History of Enfield, (Hampshire County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Henry Martyn Lazelle, soldier, was born in Enfield, Mass., Sept. 8, 1832; son of Joseph and Roxana (Coleman) Lazelle; grandson of Jacob Lazelle, and a descendant of one of four brothers Lazelle who removed from France to the Province of Quebec in 1630. He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy in 1855, and brevetted 2d lieutenant in the 1st infantry. He was promoted 2d lieutenant and assigned to the 8th infantry, Oct. 9, 1855, and served on the Texan and New Mexican frontiers against the Apaches, 1857-59, and during a fight with Indians in the Sacramento mountains in 1859, he was severely wounded in the lungs. He was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, and at the outbreak of the civil war was captured by the Confederates, May 8, 1861, and held as a prisoner of war until July 28, 1862, when he was exchanged. He was promoted 1st lieutenant, April 27, 1861, and captain, June 11, 1861, and served as assistant commissary-general of prisoners at Washington, D.C., 1862-63; was agent for the exchange of prisoners of war in the west in August, 1862, and was appointed colonel of the 16th New York cavalry, Oct. 23, 1863, commanding that regiment in the operations against Mosby's partisans. He was given command of the cavalry brigade of the 22d army corps in 1864; resigned his commission in the volunteer service, Oct. 19, 1864, and was brevetted major in the U.S. army, Sept. 19, 1864, "for gallant and meritorious service in action near Culpeper, Va." He served as assistant provost-marshal-general and as inspector-general; was promoted major, Dec. 15, 1874, lieutenant-colonel, June 26, 1882; and was sent to India as representative of the United States at the military manoeuvres of 1885. He was assistant inspector-general of the department of the Columbia, 1885-87, and succeeded Col. Robert N. Scott as head of the bureau of publication of war records at Washington, D.C., 1887-89. He was promoted colonel of the 18th U.S. infantry, Feb. 17, 1889; was retired for disability in line of duty, Nov. 26, 1894, and settled in Virginia, where he engaged in farming. He edited: Records of the Rebellion (1887-89), and is the author of: One Law in Nature (1872); Matter, Force and Spirit (1895), and a prize essay, Improvements in the Art of War (1882), besides many articles for periodicals.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Enfield, (Hampshire County) Massachusetts

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