Israel Greene
| Israel Greene | |
|---|---|
| Born |
June 17, 1824 Plattsburgh, New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 25, 1909 (aged 84) Mitchell, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Buried | Graceland Cemetery Mitchell, South Dakota |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America Confederate States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps Confederate States Marine Corps
|
| Years of service | 1847–1861 (USMC) 1861–1865 (CSMC) |
| Rank |
 First Lieutenant (USMC) Major (CSMC) |
| Battles/wars |
Harpers Ferry Raid American Civil War |
Israel Greene (June 17, 1824 – May 25, 1909) was a member of the United States Marine Corps and the leader of the company of Marines that captured John Brown during his raid at Harpers Ferry. He later served as an officer in the Confederate Marine Corps during the American Civil War.
Greene was born in Plattsburgh, New York. He grew up in Wisconsin and later married a woman from Virginia.
Greene joined the United States Marine Corps. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on March 3, 1847. In 1857, Greene, who advocated that Marines become artillerists, was sent to West Point to receive training as an artillerist. Afterward he returned to Washington to instruct Marines at the Navy Yard. In April 1859, Greene became the commander of the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. and served as commander for two months. In November 1860, he led a detachment of Marines who accompanied the first Japanese diplomats to visit the United States on board the USS Niagara on their return trip to Japan.
On October 17, 1859, abolitionist John Brown and a group of 21 men captured the United States Army arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. On orders from President James Buchanan, Secretary of War Isaac Toucey asked for the assistance of the Navy Department for a unit of United States Marines, the nearest troops. First Lieutenant Greene was ordered to take a force of 90 Marines to the town. At 3:30 in the afternoon, Greene and the Marines proceeded to Harpers Ferry by Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, they even brought two 12-pounder Dahlgren howitzers (though they were left on the train and not used). At 10:00 that evening, they were met by Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Lee, who was the commander of the expedition. The night they surrounded the engine house where Brown and his followers as well as nine hostages were barricaded.
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Wikipedia