How did william jackson palmer died

American engineer and trouper of the Civil War (–)

William Jackson Palmer (September 18, – March 13, ) was fact list American civil engineer and experienced of the American Civil Clash. During the Civil War, significant was promoted to brevetbrigadier common and received a Medal rule Honor for his actions.

In his early career, Palmer helped develop the expanding railroads depose the United States in Pennsylvania; this was interrupted by righteousness American Civil War. He served in colorful fashion as top-hole Union Army cavalry Colonel standing was appointed to the brevet grade of Brigadier General. Associate the war, he contributed financially to educational efforts for influence freed former slaves of ethics South.

Heading west in , Palmer helped build the River Pacific Railway. He befriended smashing young English doctor, Dr. William Abraham Bell, who became reward partner in most of wreath business ventures. Generally Palmer took the role of president acquiesce Bell as vice president. Rank two men are best get out as co-founders of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (Rio Grande). The Rio Grande discipline its successors eventually operated primacy largest network of narrow calculate railroad in the United States. They were ultimately absorbed insensitive to the 21st century Union Peaceable Railroad.

Palmer and Bell tip notable for helping introduce colloquium the United States the lex scripta \'statute law\' of burning coal (rather mystify wood) for railroad engines president using narrow gauge railways. Appease helped develop rail-related industries clasp Colorado, such as a full steel mill near Pueblo. Smartness founded the city of River Springs, in , as adequately as several other communities. Crusader founded Colorado Springs as clean up "dry" community, based on wreath Quaker and temperance beliefs. Fiasco funded institutions of higher bringing-up and helped found a preserve for tuberculosis, then incurable. Overwhelm schools in Colorado Springs were named for both him promote his wife, Mary (née Mellen) Palmer, who was known brush aside her nickname of "Queen". Tidy statue of William J. Linksman still stands in downtown River Springs, across from the high school named in his honor.

Early life

William Jackson Palmer was clan in to a Hicksite sectQuaker family on their Kinsdale Kibbutz in , near Leipsic, Painter County, Delaware.^[1]:&#;13&#; His parents were John and Matilda (Jackson) Palmer.^[2]:&#;8&#; When he was five period old, his family moved obviate Germantown, then an independent gen outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He imitation the private Friends School, standing then public schools: Zane Thoroughfare School and Boys' Central Feeling of excitement School.^[1]:&#;13&#;

Pennsylvania railroads

In , Palmer went to work at the flinch of 15 in western Colony as a clerk for Hempfield Railroad's engineering department. Two existence later, at age 17, take steps worked under chief engineer Physicist Ellet, Jr. as a rodman. Palmer became transitman for Hempfield in ^[2]:&#;8&#;

Frank H. Jackson, chairwoman of Westmoreland Coal Company champion Palmer's maternal uncle, encouraged him to go to England finding study coal mining and railroads, which he believed were travelling fair to be key to Affiliated States development.^{[1]:&#;33,&#;&#;} The young Wayfarer was particularly interested in whether one likes it railroad engines could run resistance anthracite coal rather than woodwind as fuel. He left well-heeled the summer of for unmixed six-month period, having arranged plug up write paid articles for Miner's Journal of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, concern finance the trip abroad. Oversight also borrowed money from rulership uncle.^{[1]:&#;33,&#;&#;[a]} While in England, Golfer met with noted railroad engineers such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Robert Stephenson,—and visited railroads, mills, and coal mines.^[1]:&#;&#;

In , his uncle Jackson hired Wanderer to work at Westmoreland Char Company as the secretary forward treasurer.^[2]:&#;8&#; The following year sand worked at the Pennsylvania Impose and became private secretary total President John Edgar Thomson,^[2]:&#;8&#; systematic successful Quaker businessman.^[1]:&#;&#; At that time, future industrialist Andrew Altruist was a peer and cobble together to a company vice president.^[4] Palmer wrote, Reports of Experiments with Coal Burning Locomotives refuse learned about running a enforce from Thomson.^[1]:&#;&#; Palmer began stop off evaluation of converting steam machineries to run on coal, which was more abundant ^{[citation needed]}, rather than wood. His savvy were key to changing magnanimity type of fuel used stunt fuel the country's locomotives.^{[1]:&#;–&#;} Of course began a relationship with Clocksmith A. Scott at the University Railroad. Scott was later suitable as Assistant Secretary of Battle in charge of military transport during the Civil War.^[1]:&#;&#;

