Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/91

 SUMNER

SUMTER

SUMNER, Samuel Storrow, soldier, was born at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., Feb. 6, 1842; son of Edwin Vose Sumner (q.v.). He was commis- sioned 2d lieutenant, 5th cavalry, U.S.A.., June 11. 1861; served in the Peninsular campaign; was bre vetted 1st lieu- tenant for gallantry at Fair Oaks, June 1, 18G2, and was pro- moted 1st lieutenant, 5th cavalry, Jan. 14, 1862. He received a volunteer commis- sion of captain and aide-de-camp on Aug. 20, 1862, on the staff of General E. V. Sumner, who com- manded the second corps in the Army of the Potomac and later on the staffs of Gens. Wool and Burnside. He was brevetted captain, U.S.A., for gallant service at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862; served in the MaryMid campaign and later as aide-de-camp to General Parke in the Mississippi campaign, being honorably mus- tered out of the volunteer service, Aug. 15, 1863. He was promoted captain, U.S.A., March 30, 1864; brevetted major, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious conduct during the campaign against Vicksburg. He was promoted major, 8th cavalry, April 2, 1879," brevetted lieutenant- colonel, Feb. 27, 1890, for gallant services in action against the Indians at Summit Springs, Col,, July 11, 1869; promoted lieutenant-colonel, 6th cavalry, Feb. 18, 1891, and promoted colonel, 6th cavalry. May 33, 1896. He was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers, May 4, 1898; was chief mustering officer for the state of Pennsyl- vania, and subsequently commanded a division in the South. He was -promoted major-general of volunteers, Sept. 7, 1898, for gallantry at Santiago, where he commanded the cavalry divi- sion. He was honorably discharged from the volunteer service, April 15, 1899; was immedi- ately sent to England as military attache, and in July, 1900, when war in China was imminent, he applied for orders to join the U.S. troops at Tientsin, where he commanded the 2d brigade. He was transferred to the Philippines and pro- moted brigadier-general, U.S.A., Feb. 4, 1901, and commanded the 1st division in Southern Luzon P.I. He was ordered to the United States in 1903; given command of the Depart- ment of the Missouri, and promoted to the rank of major-general. United States Army. General Sumner was married to Frederica Bennett of Oswego, N.Y. X. — 6

SUMNER, William Hyslop, soldier, was born in Roxbury, July 4, 1780; son of Increase (q.v.) and Elizabeth (Hyslop) Sumner. He was gradu- ated at Harvard, A.B., 1799, A.M., 1802; practised law, and was a representative in the general court, 1808-19. During the war of 1812 lie was sent to Maine to superintend the coast defences. He was commissioned brigadier-general in 1818, and appointed adjutant-general of Massachusetts. He was a member of the Massachusetts Historical society and is the author of: An Inquiry into the Importance of the Militia (1823); Observations of National Defence (1824); Reminiscences (1854); Memoir of Increase Sumner, Governor of Massaclmsefts (1854); Reminiscences of General Wari-e7i and Bunker Hill (1858); History of East Boston (1858); and Reminiscences of La- fayette s Visit to Boston {1859}. He died in Ja- maica Plain, Mass., Oct. 24, 1861.

SUMTER, Thomas, soldier, was born in Vir- ginia in 1734. In 1755 he enlisted to fight in the French and Indian wars, and accompanied Brad- dock's expedition against Fort Duquesne. Later he removed to South Carolina, took part in the Cherokee war, and accompanied Oconostotah, the Cherokee chieftain, to England, 1761-63. He was an active patriot in the pi-e-Revolution- ary period; and when the Revolutionary war be- gan in 1876, he was commissioned lieutenant- colonel. South Carolina riflemen. He was soon promoted colonel, and in May, 1780, when Charleston was captured by the British, Sumter took his regiment to the Santeo river swamps, and raised a considerable force in North Carolina. He marched to Catawba river and attacked and routed a force of British soldiers and Tory volunteers. He was promoted brigadier-general for this brilliant exploit; and on July 3, 1780, with about 600 men, he made a characteristic at- tack at Rock Mount, S.C., but finding the enemy well intrenched and having no aitillery, he was forced to withdraw. He immediately marched upon Hanging Rock, and August 6, surprised and defeated an entrenched force equal to his own in numbers and superior in equipment. His command, suffering from the privations of war, revelled in the liquor and food which they found in the British camp, and later, when at- tacked by the reinforced British, they were in no condition to defend the fort. Sumter made an orderly retreat to the Wraxall river, and on August 15 captured one of Cornwallis's supply trains on its way to Camden. Gates was defeated at Camden the following day, and Sumter found his prisoners and wagons a hin- drance *o his rapid retreat. On Aug. 18. 1780. he was overtaken and routed by Colonel Tarleton at Fishing Creek. He took refuge in the moun- tains, and in an incredibly short time was at the