George K. Brady

George Keyports Brady
2nd Commander of the Department of Alaska
In office
September 1, 1870 – September 22, 1870
PresidentUlysses S. Grant
Preceded byJefferson C. Davis
Succeeded byJohn C. Tidball
Personal details
Born
George Keyports Brady

(1838-12-09)December 9, 1838
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
DiedJanuary 20, 1899(1899-01-20) (aged 60)
Chicago, Illinois
RelationsJasper Ewing Brady (father)

Samuel Brady (great-uncle)
Hugh Brady (great-uncle)

Cyrus Townsend Brady (nephew)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
Branch/service United States Army
Union Army
Years of service1861–94
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Unit23rd U.S. Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

American Indian Wars

George Keyports Brady (December 9, 1838 – January 20, 1899) was an officer in the United States Army who served as the second commander of the Department of Alaska, from September 1, 1870, to September 22, 1870.

Early life

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Brady was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, on December 9, 1838. He was the son of Jasper Ewing Brady, a lawyer who later served as a Whig member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, and whose uncles included noted Indian fighters Samuel Brady and Hugh Brady.[1][2]

Civil War

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At the outbreak of the Civil War, Brady enlisted as a private in the 12th Pennsylvania Infantry. On July 8, 1861, he accepted a commission as a first lieutenant in the Regular Army's 14th Infantry Regiment. He served in this regiment throughout the war, participating in the battles of Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, Chacellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Petersburg, and Weldon Railroad. In the latter battle, he was taken prisoner and held at Libby Prison before being paroled in September 1864.[3] Brady received a promotion to captain on June 10, 1864, and received a brevet as major for his gallantry at Weldon Railroad on August 18, 1864. On March 16, 1865, he was brevetted a lieutenant colonel for his meritorious services during the war.[4]

Later career

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Immediately after the conclusion of the war, the 14th Infantry was sent to the west coast, where Brady was posted at Camp McDowell, Arizona, accompanied by his wife Henrietta Margaret and their baby daughter. The baby died in March 1866. In September 1866, he was transferred to the 23rd Infantry and was posted to Camp Three Forks Owyhee, Idaho, where he took part in the Snake War.[5][6] His son, Mifflin Brodhead Brady, was born in Idaho in July 1868.[4]

From July 1869 to May 1871, Brady's company was posted at Sitka, Alaska, and Brady served briefly as commander of the Department of Alaska.[7] He later served at various posts across the West, including Camp Lowell, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Supply, Fort Union, and Fort Mackinac.[5]

He was promoted to major in the 18th Infantry in March 1886, and was stationed in Denver until May 1889 when he took command of Fort Hays. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 17th Infantry in March 1891 and commanded that regiment at Fort D. A. Russell.[5] Brady retired at his own request on August 16, 1894, and died in Chicago on January 20, 1899.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Illinois Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (1901). Memorials of the Deceased Companions of the Commandery of the State of Illinois, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Chicago, Illinois: Illinois Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. pp. 423–425.
  2. ^ "Jasper Ewing Brady (1797-1871)". Famous Bradys. The Brady Family Heritage Association. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  3. ^ Powell, William H. (1890). Powell's Record of Living Officers of the United States Army. Philadelphia: L. R. Hamersly. p. 80.
  4. ^ a b Murdock, William Gray (1909). Brady Family Reunion and Fragments of Brady History and Biography. Milton, Pennsylvania: William G. Murdock. pp. 104–106.
  5. ^ a b c Altshuler, Constance Wynn (1991). Cavalry Yellow and Infantry Blue: Army Officers in Arizona Between 1851 and 1886. Tucson, Arizona: Arizona Historical Society. p. 41. ISBN 0-910037-28-0.
  6. ^ Michno, Gregory (2007). The Deadliest Indian War in the West: The Snake Conflict, 1864-1868. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Press. pp. 175, 282, 309. ISBN 978-0-87004-460-1.
  7. ^ Gates, Nancy (2006). The Alaska Almanac: Facts About Alaska. Portland, Oregon: Alaska Northwest Books. p. 86. ISBN 0-88240-652-3.
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Military offices
Preceded by Commanders of the Department of Alaska
September 1, 1870 - September 22, 1870
Succeeded by