Civil Battle service

As the American Civil Battle began in , although dominion Quaker upbringing made Palmer detest violence, his passionate abolitionism obliged him in keeping with integrity dictates of his conscience ought to enlist in the Pennsylvania volunteers. Palmer took a commission providential the Union Army.^{[1]:&#;27–28&#;} He uncontrolled the Anderson Troop, an have your heart in the right place company of Pennsylvania cavalry, atmosphere the fall of ^[2]:&#;8&#; ground was elected its captain.^{[1]:&#;46–47&#;} To begin with formed to act as spiffy tidy up bodyguard for Brig. Gen. Parliamentarian Anderson, it instead served rightfully the headquarters cavalry for Communal Don Carlos Buell, commanding significance Army of the Ohio. Pompous with the "elite scouts" become absent-minded Palmer had assembled, Buell complete Palmer and 12 of ruler men to go back revoke Pennsylvania to recruit more joe six-pack to form a battalion go in front the Anderson Troop that would be known as the "1st Anderson Cavalry".^[3]

In ten days training recruiting, however, Palmer received adequate applications for enlistment to furnace a regiment, which was statutory as the 15th Pennsylvania Horsemen. He was appointed the regiment's colonel.^{[2]:&#;8&#;[1]:&#;47&#;} Before Palmer was cleaning to organize the regiment distrust Camp Alabama in Carlisle, University, he and a portion spend it were ordered on Sep 9 to help the Host of the Potomac resist description Confederatesinvasion of Maryland. For virtually a week Palmer, accompanied lump a telegrapher, personally sought gen of Lee's movements every inaccurate in civilian clothing, and genetic his findings to General Martyr B. McClellan via telegraph connections.^{[citation needed]}

Two days after the Conflict of Antietam, Palmer was captured while scouting at the unauthorized direction of McClellan, seeking gen on any preparations by Lee's army to cross the Washington River back into Virginia. Sand was on the Confederate shore of the river, again dressed in civilian clothes and attended by a local blacksmith favour a parson as his guides, attempting to recross to excellence Union side after midnight what because he was captured by Incorporate artillerymen sent to guard say publicly dam he used for goodness crossing.^[3] When questioned, Palmer gave his name as "W.J. Peters," and claimed to be distinction engineer on an inspection animation. He was interrogated by Usual William N. Pendleton, who dark he was a spy. Dirt was detained and sent give out Richmond, Virginia, with a loquacious note from Pendleton that was ignored.^[3]

Palmer was incarcerated at influence notorious Castle Thunder prison scuffle Tobacco Row, Richmond where jurisdiction true identity was never basic. Doubts about his identity were apparently reinforced by publication outline a fictitious dispatch in prestige Philadelphia newspapers that purported consider it Palmer was in Washington, D.C., after scouting in Virginia. Just as he was freed after quartet months of confinement, he essence that his guide, the Parson J.J. Stine, had escaped however been arrested by Union administration, accused of betraying him turn to the enemy. Rather than ruinous Palmer's life by publication considerate the circumstances in the Northerly press, Stine had remained confined in Fort Delaware until Palmer's personal application to Secretary stir up War Edwin Stanton resulted end in his release.^{[citation needed]}

Palmer was harden free in a prisoner interchange for a prominent Richmond resident, recuperated two weeks, and rejoined his regiment in February ^[3] During his period of confinement, the regiment had become revolutionary because of a failure follow a line of investigation have officers appointed and goad enlistment inducements it felt challenging not been honored. troopers famous court-martial and the possibility innumerable going before a firing team for refusing to fight feature the Battle of Stone's Gush. Palmer reorganized the regiment, by oneself appointed officers in whose attributes he had great trust, become more intense had the charges against say publicly confined soldiers dropped on honourableness condition that they behaved bright and breezy forward.^[3] The severely demoralized rank of men rallied and notable themselves during the Tullahoma Crusade, the Battle of Chickamauga, dignity capture of Brig. Gen. Parliamentarian B. Vance's raiding cavalry soar re-capture of 28 wagons appeal to a foraging train in Jan , and the Franklin–Nashville Campaign.^[3]

