Identifier: newyorkstatesprov2harr (find matches)
Title: New York State's prominent and progressive men : an encyclopaedia of contemporaneous biography
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Harrison, Mitchell Charles, 1870-
Subjects: Civic leaders
Publisher: (New York) : New York Tribune
Contributing Library: Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
Digitizing Sponsor: Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

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1825, and was educated atthe United States Military Academy, West Point. He wasgraduated in the class of 1847, and was assigned to service inMexico, under General Scott, as a second lieutenant. After-ward he served under General Zachary Taylor. In 1853 heresigned, and took up his residence in New York city. From 1854 to 1856 he was State Engineer of New Jersey, andconducted a geodetic survey of that State. His design for Cen-tral Park, New York, was adopted by the Board of Park Com-missioners, and he was appointed chief engineer. This led tohis being chosen to design Prospect Park, Brooklyn, in 1860; butthe outbreak of the Rebellion caused him to leave his plans in thehands of others. Meantime he had instituted in New York a strongmovement toward sanitary reform. To his initiative is largelyto be credited the system of official supervision of sanitation. Reentering the United States service, he was the first to openthe passage of the Potomac to the defense of the national capital. 354
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GENERAL EGBERT L. VIELE 355 He was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers on Aug-ust 17,1861. In 1862 he was assigned as second in command ofthe land forces of the South Atlantic expedition. The capture ofFort Pulaski was due to him; also the capitulation of Norfolk,Virginia. Here he held the position of military governor for ayear and a half. Being called upon to superintend the draftingof troops, he went to northern Ohio for that purpose, and onOctober 20, 1863, he retired from the service. In 1885 he was elected a member of the Forty-ninth Congressfrom the Thirteenth New York District, and served on the officialboard of visitors to West Point. The report of the board byhim resulted in the execution of some noteworthy improvementsin the academy. He also secured the action of the governmentthat led to the construction of the Harlem Ship Canal. His Handbook for Active Service was extensively usedduring the Civil War. His Life of General Robert Anderson is highly interesting and

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