A Comprehensive Look at Henry Carrington

JoAnne Puckett of Fort Phil Kearny/Bozeman Trail Association spent one year writing this comprehensive biography of Carrington. According to Puckett, Carrington lived an eventful life that spans decades and this book covers it all.

Henry Beebee Carrington was born March 2, 1824 in Wallingford, Connecticut and attended Yale Law School from 1847-1851 before practicing law in Ohio. During the American Civil War he was appointed Colonel of the 18th United States Infantry.

Early Life and Education

Carrington was born in Wallingford, Connecticut on March 2, 1824. He earned a BA from Yale University in 1845 before studying law before entering the army as a Colonel for 18th US Infantry during Civil War era and eventually becoming Brigadier General of Volunteers.

He assisted the Union army with recruitment efforts, and quickly become adept at intelligence gathering. He identified clandestine groups aligned against it and worked to prevent their recruitment.

After the war, he was sent to establish Fort Phil Kearney to protect the Bozeman Trail. However, he was accused of orchestrating the Fetterman massacre and removed from command. Later he wrote several popular American history texts before becoming professor of military science at Wabash College from 1869-1878.

Professional Career

After being denied admission to West Point, Carrington turned his focus toward law. He attended Yale Law School while simultaneously teaching at a women’s institute and eventually settled in Columbus, Ohio where he practiced law.

Judge Advocate General of Ohio and participated in mustering men into the Ohio State Militia. Additionally, he was an active supporter of Governor Salmon P. Chase who appointed him Judge Advocate General of the Northern Department.

Carrington has used music as an outlet to express social issues ranging from mass incarceration to homophobia. Her album Waiting Game blends jazz with contemporary improvisation and other genres to explore humanity’s bonds and breaks; her work speaks to universal human experiences while remaining compassionately inclusive.

Achievement and Honors

This collection primarily contains correspondence between Carrington and young men he counseled as a parole officer, most notably those who continued their relationships with Carrington for life.

Letters and articles documenting Carrington’s artillery accidentally striking Crazy Horse and his decoy warriors at Fort Phil Kearney in December 1862 cost him his military career.

Carrington enjoyed various friendships throughout his life, such as those with Ophelia Settles Egypt – a fellow Howard University student; Alain Locke – professor of philosophy and “godfather” of the Harlem Renaissance; Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dana, grandson of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – grandson of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; Georgia Douglas Johnson (writer); Mattachine Society and Servas International Travel Committee dedicated to international brotherhood and peace;

Personal Life

During the American Civil War, he offered his services as an envoy of recruitment for Ohio’s militia, recruiting Union men into it. Subsequently, he was made colonel. Furthermore, he conducted intelligence work against clandestine groups opposing war efforts.

Later, he was accused of misappropriating thousands of dollars sent by the U.S. government to provide prisoner relief. Although later exonerated and retired from military duty in 1868, he became professor of military science at Wabash College while writing several books on American history.

He practiced corporate law as well as serving on the University of Virginia board of visitors from 1873-1875 and Richmond Bar Association between 1886-1887, until his death in 1912.

Net Worth

New Englander Carrington graduated from Yale University in 1845 and taught briefly before moving to Columbus, Ohio where he soon became active as an anti-slavery Whig and helped found the Republican Party. Working as a lawyer until 1857 when Governor Salmon P. Chase appointed him Judge Advocate General with responsibility for reorganizing state militia units.

Carrington joined the Union Army as a colonel in 1861 and was sent to Indiana where Governor Oliver P. Morton needed help enlisting men for service. A state of political warfare existed between him and his enemies – such as Copperheads and Democrats; Carrington established a network to neutralize them.

After the Fetterman massacre at Fort Phil Kearny, Colonel Fetterman found himself disgraced militarily. With Margaret (deceased 1870) working hard in their attempt to clear his name, his career suffered severely as a result.