The Cogswells in America - citizen hylbom blog

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MILTON COGSWELL.
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Milton^ Cogswell, {Fra?icis Beard", William', Jolnf', Bcnjamiii'\
Joshua^, SamueP, yohn-, yohn^), son of Hon. Francis Beard* 1 1682 l and
Sally (Thorn) Cogswell, was born Dec. 4, 1825, in Noblesville, Ind. He
married, Oct. 17, i860, Susan M. Lane, daughter of William Jared and
Parmelia (Hubbell) Lane. She was born Jan. 2, 1826, in New York
City. They resided in Plainfield, N. J., New York City, and Washing-
ton, D. C. Col. Cogswell died Nov. 20, 18S2.
.Sis.AN Whili: V, [2460] b. Aug. 14, i.sr.i.
THEIR ONLY CHILD WAS :
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Mii.ToN Cogswell was tlie first child of American parentage born in Nobles-
ville, Ind. At the age of seventeen years he left home, having received the
appointment as a Cadet of the Military Academy in West Point, N. Y. .\fter
a successful course of study and an honorable record, he graduated in 1849,
and was made Brevet Second Lieutenant, Fourth Infantry. U. S. A., July 1,
1849. Shortly after, Aug. 4, 1849, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant,
Eighth Infantry, U. S. A. After a few months in the garrison, Sackett's
Harbor, New York, and a year of frontier service in Fort Graham, Texas,
Lieut. Cogswell was ordered to West Point as Assistant Professor of Mathe-
matics and Assistant Instructor of Infantry Tactics. He held these positions
from Aug. 29. 1851, to Sept. 30, 1855. About this time, Aug. 15, 1855, '^^
was promoted to First Lieutenant, Eighth Infantry, U. S. A., and the next five
years were spent on the frontier at different forts in New Mexico and Texas.
He was engaged in topographical engineering, scouting, exploring, and fighting
the Indians. In 1S60-61 he was on recruiting service, and May 13, 1861, was
commissioned Captain of Eighth Infantry, U. S. A The Rebellion having
commenced, Capt. Cogswell was commissioned July i, 1861, Colonel of tlic
Forty second Regiment of New York Volunteers. He was in command of
his regiment in the battle of Ball's Blufif, Oct. 21, 1861, and when Gen. Raker
fell tlie command of the troops devolved upon Col. Cogswell, who displayed
great heroism and ability in battle; but he was severely wounded, captured
by the Rebels, and held a prisoner of war about eleven months. Col. Cogswell
during this imprisonment was selected as one of the hostages for the safety of
the Rebel privateers captured in Chesapeake Bay, and held by the United
States Government. These hostages were kept in close confinement in Hen-
rico County Jail, and were sentenced to execution one day, on the following