History of Seattle, (King County) Washington United States of America

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August Valentine Kautz, soldier, was born in Ispringen, Germany, Jan. 5, 1828; son of George and Dorothe Kautz. He attended the public school and afterward engaged in farming, He enlisted in the 1st Ohio volunteers for service in the Mexican war and returning home in 1848, he was appointed to the U.S. Military academy, where he was graduated in 1852. He was assigned to the 4th infantry as 2d lieutenant, served in the northwest and was wounded during the Rogue river hostilities of 1853-55 and again on Puget sound in 1856. He was promoted 1st lieutenant in 1855, captain in the 6th U.S. cavalry in 1861, and colonel of the 2d Ohio volunteer cavalry in 1862. He led a cavalry brigade into Kentucky and participated in the capture of Monticello in 1863; and in thwarting Morgan's raid and affecting his capture in July, 1863. He served with the Army of the Ohio as chief of cavalry of the 23d corps and was transferred to the east, where he was given command of the cavalry division organized by General Grant during the last days of April, 1864, and made up of the brigades of Colonels Mix and Spear of the Army of the James. He operated against the Danville Railroad, May 12, 1864; against the intrenched Confederate army at Petersburg (in conjunction with the infantry under General Gillmore) June 10, 1864; and took part in the four days' battles, June 12-16, 1864, in which his efforts were seconded by the colored troops under General Hinks. On June 22 he met the enemy on the railroad south of Richmond and Petersburg; on June 26 at Burkeville, and on October 13 at Frayser's Farm. As commander of the 1st division, 25th army corps, he took part in the movement leading to the surrender of the Confederate army at Appomattox and led his division of colored troops into the city of Richmond, April 3, 1865. He received the brevets of major in 1863, lieutenant-colonel, brigadier-general and major-general in 1864. He was also brevetted colonel in the regular service for gallant and meritorious services at Darbytown road, Va., and brigadier-general and major-general in March, 1865, for gallant field services. In 1865 he served on the military commission to try the conspirators involved in the assassination of President Lincoln. He was assigned to the 34th infantry and transferred to the 15th infantry which he commanded during the Mescalero Apache campaign and succeeded in establishing the Indians in their reservations. In June, 1874, he was promoted colonel and assigned to the 8th infantry. He was commander of the Department of Arizona in 1875-77; was stationed at Angel Island, Cal., 1878-86, and then at Niobrara, Neb., 1886-90. He was appointed brigadier-general in the regular army, April 20, 1891, and was retired, Jan. 5, 1892. His published works include: The Company Clerk (1863); Customs of Service for Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers (1864); Customs of Service for Officers (1866); Operations South of the James River in "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" (Vol. IV., p. 533). He died at Seattle, Wash., Sept. 4, 1895.

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

History of Seattle, (King County) Washington

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