KEARNY, PHILIP (1815-62). An American soldier, prominent in the Mexican and Civil wars, the nephew of Gen. Stephen W. Kearny. He was horn in New York City, graduated at Columbia in B33. and subsequently studied law under Peter A. .lay. In 1837 he entered the United States Army as lieutenant in the First Dragoons, and two years later was one of three officers sent by the United States Government to study the French cavalry service. He spent several months in the cavalry school at Saumur, and then. hav ing secured a leave of absence. volunteered with the First Chasseurs d'Afrique, and served with conspicuous gallantry in the Algerian War. Late in 1840 he returned to the United States. Ile was then successively aide-de-camp to General :Macomb, General-in-chief of the United States Army, from 1SW to 1841, and to General Scutt, the successor of General Macomb, from 1841 to 1844, and subsequently served under his uncle in (ho \Vest. lu April, 1846, he resigned from the army, but almost immediately reenlisted fur service in the Mexioan War, and became cap tain of the company which was ellOSCII as the bodyguard of General Scott. Ile earned a brevet of major at Contreras and Churubusco, and to ward the close of the latter engagement made a gallant charge into :Mexico City, but reeeived a wound which necessitated the amputation of an arm. In 1851 lie participated in a. campaign
against the Rogue River Indians, but again re signed in October of this year, and spent several years in Europe. In 1559 he entered the French Army as a volunteer aide to General \laurier; served in the Italian War, parthilfating in the battles of Magenta and Solferino; and fur his conspit nous bravery throughout the campaign he received the cross of the Legion of Donor. At the outbreak of the Civil War he returned to the Unit( d States, and in Alay, 1861, was appointed brigadier-general. lie commanded for some time the First New Jersey Brigade, and in May. 186•2, was placed in command of the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. lie served with great efficiency and gallantry throughout the Penin sular campaign, attracting particular attention at the battles of Williamsburg and Seven Pines, and in July, 1862, was commissioned major-gen eral of volunteers. lie subsequently participated in the second battle of Bull Run, and on Sep tember 1, 1862. was killed while reconnoitring at Chantilly. Consult : De Peyster, Personal and Military History of Philip Kearny (New York, 1869) ; and an ac•ount by Kearny himself of his service in Algiers. published under the title &T•ice with the French Troops in Africa (New York, 1844?).