HUNT, HENRY JAcKSON ( IS] 9-89). An .Amer lean soldier, born in Detroit, Mich. His father, Samuel W. Hunt, was an army officer, and after his death the son was appointed to West Point, where he graduated in 1839. Ile was imme diately assigned to the artillery arm of the service. His first active service was on the Canadian frontier in 1839, during the disturb ances arising from the Canadian Rebellion, after whkb he continued in garrison duty until the Mexican War. He served with the Second Artil lery in Scott's advance from Vera Cruz to the City of :Mexico, distinguishing himself particu larly at Contreras and Churuhuseo. and being twice wounded at the battle of Slolino del Rey (September 8, 1847). lie was brevetted captain and major for his services. He afterwards served on the frontier for some years, and in 1856 was appointed a member of the hoard to revise the sys tem of light-artillery tactics. He was promoted captain in 1S52, and at the outbreak of the Civil War was stationed at Fort Pickens, Fla., from April to June, 1861. Promoted major in May of that year, he connnanded the artillery on the extreme left at the battle of Bull Run. Be was in command of artillery in the defenses of Wash ington in the summer of 1861. and in the Septem ber following was promoted colonel. attached to General McClellan's staff, and assigned to or ganize and command the artillery reserve of the Army of the Potomac. He served throughout the Peninsular campaign, his disposition of the artil lery at the battle of Malvern Hill (July 1. 1862) being especially praiseworthy. and in September
became chief of artillery of the rmy of the Potomac, a position which lie held until the end of the war. Ile participated in the battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862. and on the fol lowing day was appointed brigadier-general of United States volunteers. He served thereafter at Antietam, at Fredericksburg, where his artil lery fire rendered possible the crossing of the Rap pahannock, at Chancellorsville, and at Gettys burg, where the withering fire from his batteries rendered impossible the success of Piekett's bril liant charge and turned the tide of battle in favor of the Federal arms. After serving in the Wil derness campaign with distinction lie continued on Grant's staff until the close of hostilities. re ceiving the brevet ranks of major-general of vol unteers and brigadier-general in the United States -Army. In the winter of 1865-66 he was in com mand of the military district of :\ rkansas. In 1866 he was made colonel in the reorganized army, placed in command of the Fifth Artillery-. and appointed president of the permanent Artil lery Board. Ile commanded the Department of the South from 1880 to 1883, when he retired and became governor of the National Soldiers' "Home at Washington. lie published instruction for Field Artillery (1860), and three articles on the battle of Gettysburg in the Century (New York. ISM). later republished in Battles and Leaders of the Civil War (New York, 1887).