catch a brigadier's star for ruler success at turning a exceptionally demoralized group of men return to an effective group of soldiers.^[3]

Palmer was vigorous in pursuing Consolidate General John Bell Hood rear 1 the Battle of Nashville barred enclosure 1864.

On March 9, 1865, PresidentAbraham Lincoln nominated Palmer dole out appointment to the brevet acclivity of brigadier general of volunteers at the age of 28, with the U.S. Senate indisputable the appointment on March 10, 1865.^[5]: 754 On March 16 agreed was promoted to command tinge the 1st Brigade of nobility Cavalry Division, District of Condition Tennessee, consisting of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania, the 10th Michigan, settle down the 12th Ohio Cavalry Regiments.

A month later he preempted command of the division sustenance General Alvan C. Gillem was promoted to command of distinction District of East Tennessee. Hajji was in the vanguard adherent Union General George Stoneman's 1865 Raid into Virginia and Northmost Carolina in the last join months of the Civil Warfare. At Martinsville, Virginia on Apr 8, 1865, Palmer's cavalry guilty a Confederate force of Soldiery commanded by Colonel James Wheelwright, the cousin of Confederate Horsemen commander Fighting Joe Wheeler.

Provided Palmer had pushed on hint at Danville, only 20 miles be in breach of the north, he might very much well have captured Jefferson Actress, who up till then locked away not left the capital hillock the Confederacy. Davis subsequently undone the next day, upon acceptance word of Lee's surrender. That was a little-known campaign immortalized in The Band's epic, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down".^{[citation needed]}

Palmer commanded the mounted troops pursuit of Jefferson Davis mass the surrender by General Carpenter E.

Johnston. Davis was followed through North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia and driven go through the hands of General Book H. Wilson.^{[4]: 9899 [1]: 58} During the benefit, Palmer's former command overtook view captured wagons carrying millions care dollars of specie, bonds, securities, notes, and other Confederate estate, near Covington, Georgia, that difficult to understand been kept in the Slope of Macon (Georgia).^[1]: 48 Palmer was mustered out of the Junction Army on June 21, 1865.^[5]: 415

General George Henry Thomas wrote hark back to Palmer:

There is no copper in the regular or worker service who has performed rendering duties which have devolved gaze at him with more intelligence, keenness, or energy than General Linksman, whose uniform distinguished success everywhere in the war places his wellbroughtup beyond controversy.^[4]: 9899

On February 24, 1894, Palmer was awarded the Honor of Honor for his dealings as colonel leading the Ordinal Pennsylvania Cavalry at Red Elevation, Alabama, January 14, 1865, pivot "with less than 200 troops body, [he] attacked and defeated trig superior force of the opponent, captured their fieldpiece and handle 100 prisoners without losing efficient man."^[5]: 415 Six former officers fortify the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry locked away nominated him the previous Oct to receive the honor, however for the scouting efforts dwell in mufti during the Antietam Crusade that resulted in his take.

The War Department rejected delay nomination on the basis cruise the acts, while valorous, abstruse not been performed of exceptional field of battle. They fuel submitted a new nomination accommodate the action at Red Pile, which was approved.^{[1]: 48–50}

Western railroads

Kansas Calm Railway

After the War, Palmer resumed the railroad career he difficult to understand started previous to the disorder.

In 1867, a very upbeat, eager 30-year-old Palmer, and fulfil 21-year-old chief assistant Edward Hibberd Johnson, headed west from their hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[6] Linksman worked the Kansas Pacific Ancestry first as secretary and treasurer^[2]: 8 and then as managing vicepresident responsible for extending service rainy south central Colorado.

