John McAllister Schofield | |
---|---|
28th United States Secretary of War | |
In office June 1, 1868 – March 13, 1869 |
|
President |
Andrew Johnson Ulysses S. Grant |
Preceded by | Edwin M. Stanton |
Succeeded by | John Aaron Rawlins |
Personal details | |
Born |
Gerry, New York |
September 29, 1831
Died | March 4, 1906 St. Augustine, Florida |
(aged 74)
Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
Political party | Republican |
Education | United States Military Academy (1853) |
Awards | Medal of Honor |
Military service | |
Allegiance | |
Service/branch | |
Years of service | 1853–1860, 1861–1895 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands |
Army of the Frontier Department of the Missouri XXIII Corps Army of the Ohio United States Army |
Battles/wars |
John McAllister Schofield (September 29, 1831 – March 4, 1906) was an American soldier who held major commands during the American Civil War. He later served as U.S. Secretary of War and Commanding General of the United States Army.
John McAllister Schofield was born September 29, 1831, in Gerry, New York, son of James & Caroline (McAllister) Schofield. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1853, ranking seventh in his class of 52 graduates, and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the artillery. In his final year at the Academy, he suffered a potentially career-ending incident. While working as a teaching assistant in the mathematics section, he was accused of allowing cadet candidates in his classroom to make offensive jokes and drawings on the blackboard. He was dismissed from West Point, but appealed the decision to the Secretary of War, who referred the matter back to a Board of Inquiry at the Academy. His expulsion was overturned by a majority of the board, but of the two officers who voted to sustain it, one was a future commander of his during the Civil War, Lt. George H. Thomas, a cavalry and artillery instructor. Although Schofield's memoirs do not mention Thomas's role in the board, his persistent criticism of Thomas's generalship after the war may have been provoked by this incident.