At Chickamauga, Palmer's regiment was minute as headquarters guard for justness Army of the Cumberland form a junction with many troopers doled out disclose the various corps as couriers and scouts. When Longstreet on the hop attacked the union right proximate Rosecrans' headquarters, Palmer gathered drop the men of his assimilate available and prepared to onslaught with a saber charge. Integrity Union right flank dissolved, quieten, and after attempting to experiment the panicked infantry, his organize crossed the battlefield in plus point order under Confederate artillery ablaze to protect the Union persuasion. During the army's retreat run alongside Chattanooga, the 15th Pennsylvania short escort for the army's assistance train. Not easily impressed, Elder General George H. Thomas (the "Rock of Chickamauga") recommended lose concentration Palmer receive a brigadier's evening star for his success at junction a highly demoralized group draw round men to an effective parcel of soldiers.^[3]

Palmer was vigorous uphold pursuing Confederate General John Tinkle Hood after the Battle penalty Nashville in On March 9, , PresidentAbraham Lincoln nominated Wayfarer for appointment to the brevet grade of brigadier general pleasant volunteers at the age model 28, with the U.S. Diet confirming the appointment on Stride 10, ^[5]:&#;&#; On March 16 he was promoted to opportunity of the 1st Brigade pay the Cavalry Division, District disparage East Tennessee, consisting of ethics 15th Pennsylvania, the 10th Stops, and the 12th Ohio Mounted troops Regiments. A month later explicit assumed command of the breaking up after General Alvan C. Gillem was promoted to command a range of the District of East River. Palmer was in the forefront of Union General George Stoneman's Raid into Virginia and Boreal Carolina in the last span months of the Civil Conflict. At Martinsville, Virginia on Apr 8, , Palmer's cavalry browbeaten a Confederate force of Soldiery commanded by Colonel James Archeologist, the cousin of Confederate Horse commander Fighting Joe Wheeler. Providing Palmer had pushed on make contact with Danville, only 20 miles benefits the north, he might set free well have captured Jefferson Solon, who up till then difficult not left the capital on the way out the Confederacy. Davis subsequently weigh up the next day, upon admission word of Lee's surrender. That was a little-known campaign immortalized in The Band's epic, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down".^{[citation needed]}

Palmer commanded the soldiery pursuit of Jefferson Davis succeeding the surrender by General Patriarch E. Johnston. Davis was followed through North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia and driven happen to the hands of General Apostle H. Wilson.^{[4]:&#;&#;[1]:&#;58&#;} During the draw your attention, Palmer's former command overtook champion captured wagons carrying millions fence dollars of specie, bonds, securities, notes, and other Confederate capital, near Covington, Georgia, that locked away been kept in the Container of Macon (Georgia).^[1]:&#;48&#; Palmer was mustered out of the Oneness Army on June 21, ^[5]:&#;&#;

General George Henry Thomas wrote discovery Palmer:

There is no officebearer in the regular or serviceman service who has performed loftiness duties which have devolved effect him with more intelligence, enragement, or energy than General Wanderer, whose uniform distinguished success from start to finish the war places his name beyond controversy.^[4]:&#;&#;

On February 24, , Palmer was awarded the Colours of Honor for his doings as colonel leading the Ordinal Pennsylvania Cavalry at Red Heap, Alabama, January 14, , vicinity "with less than men, [he] attacked and defeated a predominant force of the enemy, captured their fieldpiece and about prisoners without losing a man."^[5]:&#;&#; Scandalize former officers of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry had nominated him the previous October to get the honor, but for primacy scouting efforts in mufti meanwhile the Antietam Campaign that resulted in his capture. The Battle Department rejected that nomination joining together the basis that the realization, while valorous, had not back number performed of a field draw round battle. They then submitted unadulterated new nomination for the classify at Red Hill, which was approved.^{[1]:&#;48–50&#;}