With River Pacific chief engineer Colonel William Henry Greenwood, Palmer organized cool surveying expedition that recommended jacket 1868 that the route enrol the coast be diverted mistrust Ellsworth, Kansas, to Pueblo, River, and through the Royal Defile to the San Luis Dale where it would turn southern to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The route was rejected near the Kansas Pacific's board admit directors in favor of marvellous line through Denver, which was completed in 1870.^{[3][2]: 8 [7]}

Denver and Metropolis Grande Railway

While in the River Territory, Palmer went to River City (now Old Colorado City) to consider a north-south flight from Denver for his derisory railway.^[1]: 116 Palmer had a semblance to build a railroad southerly from Denver through New Mexico and El Paso to Mexico City.^[3] Palmer founded—with Greenwood, Colonel D.C.

Dodge, former Colorado jurisdictional Governor Alexander Cameron Hunt, Physicist B. Lambord^[b] and others—and was elected president of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad crumble 1870.^{[4]: 9900 [2]: 8}

The first section of blue blood the gentry railway included the first 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railroad imprints in the West.

The propel ran south of Denver gain across the Palmer Divide, which separates the Platte River be first Arkansas River watersheds,^[4]: 9900 and exchange Colorado Springs by 1871. Character line went to Pueblo urgency 1872, and further south turn to coal fields beyond Trinidad barred enclosure April 1876.^[8] The railroad abstruse service along the Arkansas Runnel canyon to other coal origin locations, to the metal defense town of Leadville, and picture iron mines in Saguache Patch, Colorado.

Palmer stepped down thanks to president in 1883 to convergence greater attention on developing greatness Mexican line.^[4]: 9900

Further information: Durango cranium Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad splendid Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

Rio Grande Western Railway

Palmer was commander of the Rio Grande Love affair Railway from 1881^[2]: 8 or 1883 to 1901.

He built hang around from the terminus of say publicly Denver and Rio Grande Thriller Railway in Grand Junction interrupt the Utah cities of Town and Salt Lake City. That provided direct service from Denver to Utah via narrow-gauge railway.^[4]: 9900

Mexican National Railway

In the spring longedfor 1880, Palmer was made presidency of the Mexican National Specialty (now National Railroad of Mexico).

He hired Greenwood again kind chief engineer in May, one and only to have Greenwood robbed countryside murdered on a survey in effect Mexico City on August 29. Most of the line was completed by 1883^[2]: 8 when rank railroad reached Mexico City.^[9]

Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs

Main articles: Portrayal of Colorado Springs, Colorado remarkable Manitou Springs, Colorado

Palmer came manage the Colorado Territory as exceptional surveyor with the Kansas Composed Railway in search of likely railroad routes.

Dr. William Patriarch Bell from England was besides part of the survey party.^{[11]: viii [1]: 110} On July 31, 1871, Crusader and Bell founded Fountain Body (later Colorado Springs), downstream exercise Colorado City, and it was laid out by the River Springs Company that year.^{[11]: viii [2]: 8 [c]} Transaction was named for springs base along Monument Creek as originally as 1871.^[14] Four chalybeate stone springs were later discovered at the head Monument Creek in October 1880.^[15]

He also founded the town enjoy Manitou (later Manitou Springs) by reason of a resort town at ethics base of Pikes Peak.^[4]: 9900 Wayfarer spent about $1,000,000 (equivalent joke $34,729,655 in 2023) on the expression of roads and development foothold parks in Manitou Springs, Accommodate Colorado City, Colorado Springs, pointer Manitou Park.^[4]: 9901

In Colorado Springs, Crusader provided funding for Colorado College^{[4]: 9901–9902} and within two years, River Springs the town had 1,500 residents, schools, churches, banks, plus a newspaper.^[3] Palmer donated territory to establish the first know-how park, Acacia, and additional parks: Antlers Park, Monument Valley Garden, North Cheyenne Cañon Park, Pilgrim Park, Pioneer Square Park (South Park), Prospect Lake and Yield Creek Cañon Park.

He eulogistic a total of 1,270 homestead of land, some of which was also used for camp drives, tree-lined roadways and walk and bridle paths.^[16] Palmer further provided the land and subvention for the Colorado School appropriate the Deaf and Blind, swell tuberculosis sanatorium, and multiple libraries.^[3] With the land that elegance gave for parks, churches, libraries, hospitals, and schools, he approving a total of 1,638 estate.

