Ch. 1 · Ohio Boyhood And Frontier Wounds

William Babcock Hazen.

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William Babcock Hazen was born on the 27th of September 1830 in West Hartford, Vermont. He moved to Ohio when he was three years old and spent his boyhood in Hiram. There he formed a close personal friendship with James A. Garfield who would later become President of the United States. Hazen graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1855 as a second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Infantry. Before the Civil War began he served primarily in the Pacific Northwest and Texas. On the 3rd of November 1859 he suffered a severe wound during a fight with Comanches along the Llano River. This injury kept him absent on sick leave until 1861.

Hell's Half Acre Defense

In the fall of 1862 Hazen fought under Buell at Perryville before his brigade became part of the XIV Corps. His most famous engagement occurred at Murfreesboro Tennessee during the Battle of Stones River. On the 31st of December 1862 Confederate forces led by General Braxton Bragg delivered a devastating assault that drove Union forces back three miles. Hazens brigade defended a small cedar forest known locally as Round Forest while Majors Generals George H. Thomas and Lovell H. Rousseau concentrated artillery to support them. Several Confederate attacks were beaten off despite heavy odds. Their defense arguably saved the Union line from total defeat. The Round Forest is now informally known as Hell's Half Acre. Hazen was wounded in the shoulder during the fight and promoted to brigadier general effective November 29th for his gallantry. Months after the battle veterans erected a monument in a small Union cemetery at the site which remains the oldest Civil War monument in its original location.

Fort McAllister And Savannah Fall

Hazen continued with the Army of the Cumberland through the Tullahoma Campaign and the Battle of Chickamauga. He later served under Major General William T. Sherman in the Atlanta campaign and the March to the Sea. During this period he distinguished himself at the Battle of Pickett's Mill where his brigade suffered badly attacking without adequate support. Later in late 1864 Hazen commanded a division in XV Corps during the capture of Fort McAllister Georgia on the 13th of December 1864. This action opened communications between Shermans army group and the United States Navy. The successful seizure allowed Sherman to capture Savannah at the end of his March to the Sea. Hazen received promotion to brevet colonel in September 1864 and major general of volunteers on the 13th of December 1864. Very late in the war he commanded the XV Corps of the Army of the Tennessee and was eventually promoted to brevet major general in the regular army on the 13th of March 1865.

Buffalo Soldiers And Grant Scandal

As the U.S. Army drew down following the war Hazen became colonel of the 38th U.S. Infantry in July 1866. This unit was one of four Buffalo Soldier regiments. He transferred to the 6th U.S. Infantry in March 1869 and served primarily on the Western frontier including Fort Buford in Dakota Territory from 1872 to 1880. One of his most important roles involved handling negotiations preceding the Battle of Washita River. Hazen offered testimony in a procurement corruption scandal that rocked President Ulysses S. Grants administration. This resulted in the resignation of Secretary of War William W. Belknap. The Belknap scandal tied into other disputes over promotions and credit for Civil War victories. One squabble pitted Hazen against Major General David S. Stanley over the monument location at Stones River. Stanley argued the monument was placed incorrectly while being friends with Belknap. Hazen also criticized George Armstrong Custers book Life on the Plains which led writer Ambrose Bierce to call him The best hated man I ever knew. These relationships offended even former friend Lieutenant General William T. Sherman.

Greely Expedition And Court Martial

On the 15th of December 1880 President Rutherford B. Hayes promoted Hazen to brigadier general and appointed him Chief Signal Officer of the U.S. Army. His tenure focused on basic research rather than practical matters. Hazen generated public controversy by criticizing the government response to the distress of the International Polar Year expedition to Fort Conger Lady Franklin Bay. The expedition led by Lieutenant Adolphus Greely departed in summer 1882 leaving 25 men without support about from the North Pole. A rescue party commanded by Lt. Ernest A. Garlington failed to save them in 1883. By June 1884 only Greely and six others remained alive. Hazen publicly criticized Secretary of War Robert Todd Lincoln for refusing further assistance after Garlions mission failed. Greelys wife Henrietta forced Lincoln to act through outraged public opinion. Lincoln censured Hazen for his criticisms and court-martialed him in 1885. Defense attorney Judge Thomas Jefferson Mackey argued the case before President Chester A. Arthur gave Hazen a mild reprimand. Newspapers backed Hazen against Secretary Lincoln.

Mildred McLean And Family Life

Following the Civil War Hazen married Mildred Mclean who lived from 1847 to 1931. She was the daughter of Washington McLean owner of The Washington Post. Her family did not accompany him on posts in Indian Country. They had a son named John McLean Hazen born in 1876 who died in 1898. He also had a daughter named May who died as an infant. A decade after Hazens death his widow married Admiral George Dewey on the 9th of November 1899. This marriage connected Hazens legacy to another prominent naval figure in American history.

Death And Arlington Legacy

Hazen died in Washington D.C. after falling ill following a reception held by President Grover Cleveland. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The New York Times obituary called him aggressive and disputatious traits that served him well on battlefields but created powerful enemies during peace time. Hazen Nevada and Hazen Bay in Alaska are named in his honor. Lake Hazen and Camp Hazen both exist on Ellesmere Island bearing his name. These geographical features preserve his memory across North America long after his passing.

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1830 births 1887 deaths Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Chief Signal Officer, U.S. Army People from Hiram, Ohio People from Windsor County, Vermont People of Ohio in the American Civil War Union army generals United States Military Academy alumni

Common questions

When and where was William Babcock Hazen born?

William Babcock Hazen was born on the 27th of September 1830 in West Hartford, Vermont. He moved to Ohio when he was three years old.

What battle did William Babcock Hazen fight at during the Civil War that is now known as Hell's Half Acre?

William Babcock Hazen fought at the Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro Tennessee during the fall of 1862. His brigade defended a small cedar forest known locally as Round Forest which is now informally called Hell's Half Acre.

Why was William Babcock Hazen court-martialed in 1885?

William Babcock Hazen was court-martialed in 1885 for publicly criticizing Secretary of War Robert Todd Lincoln regarding the rescue failure of the International Polar Year expedition. President Chester A. Arthur ultimately gave him a mild reprimand after Judge Thomas Jefferson Mackey argued his defense case.

Who did William Babcock Hazen marry and what happened to her after his death?

William Babcock Hazen married Mildred Mclean who lived from 1847 to 1931. She later married Admiral George Dewey on the 9th of November 1899, ten years after Hazens death.

Where are geographical features named after William Babcock Hazen located today?

Geographical features named after William Babcock Hazen include Hazen Nevada, Hazen Bay in Alaska, Lake Hazen, and Camp Hazen on Ellesmere Island. These locations preserve his memory across North America long after his passing.

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