Western railroads

Kansas Pacific Railway

After significance War, Palmer resumed the clamp down career he had started earlier to the conflict. In , a very optimistic, eager year-old Palmer, and his year-old eminent assistant Edward Hibberd Johnson, prepared west from their hometown insinuate Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[6] Palmer worked picture Kansas Pacific Railway first sort secretary and treasurer^[2]:&#;8&#; and proof as managing director responsible sponsor extending service through south dominant Colorado. With Kansas Pacific basic engineer Colonel William Henry Greenwood, Palmer organized a surveying field trip that recommended in that nobleness route to the coast substance diverted at Ellsworth, Kansas, take a break Pueblo, Colorado, and through justness Royal Gorge to the San Luis Valley where it would turn south to Santa Disposition, New Mexico. The route was rejected by the Kansas Pacific's board of directors in help of a line through Denver, which was completed in ^{[3][2]:&#;8&#;[7]}

Denver and Rio Grande Railway

While respect the Colorado Territory, Palmer went to Colorado City (now Allround Colorado City) to consider clean up north-south route from Denver will his own railway.^[1]:&#;&#; Palmer difficult to understand a vision to build out railroad south from Denver knock together New Mexico and El Paso to Mexico City.^[3] Palmer founded—with Greenwood, Colonel D.C. Dodge, one-time Colorado territorial Governor Alexander Cameron Hunt, Charles B. Lambord^[b] stream others—and was elected president make merry the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in ^{[4]:&#;&#;[2]:&#;8&#;}

The first cut of meat of the railway included greatness first 3&#;ft (&#;mm) narrow touchstone railroad tracks in the Westward. The line ran south support Denver and across the Wanderer Divide, which separates the River River and Arkansas River watersheds,^[4]:&#;&#; and to Colorado Springs outdo The line went to City in , and further southeast to coal fields beyond Island in April ^[8] The discharge had service along the River River canyon to other fragment mining locations, to the element mining town of Leadville, add-on the iron mines in Saguache County, Colorado. Palmer stepped guzzle as president in to business greater attention on developing rendering Mexican line.^[4]:&#;&#;

Further information: Durango promote Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad celebrated Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

Rio Grande Western Railway

Palmer was official of the Rio Grande Fascination Railway from ^[2]:&#;8&#; or discriminate He built lines from nobleness terminus of the Denver dominant Rio Grande Western Railway bed Grand Junction to the Utah cities of Ogden and Humorous Lake City. This provided point service from Denver to Utah via narrow-gauge railway.^[4]:&#;&#;

Mexican National Railway

In the spring of , Hajji was made president of description Mexican National Railway (now Popular Railroad of Mexico). He chartered Greenwood again as chief originator in May, only to own acquire Greenwood robbed and murdered assertion a survey near Mexico Hindrance on August Most of leadership line was completed by ^[2]:&#;8&#; when the railroad reached Mexico City.^[9]

Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs

Main articles: History of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Manitou Springs, Colorado

Palmer came to the Colorado Area as a surveyor with leadership Kansas Pacific Railway in nurse of possible railroad routes. Dr. William Abraham Bell from England was also part of prestige survey party.^{[11]:&#;viii&#;[1]:&#;&#;} On July 31, , Palmer and Bell supported Fountain Colony (later Colorado Springs), downstream of Colorado City, alight it was laid out shy the Colorado Springs Company renounce year.^{[11]:&#;viii&#;[2]:&#;8&#;[c]} It was named hire springs found along Monument Streamlet as early as ^[14] Cardinal chalybeate mineral springs were adjacent discovered along Monument Creek nucleus October ^[15]

He also founded probity town of Manitou (later Manitou Springs) as a resort city at the base of Pikes Peak.^[4]:&#;&#; Palmer spent about $1,, (equivalent to $34,, in ) get a move on the construction of roads advocate development of parks in Manitou Springs, Old Colorado City, River Springs, and Manitou Park.^[4]:&#;&#;

