Alonzo Jackman (March 20, 1809 – February 24, 1879) was a
Vermont
Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...
educator and military officer. He is prominent for developing and implementing a system for receiving and training troops for the
Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
, and for commanding troops on the Vermont border with Canada following the
St. Albans Raid.
Early life and academic career
Alonzo Jackman was born in
Thetford Center, Vermont
Thetford is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States in the Connecticut River Valley. The population was 2,775 at the 2020 census. Villages within the town include East Thetford, North Thetford, Thetford Hill, Thetford Center, Rices Mil ...
on March 20, 1809. He left home as a teenager following his widowed mother's remarriage, and worked as a laborer before deciding to obtain a college education. Entering
Norwich University
Norwich University – The Military College of Vermont is a private senior military college in Northfield, Vermont. It is the oldest private and senior military college in the United States and offers bachelor's and master's degrees on-campus ...
in 1832, he received his
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
in 1836 and his master's degree in 1840.
Jackman joined the Norwich University faculty as Professor of Mathematics,
Natural Philosophy
Natural philosophy or philosophy of nature (from Latin ''philosophia naturalis'') is the philosophical study of physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior throu ...
,
Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewage ...
and
Military Science
Military science is the study of military processes, institutions, and behavior, along with the study of warfare, and the theory and application of organized coercive force. It is mainly focused on theory, method, and practice of producing mil ...
. In addition, he served as the college's librarian.
Jackman wrote several articles and treatises on mathematics and other topics. In the 1840s he prepared an article on constructing an underwater telegraph, including methods of insulating and laying cable. When the
Transatlantic line was laid in the 1850s and 1860s Jackman received credit for originating the idea.
In 1862 Jackman was awarded an
honorary doctorate
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hon ...
from Norwich University.
Military service
In the 1830s and 1840s Jackman was part of a group of individuals interested in reorganizing and revitalizing the state militias, which had become increasingly dormant in the years following the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...
. This group, including
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce (November 23, 1804October 8, 1869) was the 14th president of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. He was a northern Democrat who believed that the abolitionist movement was a fundamental threat to the nation's unity ...
,
Alden Partridge
Alden Partridge, (February 12, 1785 - January 17, 1854) was an American author, legislator, officer, surveyor, an early superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and a controversial pioneer in U.S. military educ ...
,
Truman B. Ransom, and
Frederic Williams Hopkins
Frederic Williams Hopkins (September 15, 1806 – January 21, 1874) was a Vermont lawyer and militia officer who served as Adjutant General of the Vermont Militia.
Early life
Frederic Williams Hopkins was born in Pittsford, Vermont on Septembe ...
, held seminars to discuss tactics, strategy and recruiting, and carry out maneuvers and drills in an effort to improve unit readiness.
From 1847 to 1848 he served as a
Major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
and
brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division.
Br ...
drill master in the
New Hampshire Militia The New Hampshire Militia was first organized in 1631 and lasted until 1641, when the area came under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts.
After New Hampshire became an separate colony again in 1679, New Hampshire Colonial Governor John Cutt reorgan ...
. In 1859 he was commissioned as
Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
of the 2nd Vermont Militia Regiment, and in 1860 he was appointed a
Brigadier General
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
.
Civil War service
At the start of the Civil War
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Erastus Fairbanks
Erastus Fairbanks (October 28, 1792November 20, 1864) was an American manufacturer, Whig politician, a founder of the Republican Party, and the 21st and 26th governor of Vermont.
Biography
Fairbanks was born in Brimfield, Massachusetts, to Ph ...
offered him command of the
1st Vermont Infantry Regiment, but at the same time requested that Jackman decline it and stay in Vermont to train new recruits, and Jackman consented.
Working in concert with Adjutant General
Peter T. Washburn
Peter Thacher Washburn (September 7, 1814 – February 7, 1870) was a Vermont lawyer, politician and soldier. A veteran of the American Civil War, he served as the 31st governor of Vermont as a Republican from 1869 to 1870, and was the first Verm ...
, Jackman devised a process for receiving recruits at a central location, equipping them and training them before sending them to the front lines. This method was adopted by other states as they raised volunteer regiments throughout the Civil War.
Following the
Confederate
Confederacy or confederate may refer to:
States or communities
* Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities
* Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...
Raid on St. Albans, Vermont in October, 1864, the northernmost action of the Civil War, General Jackman commanded troops along the Canada–US border.
Death and burial
Jackman died suddenly at his home in
Northfield, Vermont
Northfield is a New England town, town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The town lies in a valley within the Green Mountains and has been home to Norwich University since 1866. It contains the Northfield (CDP), Vermont, village of No ...
on February 24, 1879. Earlier that day he reported feeling ill and sent word to the university president that he would be unable to teach as scheduled. He died while wearing his uniform and standing at his living room window, falling to the floor after an apparent heart attack. He is buried in Northfield's Elmwood Cemetery.
Published works
''A treatise on the doctrine of numerical series, both ascending and descending'' (1846); ''Who Originated the Oceanic Telegraph?'' (1846); ''Mathematical Considerations'' (1873); ''The Circle Squared'' (1876).
Legacy
Jackman Hall, the first building erected when the university moved from the town of Norwich to the town of Northfield after an 1866 fire, is named for him.
Family
Jackman was married to Charlotte Sawyer of
Royalton, Vermont
Royalton is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,750 at the 2020 census. It includes the villages of Royalton, South Royalton, and North Royalton. Vermont Law School, the state's only accredited law school, i ...
(December 11, 1828—October 7, 1874). They had two children, Alonzo (1857–1859) and Helen (1867–1877).
[Ellis, Norwich University, Volume 2, 1911, page 270]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackman, Alonzo
1809 births
1879 deaths
People from Thetford, Vermont
People from Royalton, Vermont
People from Northfield, Vermont
Norwich University alumni
19th-century American writers
National Guard (United States) generals
People of Vermont in the American Civil War
Norwich University faculty
Burials in Vermont