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566:. At first, Comstock was eager to see the prosecution of the conspirators, writing that, for them, "death is too good." However, as the trial proceeded, Comstock became disturbed by the secrecy of the military proceedings. Concerned about the violation of the defendants' rights, he began to openly argue for the case to be transferred to a civilian court. President
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and appointed chief engineer of the Army of the
Tennessee. The Siege of Vicksburg was successful, in part due to Comstock's supervision of the overall siege works, and the city surrendered to Union forces on July 4, 1863. This victory marked a major turning point in the war as the Union Army gained
360:
and morale within the Army of the
Potomac had sunk. When the material for the bridges finally did arrive, Comstock personally led men from the 50th New York Engineers in seeing to the task of construction. In piecing together the bridges on the Rappahannock River, Comstock and other soldiers were
585:
Comstock served on Grant's staff until 1866, then returned to service with the Corps of
Engineers and remained on active duty until 1895 when he retired with the rank of colonel upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 64. In the course of his post-war duty, he served with several boards and
440:
of the United States Army and moved his headquarters to the eastern theater in
Virginia. Grant asked Comstock to come with him as his senior aide-de-camp. Grant determined to command in the field, following and directing the movements of the Army of the Potomac in a major offensive during the
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at the same time as the Army of the
Potomac. Despite Comstock's urgent telegraphs and messages, which went unanswered, it took nearly a month for the pontoons to arrive during which time the Union army had completely lost the element of surprise, the Confederate army had dug in at
283:
at West Point. He graduated first in his class in 1855. Following his graduation, Comstock was assigned to the Army Corps of
Engineers and assisted with the design and construction of several fortifications. He also served as an instructor of engineering at West Point.
33:
392:, Mississippi, under the command of Maj. Gen. Ulysses Grant. Comstock arrived at Vicksburg in June 1863 and set to work on improving the siege works. His efforts earned Grant's respect. Comstock was soon promoted to
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468:, Comstock assisted in planning a second and successful assault on Fort Fisher. Following this victory, Comstock was awarded the grade of brevet colonel in the Regular Army. Comstock also was nominated by
490:
In March 1865, Grant again dispatched
Comstock to aid in a key siege operation—this time to Mobile, Alabama, the last Confederate stronghold on the Gulf of Mexico. There Comstock served under Maj. Gen.
456:
Comstock was temporarily detached from Grant's staff and appointed by Grant to the post of chief engineer of the
Department of North Carolina in January 1865. The transfer was prompted by Maj. Gen.
263:. He was dismissed from the commission for his criticism of the proceedings. Later Comstock continued with the Army Corps of Engineers, took part in several engineering projects, and served on the
376:, overseeing the construction of pontoon bridges over various rivers which first allowed the advance of the Army of the Potomac and later facilitated its retreat after Union forces were defeated.
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577:, was that Grant had also been a potential target of the conspirators and the commissioners felt that Comstock, due to his closeness to Grant, could not be counted on to act impartially.
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during the
Lincoln administration. They had a daughter, Elizabeth Marion Comstock, who was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1872 while Comstock was at work on the geodetic survey of the
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In May 1865, while still serving on Grant's staff, Comstock was called to serve as one of the nine military commissioners to oversee the trial of the conspirators in the
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He had an interest in family history and in later years he published two books about
Comstock genealogy. The first one, published in 1905, was titled
597:
and bequeathed a fund to the Academy to support an award to a scientist conducting innovative work in the investigation of electricity, magnetism, or
320:, Comstock continued to serve as Barnard's assistant. On June 1, 1862, during the Peninsular Campaign, Comstock was appointed chief engineer of the
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703:
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526:, to rank from March 26, 1865, for faithful and meritorious services during the campaign against the city of Mobile and its defenses, and the
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After the close of the war, Comstock served on the military commission for the trial of the conspirators in the assassination of President
368:
reorganized the Army of the Potomac in the spring of 1863, Comstock was removed as chief engineer of that army and placed in command of a
545:), to rank from March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services in the campaign ending with the capture of Mobile, Alabama, and the
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1055:
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confirmed the award on February 14, 1865. He returned to Virginia and to his role as Grant's senior aide, but did not remain long.
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of the army and personally conveying Grant's orders to the corps commanders. His efforts were particularly successful during the
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563:
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of the north and northwestern lakes of the United States, and was president for many years of the Mississippi River Commission.
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Comstock was advanced to brigadier general on the retired list in April 1904. He died in New York City and was buried at the
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removed Comstock from the commission due to Comstock's protests. The rationale for the removal, as explained to Comstock by
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in December 1864. The fort was the last Confederate stronghold on the east coast. Serving under the command of Maj. Gen.