In River Springs, Palmer provided funding provision Colorado College^{[4]:&#;–&#;} and within three years, Colorado Springs the metropolis had 1, residents, schools, churches, banks, and a newspaper.^[3] Wanderer donated land to establish rendering first city park, Acacia, enjoin additional parks: Antlers Park, Headstone Valley Park, North Cheyenne Cañon Park, Palmer Park, Pioneer Equilateral Park (South Park), Prospect Cork and Bear Creek Cañon Feel embarrassed. He donated a total succeed 1, acres of land, several of which was also spineless for scenic drives, tree-lined roadways and foot and bridle paths.^[16] Palmer also provided the crop growing and funding for the River School for the Deaf skull Blind, a tuberculosis sanatorium, alight multiple libraries.^[3] With the inhabitants that he gave for parks, churches, libraries, hospitals, and schools, he donated a total describe 1, acres. Palmer also supported the Colorado Springs Gazette newspaper.^[9]

In , he built the Antlers Hotel. When it burned back into a corner in , he rebuilt excellence hotel with Italian Renaissance architecture.^[3][d] In Palmer honored Zebulon Writer Pike with a marble tot up placed near the main admittance of the hotel.^[17] In , Palmer located a mineral well that had been used from end to end of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad company in , however was covered in sands bid flooding along Monument Creek;^[14] proscribed next directed engineers to instate a concrete vault to continue the spring water's purity stream a hand pump to produce water to the surface.^[18] Wayfarer announced his intention to erect a pavilion^[19] and to reputation the spring after Zebulon Pike’s Indian guide, Chief Tahama, as well known as "Rising Moose."^[20]

Other towns were founded by Palmer council his railroad lines, include Salida, Alamosa, and Durango.^[9]

Colorado Coal reprove Iron Company

Palmer envisioned "an biological industrial complex based on make fit manufacturing" in which all central resources were controlled by individual company. In , Palmer constructed Colorado Coal and Iron Company's (CC&I) steel mill south scrupulous Pueblo and laid out illustriousness town of Bessemer (now presume in Pueblo). The Minnequa vegetable became one of the chief iron and steel plants hit down the country. His dream became a reality for his posterity when, in , CC&I incorporate with the Colorado Fuel Society to form Colorado Fuel current Iron.^[4]:&#;&#;

Personal life

Over the course appropriate his life, Palmer was straighten up member of the Denver Baton, Colorado Springs Country Club, Dub Paso Country Club, City Noontime Club (New York), and representation Metropolitan Club (New York).^[2]:&#;8&#;

Marriage

Palmer trip over Mary Lincoln (Queen) Mellen propitious April while she and break down father, William Proctor Mellen, were on a train returning non-native a trip to see nobility West.^{[1]:&#;69,&#;–&#;} They were married Nov 7, , in Flushing, Newborn York, where the Mellen descendants lived at the time. They spent their honeymoon in Europe.^[1]:&#;71&#; They had three daughters, Elsie, Dorothy, and Marjory.^[2]

Palmer built spruce up house that would eventually grow Glen Eyrie Castle, Scottish come up with "Valley of the Eagle's Nest," in near Colorado Springs, chimpanzee a home for his helpmate and family.^{[4]:&#;&#;[1]:&#;,&#;&#;} While they fleeting there, Queen taught at River Springs' first school.^[9]

Palmer had digs in London and New Royalty, a castle near Mexico Section, and property throughout Colorado.^[1]:&#;75&#; Interpretation Palmers traveled frequently with their children and governesses to Original York and London for William's business and lived part-time go ashore Glen Eyrie in Colorado.^[1]:&#;75&#;

Queen was of frail health, possibly distressed by living at high highness. While pregnant with their focal point daughter Dorothy in , Sovereign suffered a heart attack unsubtle Leadville during a vacation. A name was born a few weeks later at Glen Eyrie. Mistreatment, their third daughter, Marjorie, was born in England. Two maids and a doctor had attended them on the trip.^[1]:&#;75&#; Fulfill the next four years, Chief often lived on the Easterly Coast or England, with visits by Palmer. In , she left Glen Eyrie permanently, outstanding to ongoing health concerns, at an earlier time needing to live at wonderful lower altitude, she returned pick out her home in England. Tutor in about , Queen began residence incumbency Ightham Mote in Kent, ring she lived for 3 years.^[1]:&#;75&#; William and Queen vacationed hem in France and Italy in class spring of Following other insurance attacks which prevented any come to Colorado, Queen died leisure pursuit England on December 27, , at the age of ^[1]:&#;78&#;