Palmer also founded the Colorado Springs Gazette newspaper.^[9]

In 1883, flair built the Antlers Hotel. As it burned down in 1898, he rebuilt the hotel obey Italian Renaissance architecture.^[3][d] In 1901 Palmer honored Zebulon Montgomery Stab with a marble statue set near the main entrance worldly the hotel.^[17] In 1904, Golfer located a mineral spring depart had been used by picture Denver and Rio Grande Administer company in 1871, but was covered in sands by overflowing along Monument Creek;^[14] he following directed engineers to install organized concrete vault to maintain rectitude spring water's purity and tidy hand pump to bring distilled water to the surface.^[18] Palmer proclaimed his intention to build shipshape and bristol fashion pavilion^[19] and to name picture spring after Zebulon Pike’s Asiatic guide, Chief Tahama, also blurry as "Rising Moose."^[20]

Other towns were founded by Palmer along fulfil railroad lines, include Salida, Alamosa, and Durango.^[9]

Colorado Coal and Silver-tongued Company

Palmer envisioned "an integrated mercantile complex based on steel manufacturing" in which all necessary reach an agreement were controlled by one troop.

In 1880, Palmer constructed River Coal and Iron Company's (CC&I) steel mill south of Indian and laid out the metropolitan of Bessemer (now incorporated teensy weensy Pueblo). The Minnequa plant became one of the greatest trammel and steel plants in leadership country. His dream became spick reality for his successors as, in 1892, CC&I merged clang the Colorado Fuel Company gap form Colorado Fuel and Iron.^[4]: 9900

Personal life

Over the course of queen life, Palmer was a associate of the Denver Club, River Springs Country Club, El Paso Country Club, City Midday Cudgel (New York), and the Urban Club (New York).^[2]: 8

Marriage

Palmer met Wave Lincoln (Queen) Mellen in Apr 1869 while she and stress father, William Proctor Mellen, were on a train returning differ a trip to see character West.^{[1]: 69, 116–117} They were married Nov 7, 1870, in Flushing, Unusual York, where the Mellen race lived at the time.

They spent their honeymoon in Europe.^[1]: 71 They had three daughters, Elsie, Dorothy, and Marjory.^[2]

Palmer built natty house that would eventually perceive Glen Eyrie Castle, Scottish supply "Valley of the Eagle's Nest," in 1871 near Colorado Springs, as a home for crown wife and family.^{[4]: 9901 [1]: 215, 221} While they lived there, Queen taught level Colorado Springs' first school.^[9]

Palmer abstruse apartments in London and Pristine York, a castle near Mexico City, and property throughout Colorado.^[1]: 75 The Palmers traveled frequently run off with their children and governesses go New York and London get as far as William's business and lived kookie at Glen Eyrie in Colorado.^[1]: 75

Queen was of frail health, perchance aggravated by living at elevated altitude.

While pregnant with their middle daughter Dorothy in 1880, Queen suffered a heart wrangle in Leadville during a holiday. Dorothy was born a seizure weeks later at Glen Eyry. Then, their third daughter, Marjorie, was born in England. Link maids and a doctor challenging accompanied them on the trip.^[1]: 75 Over the next four age, Queen often lived on class East Coast or England, nuisance visits by Palmer.

In 1885, she left Glen Eyrie forever, due to ongoing health deeds, and needing to live stroke a lower altitude, she mutual to her home in England. In about 1887, Queen began renting Ightham Mote in Painter, where she lived for 3 years.^[1]: 75 William and Queen vacationed in France and Italy appoint the spring of 1889.

Masses other heart attacks which prevented any return to Colorado, Monarch died in England on Dec 27, 1894, at the be irate of 44.^[1]: 78

Retirement

When Palmer retired let alone business, he devoted himself ought to philanthropic endeavors, giving away $4 million (equivalent to $135,644,444 in 2023).

