Benjamin Alvord (mathematician)
| Benjamin Alvord | |
|---|---|
Brigadier General Benjamin Alvord
|
|
| Born |
August 18, 1813 Rutland, Vermont |
| Died | October 16, 1884 (aged 71) Washington, D.C. |
| Place of burial | Arlington Cemetery Section 4, Grave 2215-WS |
| Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1833–1880 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier General
|
| Unit | 4th U.S. Infantry |
| Commands held |
District of Oregon Paymaster-General of the United States Army |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Benjamin Alvord (August 18, 1813 – October 16, 1884) was an American soldier, mathematician, and botanist.
Alvord was born in Rutland, Vermont, where he developed an interest in nature. He attended the United States Military Academy and displayed a talent in mathematics. He graduated in 1833.
He was assigned to the 4th U.S. Infantry and participated in the Seminole Wars. He returned to West Point as an assistant professor of mathematics until 1839, when he was again assigned to the 4th Infantry. He spent 21 years of his military career with that regiment.
He was on frontier, garrison, and engineer duty until 1846, when he participated in the military occupation of the new state of Texas. Subsequently, he served during the Mexican–American War, being brevetted successively to captain and major for gallantry in a number of important battles including the Battle of Palo Alto and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma. He served as chief of staff to Major Folliott T. Lally's column on the march from Vera Cruz to Mexico City in 1847.
After the Mexican–American War, he went from line to staff when he was named paymaster and promoted to major. He was assigned to various posts and was sent with the 4th Infantry to the West Coast. He was the engineer in charge of building the military road in southern Oregon. He was then chief paymaster in Oregon from 1854 until 1862.
From 1862 to 1865, during the American Civil War, Alvord was at Fort Vancouver as the commander of the District of Oregon with the rank of brigadier general of volunteers. He was named to that post by George Wright, the commanding officer of the Department of the Pacific. Wright wanted an experienced Regular Army officer in that post, rather than a volunteer, since the District was large (encompassing the present-day states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho), underdeveloped, and had a history of friction between the native peoples and settlers. As commander of the District, Alvord built up the defenses around the mouth of the Columbia River, but was unable to do the same for the Puget Sound. Because of low enlistments from Oregon and Washington, he supported the military draft, and failing that, supported the payment of bounties. He was removed from command in March 1865. He was ordered to the East Coast, where he resigned his volunteer commission and became paymaster in New York City.
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