Samuel B. Holabird
Samuel B. Holabird was a career officer in the United States Army. A Union Army veteran of the American Civil War, Holabird attained the rank of brigadier general and is most notable for his service as the Army's Quartermaster General, a position he held from 1883 to 1890.
Early life
Samuel Beckley Holabird was born in Canaan, Connecticut on June 16, 1826, the son of Hoatio Nelson Holabird and Amanda Malvina Holabird. He was educated in Canaan and at Winsted Academy in Winchester, Connecticut and Amenia Seminary in Amenia, New York. Holabird attended the United States Military Academy and graduated in 1849 ranked 31st in a class of 43. He received his commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry, and was assigned to the 1st Infantry Regiment at Fort Brown, Texas.Start of career
Holabird performed frontier and scouting duties at Fort Brown, Fort Duncan and Fort McIntosh from 1849 to 1850. He received his permanent commission as a second lieutenant on June 10, 1850.From 1850 to 1858, Holabird performed quartermaster, frontier, and scouting duties at Ringgold Barracks, Fort Terrett, Fort Duncan, and Fort McKavett. He was promoted to first lieutenant on May 31, 1855. From 1858 to 1859, Holabird was on recruiting duty, and he served as the adjutant of the United States Military Academy from 1859 to 1861. On May 13, 1861, Holabird was promoted to captain.
American Civil War
Holabird served as quartermaster of the Union Army encampment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from June to August, 1861. He was quartermaster of the camp in Frederick, Maryland from August, 1861 to July, 1862. He was quartermaster of the division commanded by Nathaniel P. Banks in July and August of 1862, followed by assignment as the quartermaster of the Army of Virginia's II Corps. Holabird took part in the Northern Virginia campaign, then served with the Army of the Potomac during the Maryland campaign, including the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862.He was chief quartermaster of the Department of the Gulf from December 1862 to July, 1865, and participated in the Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana from May 25 to July 9, 1863. Holabird became ill in Louisiana and was on sick leave from July 13, 1863 to October 1, 1865. While he recovered, Holabird translated Antoine-Henri Jomini's Treatise on Grand Military Operations from French to English, enabling the U.S. military to make use of Jomini's work. He served as depot quartermaster in New Orleans from October 1 to December 16, 1865. From October 1, 1865 to March 7, 1866, Holabird was the chief quartermaster of the Department of Louisiana.
Holabird received a brevet promotion to major to recognize his distinguished service and he was promoted to the permanent rank of major on July 2, 1862. He received a temporary promotion to colonel on July 11, 1862. At the end of the war, he received brevet promotions to lieutenant colonel, colonel, and brigadier general to recognize the superior service he displayed during the course of the war.
Post-Civil War
After the war, Holabird reverted to his permanent rank of major. From March, 1866 to February, 1867, he was assigned to Washington, D.C. to settle the Department of the Gulf's wartime accounts and claims. On July 29, 1866, Holabird was promoted to lieutenant colonel.From March 12, 1867 to May 1, 1872, Holabird was chief quartermaster of the Department of Dakota. He was chief quartermaster of the Department of Texas from June 6, 1872 to August 15, 1875 and the Military Division of the Missouri from November 1, 1875 to May 6, 1878.
Holabird was chief quartermaster of the Department of the Pacific and Department of California from May, 1878 to October, 1879. From November 11, 1879 to April 30, 1882, he served as the Army's Assistant Quartermaster General. Holabird received promotion to colonel on January 22, 1881. He commanded the army's Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot from May 1, 1882 to July 1, 1883.
Quartermaster General
Holabird was promoted to brigadier general on July 1, 1883 and assigned as Quartermaster General of the United States Army. He held the post until his retirement from the army on June 16, 1890.As Quartermaster General, Holabird oversaw the effort to resolve pending civilian claims for property lost, damaged, or appropriated by the military during the Civil War, the last of which was settled in 1889. Holabird also undertook an effort to enhance soldier facilities and living conditions, including improvements to uniforms and personal equipment, and new or refurnished barracks, mess halls, storehouses, and hospitals.
Holabird also undertook an unsuccessful initiative to professionalize the Army's Quartermaster Corps. Under the prevailing system, soldiers from the Army's basic branches, including Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery, performed quartermaster duties on an as-needed basis. Under Holabirds's plan, the Army would have created approximately 1,300 positions for soldiers to permanently serve as quartermaster clerks, teamsters, and laborers.
Retirement and death
In retirement, Holabird was a resident first of Evanston, Illinois, then of Washington, DC. He died in Washington on February 3, 1907 and was buried at the United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery.Legacy
Holabird was an inventor and was credited with the creation and fielding of the Army's first pup tent and canvas fatigue uniform.The U.S. Army Transport Ship General S. B. Holabird, which was active in the years prior to and during World War I, was named for him.
Fort Holabird, a U.S. Army post in Baltimore, Maryland that operated from 1918 to 1973, was named for him.
Family
In 1849, Holabird married Mary Theodosia Grant. They were the parents of three children -- Agnes, Mary, and William Holabird. Agnes Holabird was the wife of Paul von Kurowsky. Their daughter Agnes von Kurowsky was a Red Cross nurse who cared for Ernest Hemingway after he was wounded during World War I, and was his inspiration for the heroine in A Farewell to Arms.William Holabird became a prominent architect based in Chicago. His daughter Mary was the wife of U.S. Army general William Mackey Cruikshank.