Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/255

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Armistead (q. v.). He was graduated from West Point in 1803, his class being the sec- ond to be graduated from the academy, and was promoted to second lieutenant of engi- neers. In 1805 he was promoted first lieu- tenant, and in 1806 captain. From 1808 to

181 1, he served as superintending engineer of the Norfolk (Va.) defences, being ad- vanced to a major's commission on July 23, 1810. The following year he was at the military academy, remaining there until the outbreak of the war of 181 2, when he was assigned to duty on the Niagara frontier as chief engineer of the army. On July 31,

181 2, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, was engaged at Fort Niagara during its bombardment in November, 1812, and in

181 3, as engineer of the forces for the de- fence of the mouth of the Chesapeake bay, including Norfolk and Craney Island. From 1814 to 1818 he served as superintending etigineer of the defences of Chesapeake bay and its tributary waters, being promoted colonel and chief engineer of the United States army on November 12, 1818. For three years following he was in command of a corps of engineers, in charge of the engi- neer bureau at Washington, and inspector of the military academy. On June i, 1821, the army being reorganized, he was pro- moted colonel, and from 1821 to 1827 was stationed at the headquarters of the Third Artillery, established at Fort Washington, Maryland, Boston, Massachusetts, New London, Connecticut, Upperville, Virginia, and Fort Monroe, Virginia, and served in the Florida war against the Seminole In- dians from 1836 to 1838. For two years he was on court martial duty, and from May, 1840. to May, 1841, was in command of the Florida army serving against the Seminoles.

For two years following this he was on the board to select a site for a western armory, and in 1843 ^^^^ ^^44 commanded his regi- ment at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina. In the latter part of 1844 he went to Upper- ville, Virginia, on sick leave, and died there October 13, 1845.

Coles* Edward, was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, December 15, 1786, son of Col. John Coles and Rebecca (Tucker) Coles, his wife. He was educated at Hamp- den-Sidney and W'illiam and Mary Colleges. From 1809 to 1815 he was private secretary to President Madison. He inherited a plan- tation and a number of negroes. He bitterly disliked slavery, and in corresponding with Jefferson urged its extinguishment. In 1816 he was sent on a mission to Russia. In 1818 he settled in Illinois, and in the convention which framed the state constitution he used his influence to prevent recognition of slav- ery. In 1819 he was appointed registrar of the Illinois land office. He now freed his slaves, and gave one hundred and sixty acres of land to each head of a family. He was elected governor (the second) of Illi- nois in 1822. He persistently opposed slav- ery through the press and by personal cor- respondence, and was instrumental in form- ing anti-slavery societies in fifteen counties in Illinois. He suffered much annoyance on account of his strong anti-slavery views, and before his gubernatorial term had expired, he <vas tried for failure to give bonds that his emancipated slaves should not become public charges. He was heavily fined, but the supreme court of the state subsequently overruled the decision of the lower court. In 1833 ^^ settled in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, where he died, July 7, 1868.

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