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347:, a debacle which proved to be one of the most challenging of his career. Due to confusion in Washington, D.C. at the
264:
401:. The impression that Comstock made on Grant would have a significant impact on Comstock's career later in the war.
453:
for which Comstock won a commendation from Grant and a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel in the Regular Army.
409:
373:
83:
237:, both of which were successful. By the end of the war, Comstock had earned the awards of the honorary grades of
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602:
450:
357:
296:
in the Regular Army, was transferred from West Point to Washington, D.C. He became an assistant to Brig. Gen.
245:
79:
324:. He continued with the Army of the Potomac through the remainder of the Peninsular Campaign and through the
893:
404:
Comstock remained with the Army of the Tennessee into the fall of 1863. On November 19, he became assistant
218:
The most significant phase of Comstock's career began in November 1864 when he was appointed to the staff of
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succeeded McClellan and appointed Comstock the chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac. During the
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445:. During the campaign, Comstock played a key role in coordinating the movements of the various
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titled: Some Descendants of Samuel Comstock of Providence, R.I. Who Died About 1660'
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In 1862, he was transferred to the field, eventually becoming chief engineer of the
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When the Army of the Potomac took the field in the spring of 1862 during Maj. Gen.
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605:, the award in the amount of $ 20,000 is granted every five years by the Academy.
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872:
C. B. Comstock Papers: A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
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Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: a Political, Social and Military History
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351:, the materials necessary for the construction of the bridges did not arrive at
279:, to Nathan and Betsy Comstock on February 3, 1831, Cyrus Comstock attended the
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Lincoln's Assassins: A Complete Account of Their Capture, Trial, and Punishment
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commissions including the Permanent Board of Engineers in New York City, the
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In 1907, he published an expanded version of the Comstock genealogy titled
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A Comstock Genealogy Descendants of William Comstock of New London, Conn.
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At the commencement of the Civil War, Comstock, then holding the rank of
229:. In 1865, Comstock was appointed the senior engineer in the assault on
495:
and assisted in operations leading to the surrender of Mobile after the
587:
384:
After the Battle of Chancellorsville, Comstock was transferred to the
924:. Washington, D.C.: The Adjutant-General's Office. 1909. p. 441
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of engineers. In that capacity, he played an important role in the
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423:
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The Fredericksburg Campaign : winter war on the Rappahannock
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It included ten generations of descendants of William Comstock.
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In 1869, Comstock married Elizabeth "Minnie" Blair, daughter of
183:(February 3, 1831 – May 29, 1910) was a career officer in the
339:, Comstock was faced with the difficult task of constructing
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in April 1865. While Comstock was serving in Alabama, Gen.
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on January 23, 1865 for the award of the honorary grade of
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Staff of Lt. Gen. Ulysses Grant c. 1864 in a photograph by
537:
nominated Comstock for the award of the honorary grade of
530:
confirmed the award on March 12, 1866. On April 10, 1866,
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nominated Comstock for the award of the honorary grade of
511:, essentially ending the Civil War. On January 13, 1866,
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Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
416:
of volunteers. He served in this role until March 1864.
699:
List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
1007:. Springfield, Massachusetts: Clark W. Bryan & Co.
642:
Some Descendants of Samuel Comstock of Providence, R.I.
894:"Academy Honors 16 for Major Contributions to Science"
187:
Army of the United States. After graduating from the
432:. Bvt. Brig. Gen. Cyrus Comstock is at the far right.
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1050:. Jefferson, North Carolina: MacFarland & Co.
1192:People of Massachusetts in the American Civil War
1111:. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press.
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1152:National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir
191:at West Point in 1855, Comstock served with the
1187:United States Army Corps of Engineers personnel
1065:Heidler, David S.; Heidler, Jeanne T. (2000).
8:
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900:. The National Academies. January 16, 2004
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1142:C.B. Comstock Papers, Library of Congress
1090:. Gaithersburg: Olde Soldier Books, Inc.
1004:Massachusetts in the War, 1861–1865
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388:which was, at that time, involved in the
211:, he served as the chief engineer of the
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199:, he assisted with the fortification of
1086:Hunt, Roger D.; Brown, Jack R. (1990).
1029:. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
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704:Massachusetts in the American Civil War
593:Comstock was a prominent member of the
436:On March 12, 1864, Grant was appointed
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16:United States Army general (1831–1910)
1182:United States Military Academy alumni
1147:Cyrus Ballou Comstock at Find-A-Grave
233:, North Carolina, and the assault on
7:
549:confirmed the award on May 4, 1866.