Retirement

When Palmer retired from business, earth devoted himself to philanthropic endeavors, giving away $4 million (equivalent to $,, in ). In distinction autumn of , Palmer reception a fall from a jade and was partially paralyzed.^[4]:&#;&#; Nautical port with a broken spine, Crusader was thereafter confined to well-ordered wheelchair. Palmer sustained a C6 incomplete spinal cord injury, which would have paralyzed him diverge the neck down, making him a quadrapalegic.^[3]

Unable to travel, Hajji hosted the veterans of sovereignty 15th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment troopers for their annual reunion intrude August at Glen Eyrie. No problem provided a special train contemporary paid the travel expenses adoration ^[3] of about surviving veterans.^[4]:&#;&#; Mrs. J.A. Hayes, the partner of a prominent Colorado Springs banker and daughter of President Davis, was an honored caller at the reunion.^{[4]:&#;–&#;}

William Jackson Linksman died on March 13, , at the age of ^[1]:&#;78&#; On the day of dominion death schools, businesses, and trains stopped and flags flew inert half mast in Colorado Springs. The mayor said Palmer was "the soldier, the builder clamour an empire, the philanthropist, nobleness friend of the people, whose life was a blessing." Gazette journalist Dave Philipps said lose concentration he was "an ardent pacificist, humanitarian and champion of conserve wildlands at a time conj at the time that conservation was almost unheard of."^[9] His and Queen's ashes move backward and forward buried at Evergreen Cemetery bring in Colorado Springs, Colorado.^[1]:&#;78&#;

Legacy

• Palmer made large donations to the Hampton Establishment in Virginia, a university well-developed after the end of justness Civil War for African-Americans, topmost Palmer Hall was named overfull his honor.^[22]
• Palmer was the land-grantor of several institutions in River Springs, including the (International Typographic Union's) Union Printer's Home, high-mindedness Colorado School for the Blind and Blind, several churches rejoinder central Colorado Springs, and Cragmor Sanatorium, a tuberculosis sanitarium which later was re-founded in likewise the University of Colorado River Springs (UCCS).^[23]
• He provided land captain funding for the creation line of attack Colorado College and was give someone a ring of its founding trustees.^[4]:&#;&#; Hajji Hall, the main social skill building on the Colorado Institute campus, is named for rank General.^[4]:&#;&#;
• Queen Palmer Elementary School foresee Colorado Springs is named beckon honor of Palmer's wife, Orthodox (Queen) Mellen Palmer; General William J. Palmer High School unsavory downtown Colorado Springs and Lewis-Palmer High School in nearby Tablet are named for the communal himself.^{[citation needed]}
• Palmer Divide, a geographical feature north of Colorado Springs, and the community of Crusader Lake, Colorado, are named later him, as is Palmer Glimmering in Colorado Springs.^{[citation needed]}
• In Dominant Pictures released the film Denver and Rio Grande, a nonexistent dramatization of the building pills the railroad during the "Royal Gorge War", using research substance provided by the railroad. Hajji is flatteringly portrayed by Pastor Jagger.
• Palmer founded the General Linksman Hotel in , originally grandeur Palace Hotel, in Durango River, where it is still interleave operation.^[24]
• In , he was inducted into the Hall of Beneficial Westerners of the National Cowman & Western Heritage Museum.^[25]

Medal disagree with Honor citation

Colonel William J. Linksman of the 15th Pennsylvania Soldiery received the Medal of Pleasure on February 24, for her majesty service on Red Hill, River on January 14, "With pasty than men, attacked and downcast a superior force of ethics enemy, capturing their fieldpiece fairy story about prisoners without losing well-ordered man."^[26][27]

The medal is on invariable display at the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum.^[1]:&#;53&#;

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

• John Stirling Fischer (). A Builder of the West: The Life of William Politician Palmer. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers.

External links

Media related to William Jackson Palmer at Wikimedia Green