Ralph Wilson Kirkham

RALPH W. KIRKHAM

(Ap'd Mas.)

Ralph Wilson Kirkham: Born Feb. 20, 1821, Springfield, MA.

• Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1838, to July 1, 1842, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to Bvt. Second Lieut., 2d Infantry, July 1, 1842. Second Lieut., 6th Infantry, Feb. 27, 1843

Served: in garrison at Ft. Niagara, N. Y., 1842‑43; on frontier duty at Ft. Gibson, I. T., 1843‑46, — as Adjutant, 6th Infantry, Jan. 1, 1846, to Oct. 1, 1849; on frontier duty at Ft. Towson, I. T., 1846, — and Ft. Gibson, I. T., 1846‑47; in the War with Mexico, 1846‑48, being engaged in the Skirmish of Amazoque, May 14, 1847, — Capture of San Antonio, Aug. 20, 1847, — Battle of Chapultepec, Aug. 20, 1847, — Battle of Molino del Rey, Sep. 8, 1847, where he was wounded, — Storming of Chapultepec, Sep. 13, 1847, — and Assault and Capture of the City of Mexico, for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in the Storming of Chapultepec, Mex.

• Bvt. First Lieut., Aug. 20, 1847, for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct

in the Battles of Contreras and Churubusco, Mex. (Bvt. Captain, Sep. 13, 1847

Sep. 13‑14, 1847; as Acting Asst. Adjutant-General, 6th Military Department, headquarters at St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 6, 1848, to Oct. 1, 1849; as Quartermaster, 6th Infantry, Oct. 1, 1849, to Nov. 16, 1854, at Ft. Snelling, Min., 1849‑51, — and Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 1851‑54; and on

Quartermaster duty at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 1854‑55, Captain, Staff — Asst. Quartermaster, Nov. 16, 1854.

• First Lieut., 6th Infantry, Jan. 7, 1851, to Dec. 24, 1856

At Ft. Tejon, Cal., 1855‑57; in waiting orders, and on leave of absence, 1857‑58; and on Quartermaster duty at Ft. Walla Walla, Wash., 1858‑61.

Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1861‑66: as Chief

(Major, Staff — Quartermaster, Feb. 26, 1863)

Quartermaster of the Department of the Pacific, Aug. 31, 1861, to June 27,

(Bvt. Lieut.‑Col., and Bvt. Colonel, Mar. 13, 1865, for Faithful and Meritorious Services during the Rebellion)

(Bvt. Brig.‑General, U. S. Army, Mar. 13, 1865, for Faithful and Meritorious Services in the Quartermaster's Department during the Rebellion)

1865, — and of the Department of California, June 27, 1865, to Nov. 14, 1866. p140 Served: as Chief Quartermaster of the Department of California,

(Lieut.‑Col., Staff — Dep. Quartermaster-Gen., July 29, 1866)

Nov. 14, 1866, to Dec. 5, 1868; and on leave of absence in Europe, Dec. 5, 1868, to Oct. 1, 1869; and in charge of Depot of Camp Clothing and Garrison Equipage, San Francisco, Cal., Dec. 8, 1869, to Feb. 1, 1870.

Resigned, Feb. 10, 1870.

Civil History. — Residence, Oakland, Cal.

[Supplement, Vol. IV: 1890‑1900, p. 59]

Died May 23, 1893, at Oakland, Cal.: Aged 72. Buried, Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, CA.

U. S. M. A. Class of 1842 Cullum's Register History of West Point © Bill Thayer. CLASS OF 1842. Vol. II p. 1391147