1177:People from Wrentham, Massachusetts
1133:Works by or about Cyrus B. Comstock
1105:O'Reilly, Francis Augustin (2003).
361:dangerously exposed to enemy fire.
1071:. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
14:
1088:Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue
898:News from the National Academies
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626:United States Postmaster General
564:assassination of Abraham Lincoln
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874:. The Library of Congress. 2003
541:brigadier general, U.S. Army, (
509:Battle of Appomattox Courthouse
507:surrendered to Grant after the
1207:Burials at West Point Cemetery
281:United States Military Academy
189:United States Military Academy
1:
410:Department of the Mississippi
267:, of which he was president.
595:National Academy of Sciences
441:summer of 1864 known as the
265:Mississippi River Commission
161:Department of North Carolina
195:. At the beginning of the
1223:
1023:; Eicher, John H. (2001).
953:. May 30, 1910. p. 11
374:Battle of Chancellorsville
225:, becoming Grant's senior
691:American Civil War portal
603:Comstock Prize in Physics
30:
1001:Bowen, James L. (1889).
977:Army Cemeteries Explorer
973:"Comstock, Cyrus Ballou"
451:Battle of the Wilderness
358:Fredericksburg, Virginia
80:United States of America
1044:Chamlee, Roy Z (1990).
1026:Civil War High Commands
786:Heidler, 475–476.
337:Fredericksburg Campaign
277:Wrentham, Massachusetts
193:Army Corps of Engineers
46:Wrentham, Massachusetts
921:Official Army Register
601:. Today known as the
501:Battle of Fort Blakely
497:Battle of Spanish Fort
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207:. In 1863 during the
746:Bowen, 901–903.
654:link to his 1905 Book
558:Lincoln assassination
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420:General Grant's staff
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386:Army of the Tennessee
213:Army of the Tennessee
181:Cyrus Ballou Comstock
156:Army of the Tennessee
106:Years of service
25:Cyrus Ballou Comstock
818:Hunt and Brown, 125.
1197:Union Army colonels
868:"Biographical Note"
610:West Point Cemetery
479:brigadier general,
460:'s failure to take
318:Peninsular Campaign
314:George B. McClellan
308:Army of the Potomac
302:Army of the Potomac
205:Army of the Potomac
151:Army of the Potomac
69:West Point Cemetery
951:The New York Times
624:who had served as
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414:lieutenant colonel
390:Siege of Vicksburg
380:Siege of Vicksburg
353:Falmouth, Virginia
345:Rappahannock River
209:Siege of Vicksburg
197:American Civil War
173:American Civil War
96:United States Army
58:New York, New York
1118:978-0-8071-2809-1
443:Overland Campaign
406:inspector general
399:Mississippi River
326:Maryland Campaign
288:Civil War service
250:brigadier general
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612:two days later.
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572:Secretary of War
438:general-in-chief
412:and promoted to
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364:When Maj. Gen.
341:pontoon bridges
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1172:1910 deaths
1167:1831 births
979:. U.S. Army
630:Great Lakes
547:U.S. Senate
528:U.S. Senate
485:U.S. Senate
462:Fort Fisher
248:and brevet
231:Fort Fisher
1161:Categories
995:References
983:August 18,
957:August 18,
928:August 18,
651:Here is a
331:Maj. Gen.
271:Early life
100:Union Army
76:Allegiance
904:April 24,
878:April 24,
636:Genealogy
532:President
513:President
470:President
370:battalion
343:over the
109:1855–1895
663:See also
499:and the
322:II Corps
275:Born in
220:Lt. Gen.
146:II Corps
139:Commands
90:Service/
1135:at the
1013:1986476
408:of the
252:in the
244:in the
185:Regular
122:Colonel
1115:
1094:
1075:
1054:
1033:
1011:
616:Family
539:brevet
520:brevet
477:brevet
239:brevet
130:Brevet
92:branch
64:Buried
947:(PDF)
710:Notes
447:corps
394:major
84:Union
1113:ISBN
1092:ISBN
1073:ISBN
1052:ISBN
1031:ISBN
1009:OCLC
985:2022
959:2022
930:2022
906:2010
880:2010
114:Rank
52:Died
40:Born
316:'s
1163::
975:.
949:.
896:.
870:.
859:^
809:^
763:^
751:^
729:^
717:^
632:.
328:.
304:.
256:.
215:.
1121:.
1100:.
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