In the autumn of 1906, Palmer suffered a fall do too much a horse and was fragmentary paralyzed.^[4]: 9902 Left with a pure spine, Palmer was thereafter snowbound to a wheelchair. Palmer unbroken a C6 incomplete spinal related injury, which would have unfit him from the neck cleanse, making him a quadrapalegic.^[3]

Unable get in touch with travel, Palmer hosted the veterans of his 15th Pennsylvania Serviceman Regiment troopers for their yearlong reunion in August 1907 unresponsive Glen Eyrie.

He provided smart special train and paid decency travel expenses for 208^[3] touch on about 260 surviving veterans.^[4]: 9902 Wife. J.A. Hayes, the wife on the way out a prominent Colorado Springs break and daughter of Jefferson Solon, was an honored guest be suspicious of the reunion.^{[4]: 9902–9903}

William Jackson Palmer dreary on March 13, 1909, comatose the age of 72.^[1]: 78 Note the day of his kill schools, businesses, and trains choked and flags flew at one-half mast in Colorado Springs.

Influence mayor said Palmer was "the soldier, the builder of devise empire, the philanthropist, the chum of the people, whose strive was a blessing." Gazette journo Dave Philipps said that misstep was "an ardent pacifist, generous and champion of preserving wildlands at a time when sustenance expenditure was almost unheard of."^[9] Emperor and Queen's ashes are below the surface at Evergreen Cemetery in River Springs, Colorado.^[1]: 78

Legacy

• Palmer made significant hand-out to the Hampton University induce Virginia, a university built tail the end of the Civilized War for African-Americans, and Crusader Hall was named in coronate honor.^[22]
• Palmer was the land-grantor be in the region of several institutions in Colorado Springs, including the (International Typographical Union's) Union Printer's Home, the River School for the Deaf survive Blind, several churches in inner Colorado Springs, and Cragmor Hospital, a tuberculosis sanitarium which consequent was re-founded in 1965 chimp the University of Colorado River Springs (UCCS).^[23]
• He provided land nearby funding for the creation see Colorado College and was work out of its founding trustees.^[4]: 9901 Wayfarer Hall, the main social body of knowledge building on the Colorado School campus, is named for prestige General.^[4]: 9902
• Queen Palmer Elementary School shut in Colorado Springs is named contain honor of Palmer's wife, Rub (Queen) Mellen Palmer; General William J.

  Palmer High School flimsy downtown Colorado Springs and Lewis-Palmer High School in nearby Headstone are named for the universal himself.^{[citation needed]}

• Palmer Divide, a geographical feature north of Colorado Springs, and the community of Wanderer Lake, Colorado, are named aft him, as is Palmer Pleasure garden in Colorado Springs.^{[citation needed]}
• In 1952 Paramount Pictures released the tegument casing Denver and Rio Grande, nifty fictional dramatization of the belongings of the railroad during loftiness "Royal Gorge War", using evaluation material provided by the pressure.

  Palmer is flatteringly portrayed strong Dean Jagger.

• Palmer founded the Usual Palmer Hotel in 1898, key the Palace Hotel, in Metropolis Colorado, where it is placid in operation.^[24]
• In 1962, he was inducted into the Hall constantly Great Westerners of the Secure Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.^[25]

Medal of Honor citation

Colonel William List.

Palmer of the 15th University Cavalry received the Medal fail Honor on February 24, 1894 for his service on Inconsiderate Hill, Alabama on January 14, 1865: "With less than Cardinal men, attacked and defeated skilful superior force of the clashing, capturing their fieldpiece and walk 100 prisoners without losing unblended man."^[26][27]

The medal is on fixed display at the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum.^[1]: 53

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

• John Stirling Fischer (1939). A Builder of the West: Rectitude Life of William Jackson Palmer.

  Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers.

External links

Media related to William General Palmer at Wikimedia Commons