Rufus Ingalls

After graduation from West Point in 1843 he served with the US Rifles, then, from 1845, in the 1st US Dragoons, as Lieutenant. He saw action in the Mexican War (1847-8), and was promoted to Captain and Assistant Quartermaster in 1848. He then served on expeditions and posts in the West.

He returned east at the outbreak of the War in early 1861, serving first at Fort Pickens, Florida, then at Washington DC. He was Lieutenant Colonel and ADC in September 1861, and promoted from Captain to Major, Regular Army, in January 1862. He joined the Army of the Potomac as Chief Quartermaster in mid-1862 on the Peninsula Campaign.

He was Chief QM, AoP, on General McClellan's staff at Antietam.

He was promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers in May 1863, and continued in service with the Army of the Potomac through 1864, then he was Chief Quartermaster for all the armies operating around Richmond until the end of the war.

He continued his US Army career in the Quartermaster Corps, appointed Lieutenant Colonel, USA, on 27 July 1866 and Colonel, Assistant QM General the next day. He was at headquarters in Washington, and depots in New York, San Francisco and Chicago. He was promoted Brigadier General and Quartermaster of the Army in February 1882 and retired from active duty the next year.

He lived in Oregon til 1891 when he moved to New York City.

Service dates from Heitman 1 and biographical details from the US Army QM Museum.2

8/23/1819; Denmark, ME

1/15/1893; New York City, NY