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Born in East Greenwich, RI
on July 12th, 1807, Silas Casey graduated
from the U.S. Military Academy July 1, 1826 with a brevet to 2nd
Lieutenant, 7th Infantry and a commission of the same date to 2nd
Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. He served on Frontier Duty at Ft. Towson,
RI, 1826-1829, being engaged in a Skirmish with hostile Indians,
September 2, 1828; in garrison at Sackett's Harbor, NY, 1829- 1832;
on Recruiting Service, 1832-1833; in garrison at Ft. Niagara, NY,
1833-1834 and Ft. Gratoit, MI, 1834-1836. He was promoted to 1st
Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry, June 28, 1836.
Casey continued on
Frontier Duty in the Creek Nation, 1836; in the Florida War against
the Seminole Indians, 1837-1842, being engaged leading the advance
in the Rout of Halleck Tustennuggee's band in the Big Hammock of
Pilaklikaha, April 19, 1842; in garrison at Buffalo, NY, 1842-1845,
and Ft. Mackinac, MI, 1845-1847. He was promoted to Captain, 2nd
Infantry, July 1, 1839.
He was in the War with
Mexico, engaged in the Skirmish of Ocalaca, August 16, 1847;
Battle of Contreras, August 19-20, 1847; and Battle of Churubusco,
August 20, 1847. He received a brevet to Major, August 20, 1847, for
gallant and meritorious conduct in the Battles of Contreras and
Churubusco.
Casey was next engaged in
the Battle of Molino del Rey, September 8, 1847, and the Storming of
Chapultepec, September 13, 1847, where he was severely wounded while
leading the assault column under his command. He was breveted to
Lieutenant Colonel, September 13, 1847, for gallant and meritorious
conduct in the Battle of Chapultepec. The legislature of Rhode
Island voted him its thanks for meritorious service during the
Mexican War.
He next served in
garrison at Ft. Hamilton, NY, 1848 and on a voyage via Cape Horn to
California, 1848-1849. Casey was on Frontier Duty at Benicia, CA,
1849; escorting Capt. Warner's Topographical party, 1849; at
Benicia, CA, 1849-1851; on the Expedition to Port Orford and
Coquille River, OR, 1851-1852; again at Benicia, CA, 1852; on
Recruiting Service, 1852-1854; and served as a member of a Board of
Officers, 1854-1855, to revise the "Rifle and Light Infantry
Tactics", adopted March 29, 1855 for the service of the United
States. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, 9th Infantry, March
3, 1855.
Casey served as a member
of the Board for Dragoon Manual for Colt's Revolver, 1854; and of
the Board for the examination of Breech-loading Arms, 1854-1855; on
Frontier Duty, in command of Puget Sound District, WA, January 17,
1856-February 19, 1857, being engaged in Operations against the
hostile Indians, March-June, 1856; at Ft. Steilacoom, WA, 1856-1859;
San Juan Island, WA, 1859; and Ft. Steilacoom, WA, 1859-1861.
He was commissioned a
Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, August 31, 1861 and was engaged
in organizing, disciplining and instructing volunteers at
Washington, D. C., September 12, 1861-March 28, 1862. He was
promoted to Colonel, 4th Infantry, October 9, 1861.
In the Virginia
Peninsular Campaign, he was engaged in the Battle of Fair Oaks
(Seven Pines), May 31, 1862, his division of Erasmus D. Keyes' IV
Corps bearing the brunt of the first Confederate attack by A. P.
Hill's troops. Casey's Redoubt at Seven Pines was named for him.
Even though his position was overrun, he was breveted to Brigadier-
General, U. S. Army, May 31, 1862, for gallant and meritorious
conduct, and was promoted to Major-General, U. S. Volunteers. He
received the thanks of the Rhode Island Legislature for his
"bravery, skill, and energy" at the Battle.
Casey was next placed in
command at White House, VA, June 1862; in command of Provisional
Brigade, at Washington, D. C., August 11, 1862-February, 1863; as
President of the Board for the Examining Candidates for Officers of
Colored Troops, May 22, 1863-July 5, 1865. He was breveted to
Major-General, U. S. Army, March 13, 1865, for gallant and
meritorious services during the Rebellion.
Following the Civil War,
he served in command of a regiment and troops at Ft. Wayne and
Detroit, MI, October 2, 1865-April 5, 1867; as a Commissioner to
examine the War Claims of Ohio, April 17- December 31, 1867; on a
Court of Inquiry, 1868; and as a Member of the Retiring Board, New
York City, October 28, 1868-April 26, 1869. He retired from active
service July 8, 1868.
Casey compiled and edited
a system of "Infantry Tactics" (based upon the French
"Ordonnances" of 1831 and 1845), which was adopted for the
service of the United States, August 11, 1862; and of "Infantry
Tactics for Colored Troops", adopted March 9, 1863. He died at
Brooklyn, NY on January 22, 1882 and was buried on the Casey family
farm at North Kingstown, RI.
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