The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

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Capt. Humphrey lived on the paternal farm, attending public school, until about the close
of i860, when he was sent to the Academy at Oswego, N. Y., where he remained until 1862.
He was then sent to the male department of the Seward Institute, at Florida, Orange Co., N. Y.,
which school he subsequently left to enter the army, as he then supposed for the war only. But
circumstances changed his mind; his superiors thought him adapted to the profession of arms,
which opinion has been fully justified by his subsequent career.
He was appointed from Army: Private, Corporal, Sergeant, and ist Sergeant, Battery E,
5th U. S. Artillery, 17 Mch., 1S63, to 28 June, 1866; 2d Lieut. 5th U. S. Ardllery, 8 May;
accepted 28 June; transferred to 4th U. S. Artillery, 23 Oct.; ist Lieut. 21 May, 186S; Captain
and Assistant-Quartermaster 23 June; 1879; accepted 9 July, 1879.
Was furloughed "for soldierly conduct" during the campaign of 1864, of the Army of the
Potomac, on recommendation of Brev. Maj. W. A. Horn, commanding Artillery Brigade; Brev.
Maj. Gen. Commanding Geo. W. Getty, approved by Maj. Gen. Parke, headquarters Army of
the Potomac; and was about' that time recommended, through the regular channels, for com-
mission in the Artillery. Was slightly wounded at the battle of Sailors Creek, Va., 6 Apr., 1865;
and was present, with his corps, at Appomattox Court House, at the surrender of General
Lee, 9 Apr., 1865. On the disbanding of the Army of die Potomac, was in camp near Wash-
ington, D. C, with regular light artillery batteries of that army, to Aug., 1865; then ordered
south, serving at Fort Moultrie, Port Royal, Beaufort, Key West and Barranca's Barracks, to
May, 1866. Ordered, i Mch., 1866, to Annapolis, Md'., for examination for commission; com-
plied with order in May, and returned to Barranca's Barracks. Ordered to Fort Monroe, head-
quarters 5th U. S. Artillery, in Jaly, and subsequently ordered back to Barranca's Barracks.
Having been transferred, by the War Department, to the 4th Regiment of Ardllery, joined
that regiment at Fort McHenry, Md., in Mch., 1867; ordered to Fort Whipple, Va.; on garrison
duty at that place to May. Adjutant of the Sub-district of Alexandria, ist Military District, to
July, 1 868; on duty with his regiment at Fort JilcHenry, Md., to Jan., 1869; at Fort Wayne,
Mich., to Mch., 1870; at Fort Johnston, N. C, to July, 1870; at Fort IMonroe, Va. (Field
Adjutant of the Artillery School), to May, 1871; at Fort Johnston, N. C, to Nov., 1S72; at Fort
Point, San Jose, Cal., to Apr., 1873; at Artillery SctteSlj^Sbi-t Monroe, Va., to May, 1874; at
Fort Point, San Jose, Cal., to June, 1876; at Sitka," Alaska, to October, 1876; at Fort Wrangel,
Alaska, to June, 1877; with Gen. Howard's column, operating against hostile Nez Perces under
Chief Joseph, in Idaho, Montana and Dakota Territories, to Oct., 1S77.
Was engaged in the batde of Clear Water, Idaho Territorv, 11 and 12 July, being slightly
wounded, and in the skirmish at Kamia, Idaho, 13 July; with the cavalry in tlie affair at Camas
Meadows, Idaho, 20 Aug. Was specially commended in Gen. Howard's report of Nez Perces
campaign.*
1815, at Frederickstadt, Island of Santa Craz, Danish West Indies, (dau. of Joseph Da Costa, Jr., born in Aug., 1766, in Boston, Mass.,
and died 8 Apr., 1837, at Frederickstadt, pnd Sarah Smith, bom in 1783. at Santa Cruz, Danish West Indies) and sister of John Da
Costa, of Philadelphia, Pa., and died there 7 Apr., 1836. She was dau. of William and Mary Eliz.abeth (White) Smith, both natives of
the Island of Santa Cruz. Joseph' Da Costa, Jr , was son of Joseph Da Costa, Sr., bom in Boston, Mass.: died in 1782: and his wife,
Catherine Andrews, of Nova Scotia.
Edw.ard Shepard Foster was son of Edward Samuel Foster, bora on the Island of Santa Cruz, Dan. W. I., and Eliz.abeth Shepard,
a native of London, Eng.; and grandson ot Edward Samuel Foster, bom in London, Eng., and Eliza Farrington Smith, bom on Island of
Santa Cruz, D.an. W. I.
• HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE COLUMBIA,
Portland, Oregon, December ai, 1879.
To the Assistant Adjutant-General, Military Division of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.:
Sir.—I wish to make special mention of the following officers who served under my command dunng the late expedition against
hostile NezPerces.
First Lieut. Charles F. Humphrey, 4th Artillerj'.—He commanded Co. E, 4th Artillery, at the battle of the Clear Water, on the
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iilh of July, and Company A on the 12th of July. His batt.allion commander says of him: "He exposed himself on so m
that I will not attempt to enumerate them. A hint 10 him was sufficient, no matter what the danger. He and his comprtu, »w.