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Dromo's Den
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[Up] [Dromo's Den] Philip Kearny Biography KEARNY,
Philip (1815-62). An American soldier, prominent in the Mexican and Civil
wars, the nephew of Gen. Stephen W. Kearny. He was born in New York City,
graduated at Columbia in 1833, and subsequently studied law under Peter A. Jay.
In 1837 he entered the United States army as lieutenant in the First Dragoons,
and two years later was one of three officers sent by the United States
government to study the French cavalry service. He spent several months in the
cavalry school at Saumur, and then, having secured a leave of absence,
volunteered with the First Chasseurs d'Afrique and served with conspicuous
gallantry in the Algerian War. Late in 1840 he returned to the United States. He
was then successively aid-de-camp to General Macomb, general in chief of the
United States army, from 1840 to 1841, and to General Scott, the successor of
General Macomb, from 1841 to 1844, and subsequently served under his uncle in
the West. In April, 1846, he resigned from the army, but almost immediately reënlisted
for service in the Mexican War and became captain of the company which was
chosen as the bodyguard of General Scott. In December of this year he was
promoted captain. He earned a brevet of major at Contreras and Churubusco and
towards the close of the latter engagement made a gallant charge into Mexico
City, but received a wound which necessitated the amputation of an arm. In 1851
he participated in a campaign against the Rogue River Indians, but again
resigned in October of this year and spent several years in Europe. In 1859 he
entered the French army as a volunteer aid to General Maurier; served in the
Italian War, participating in the battles of Magenta and Solferino; and for his
conspicuous bravery throughout the campaign he received the cross of the Legion
of Honor. At the outbreak of the Civil War he returned to the United States and
in May, 1861, was appointed brigadier general. He commanded for some time the
First New Jersey Brigade and in May, 1862, was placed in command of the cavalry
of the Army of the Potomac. He served with great efficiency and gallantry
throughout the Peninsular campaign, attracting particular attention at the
battles of Williamsburg and Seven Pines, and in July, 1862, was commissioned
major general of volunteers. He subsequently participated in the second battle
of Bull Run and on Sept. 1, 1862, was killed while reconnoitring at Chantilly.
Consult: De Peyster, Personal and Military History of Philip Kearny (New York, 1869). The New International
Encyclopaedia, Vol.
XIII
(New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920)
138-139. |