History of Galesburg, (Kalamazoo County) Michigan United States of America

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William Rufus Shafter, soldier, was born in Galesburg, Mich., Oct. 16, 1835; son of Hugh Moris and Eliza (Summer) Shafter; grandson of William R. and May (Lovell) Shafter, and of Mathias and Sarah (Berry) Summer. He attended the public schools of the neighborhood while a boy, working on his father's farm until 1860, and there taught school winters until 1861. In 1861 be entered the Prairie seminary, and on June 28, 1861, he was commissioned 1st lieutenant, 7th Michigan volunteers, enlisted for three years' service. He took part in the battle of Ball's Bluff, Oct. 22, 1861, and in the Peninsular campaign of 1862. He was honorably discharged, Aug. 22, 1862, and accepted the commission of major, 19th Michigan infantry. He was married, Sept. 11, 1862, to Harriet, daughter of Paul and Anna (Simons) Grimes of Athens, Mich., who died Jan. 14, 1898. He was mustered as major of the 19th Michigan volunteers, Sept. 5, 1862. His service lay in Kentucky and Tennessee, and in March, 1863, he was taken prisoner of war at Thompson's Station, Tenn., and was exchanged in the following May. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel of his regiment, June 5, 1863; was honorably discharged, April 18, 1864, and the following day was commissioned colonel, 17th U.S. colored infantry. He was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious service during the war, and Nov. 2, 1866, he was mastered out of the volunteer service. He entered the regular army as lieutenant-colonel, 41st U.S. infantry, Jan. 26, 1867, and on March 2, 1867, was brevetted colonel and presented with a congressional medal of honor "for gallant conduct in the battle of Fair Oaks, Va." He was assigned to the 24th U.S. infantry, April 14, 1869, and on March 4, 1879, was promoted colonel and assigned to the 1st U.S. infantry. He was promoted brigadier-general, May 1, 1874, and was assigned to the Department of Columbia, but was soon transferred to that of California. Upon the outbreak of hostilities with Spain, he was commissioned major-general of volunteers, May 4, 1898, and on accepting the same, May 9, 1898, was given command of the expedition sent to Cuba, June 14, the largest expedition that ever left the United States. He arrived at Daiquiri, June 21, captured Siboney, June 23, Guasimas on the 24th, E1 Caney and San Juan Hill, July 1, and on July 14, all the troops under General Zoral (the 4th corps of the Spanish army) in the eastern portion of Cuba surrendered (a total of about 24,000 men), and General Shafter remained in possession until peace was declared. In October, 1898, he was assigned to the command of the Department of the East, but was soon transferred to the Department of California and the Columbia. He was retired as brigadier-general, U.S.A., by operation of law, Oct. 16, 1899, but remained in command of the Department of California and the Columbia, under his volunteer commission until June 30, 1901, when he was retired with the rank of major-general by act of congress, Feb. 2, 1901.

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

History of Galesburg, (Kalamazoo County) Michigan

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