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Joseph Mansfield Biography

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MANSFIELD, Joseph King Fenno (1803-62). An American soldier. He was born in New Haven, Conn., graduated second in his class at West Point in 1822, was assigned to the Engineer Corps as brevet second lieutenant, and during the next 24 years was engaged almost continuously on engineering work for the government, his most important service being the construction of Fort Pulaski, for the defense of Savannah River, Ga., to which he devoted most of his time, between 1830 and 1846. During the Mexican War be served throughout the northern campaign as chief engineer under General Taylor, with the rank of captain, constructing and aiding in the defense of Fort Brown, taking a prominent part in the battle of Monterey (where he was wounded) and in the battle of Buena Vista, and receiving the successive brevets of major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel. He then served as a member of the Board of Engineers for the Atlantic coast defense from March, 1848, to April, 1853, and of the board for the Pacific coast defenses from April to May, 1853, and from 1853 to April, 1861, was inspector general of the United States army, with the rank of colonel. During the Civil War he was engaged in organizing companies of volunteers at Columbus, Ohio, in April, 1861; commanded the Department of Washington from April to July, 1861; was appointed brigadier general of volunteers in May; was in command of the city of Washington from July to October; then commanded successively at Camp Hamilton, Newport News, and Suffolk, Va.; captured Norfolk Va., on May 10, 1862; was raised to the rank of major general of volunteers in July; commanded a division in the Army of the Potomac during the Maryland campaign, and was mortally wounded at Antietam on Sept. 17, 1862.