1. Emory Upton was a United States Army general and military strategist, prominent for his role in leading infantry to attack entrenched positions successfully at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House during the American Civil War, but he excelled at artillery and cavalry assignments.
Emory Upton would become the brother-in-law of Andrew J Alexander and of Frank P Blair Jr.
Emory Upton studied under famous evangelist Charles G Finney at Oberlin College for two years before being admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1856.
Emory Upton graduated eighth in his class of 45 cadets on May 6,1861, just in time for the outbreak of the Civil War.
In 1868, Emory Upton married Emily Norwood Martin, daughter of the philanthropist and social activist Cornelia Williams Martin, and she died of tuburculosis in 1870.
Emory Upton commanded his battery in the VI Corps Artillery Reserve through the 1862 Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days Battles.
Emory Upton was appointed colonel of the 121st New York on October 23,1862.
On May 10,1864, Emory Upton led twelve regiments in such an assault against the Confederate's Mule Shoe salient.
Emory Upton's tactics worked and his command penetrated to the center of the Mule Shoe, but they were left unsupported and forced to withdraw in the face of enemy artillery and mounting reinforcements.
The VI Corps, of which Emory Upton's brigade was part, was detached from the Army of the Potomac and sent to deal with Confederate Lt.
At the Third Battle of Winchester, Emory Upton assumed command of the 1st Division, VI Corps, when its commander fell mortally wounded.
Emory Upton himself was severely wounded in the thigh soon after, but refused to be removed from the field until the battle was over.
Emory Upton was carried on a stretcher for the duration of the battle, directing his troops.
Emory Upton received two brevet promotions for Winchester: colonel in the regular army and major general of volunteers.
Emory Upton was given a brevet promotion to brigadier general in the regular army for his actions at Selma and major general in the regular army, both on March 13,1865.
Emory Upton was mustered out of the volunteer service on April 30,1866.
Emory Upton was assigned to a board at West Point that considered a new system of infantry tactics, which was approved in 1867.
Emory Upton was a member of the Society of the Army of the Potomac.
Emory Upton presented 54 pages of recommendations for changes in the Army, including that it establish advanced military schools, a general staff, a system of personnel evaluation reports, and promotion by examination.
Emory Upton was appointed superintendent of theoretical instruction at the Artillery School of Practice located at Fort Monroe, Virginia, where he emphasized combined arms tactics.
In 1881, Emory Upton, having returned to the rank of colonel in 1880, was in command of 4th US Artillery at the Presidio of San Francisco.
Emory Upton suffered greatly from headaches, possibly caused by a brain tumor, and died by suicide on March 15,1881, by shooting himself in the head.
Emory Upton is buried in Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York.
Emory Upton is considered one of the most influential young reformers of the United States Army in the 19th century, and arguably in US history.
Emory Upton has been called the US Army's counterpart to United States Navy reformer and strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan.
Emory Upton worked for years on the paper, and it was still incomplete at the time of his death in 1881.
Emory Upton argued for a strong, standing regular army that would be supplemented by volunteers or conscripts in time of war, a general staff system based on the Prussian model, examinations to determine promotions, compulsory retirement of officers who reach a certain age, advanced military education, and combat maneuvering by groups of four three-battalion infantry regiments.
Emory Upton's work had a profound influence on discussions of military and civilian strategy for years.
Emory Upton was as good an artillery officer as could be found in any country, the equal of any cavalry commander of his day, and, all things considered, was the best commander of a division of infantry in either the Union or the rebel army.
Emory Upton was incontestably the best tactician of either army, and this is true whether tested by battle or by the evolutions of the drill field and parade.
Emory Upton's life was pure and upright, his bearing chivalric and commanding, his conduct modest and unassuming, and his character absolutely without blemish.
Emory Upton was a credit to the State and family which gave him birth, to the military academy which educated him, and to the army in which he served.
Emory Upton was commemorated at a site in central Suffolk County, New York, presently occupied by Brookhaven National Laboratory.
The US Army's Camp Emory Upton was active from 1917 until 1920, and again from 1940 until 1946.