CURTIS, Samuel Ryan

CURTIS

Posted By: Administrator
Date: 12/30/2001 at 07:34:38

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans

Curtis, Samuel Ryan, soldier, was born in Clinton county, N.Y., Feb. 3, 1807. His parents removed to Ohio when he was an infant and he was graduated from the U.S. military academy in 1831. After serving one year in the army he resigned to engage in civil engineering. He afterward superintended the Muskingum river improvements on which he was employed, 1837-39. He then studied law, became an active military officer, and was promoted captain in 1833, colonel in 1843, and adjutant-general in 1846. He served in the Mexican war as colonel of the 2d Ohio volunteers, and while in charge of the army stores at Camargo defeated an attempt of General Urrea to capture the place, driving his force through the mountains to Ramos and thus opening communication with General Taylor. He subsequently served on the staff of General Wool and was governor of Saltillo, 1847-48. He afterward went west and in 1855 opened a law office in Keokuk, Iowa. He was a representative from Iowa in the 35th, 36th and 37th congresses, resigning from the 37th congress before the extraordinary session of July 4, 1861, to command the 2d Iowa volunteers. He was one of the first western officers to receive a commission as brigadier-general, May, 1861, and organized and had charge of a camp of instruction near St. Louis, Mo., during the summer. He was in charge of the southwestern district of Missouri from December, 1861, to February, 1862, and commanded the army of the Southwest from February to August, 1862, taking possession of Springfield, Mo., February 13, and defeating the Confederates under Price and McCulloch at Pea Ridge, March 8, 1862, for which action he was promoted major-general. He continued his march 1000 miles south and occupied Helena, Ark., in July. He commanded the department of Missouri, 1862-63, and the department of Kansas, 1864-65. He checked the raid of General Price and helped to drive his army back into Arkansas. He commanded the department of the Northwest in 1865, and was U.S. Indian commissioner the latter part of the year. He was mustered out of the volunteer service, April 30, 1866. He was early interested in the Pacific railroad and in September, 1862, obtained leave of absence to preside over the convention that met in Chicago, Ill., to inaugurate the enterprise, and was a commissioner to examine the road in 1866. He died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, Dec. 26, 1866.