History of Elmwood, (Baltimore County) Maryland United States of America

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Arnold Elzy, soldier, was born at Elmwood, Md., Dec. 18, 1816; son of Arnold Elzy and Annie Wilson (Jackson) Jones; and a descendant of John Elzy who received a commission from Governor Calvert in 1661 to form a settlement on the eastern shore of Maryland. He was graduated from the U.S. military academy in 1837 and served in the Florida war, 1837-38, and on the northern frontier during the Canadian disturbances, 1838-39. He was promoted 1st lieutenant, Nov. 12, 1839; was in garrison in various posts in New York state and at Fort Adams, R.I., 1840-45; in military occupation of Texas, 1845-46; and served in the war with Mexico, 1846-48, engaging in the siege of Vera Cruz, the battle of Cerro Gordo, the capture of San Antonio, the battles of Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey and Chapultepec, and the assault and capture of the city of Mexico. He was brevetted captain, Aug. 20, 1847, for gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco. He served as adjutant, 2d artillery, 1847-48; in garrison in Virginia and North Carolina, 1848-49, and in the Florida war with the Seminoles, 1849-50. He was promoted captain, Feb. 14, 1849, and served in garrison and on frontier duty until 1861. He resigned, April 25, 1861, and joined the Confederate army with the rank of colonel, gaining promotion to the rank of brigadier-general. In 1852, by permission of the legislature, he adopted the surname Elzy in compliance with the wish of his father, as the family name bad become extinct with the marriage of his paternal grandmother. After the close of the war he engaged in planting near Jessup's Cut, Anne Arundel county, Md. He was married in 1845 to Ellen, daughter of Henry Irwin of Huntington county, Pa. He died in Baltimore, Md., Feb. 21, 1871.

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

History of Elmwood, (Baltimore County) Maryland

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