Ebenezer Dumont (November 23, 1814 – April 16, 1871) was a
U.S. Representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
from
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, serving two terms from 1863 to 1867. Prior to his service in
Congress, he was a general in 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 of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...
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 ...
.
Early life and career
Born in
Vevay, Indiana
Vevay ( ) is a town located in Jefferson Township and the county seat of Switzerland County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,683 at the 2010 census.
History
The first settlers who arrived in 1802 were Swiss im ...
, his parents were John Dumont, who was a member of the
Indiana Legislature
The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate. Th ...
in 1822–23, and was afterward a candidate for the office of
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 ...
, against
David Wallace, and
Julia Louisa Dumont, educator and writer.
Dumont pursued classical studies at
Hanover College
Hanover College is a private college in Hanover, Indiana, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Founded in 1827 by Reverend John Finley Crowe, it is Indiana's oldest private college. The Hanover athletic teams participate in the H ...
and studied law. He was
admitted to the bar
An admission to practice law is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. In jurisdictions with two types of lawyer, as with barristers and solicitors, barristers must gain admission to the bar whereas for solicitors there are dist ...
and commenced practice in Vevay.
He served as member of the
State house of representatives in 1838. He served as the treasurer of Vevay from 1839–1845. He then signed up for military service during the
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...
, serving as a
lieutenant colonel of the 4th Indiana Infantry Regiment.
Upon his return to the Hoosier State, Dumont resumed his law practice. He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1850 and 1853.
Civil War
During the Civil War, Governor
Oliver P. Morton
Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton (August 4, 1823 – November 1, 1877), commonly known as Oliver P. Morton, was a U.S. Republican Party politician from Indiana. He served as the 14th governor (the first native-born) of Indiana during the Amer ...
appointed Dumont 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 o ...
of the
7th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which, after seeing initial action in
western Virginia, primarily fought in the
Western Theater. Dumont was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on September 3, 1861, and served until February 28, 1863, when he resigned from the army to resume his political career.
Congress
Dumont was elected as a
Unionist to the
Thirty-eighth Congress and was reelected as a
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
to the
Thirty-ninth Congress
The 39th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1865 ...
(March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1867). He served as chairman of the Committee on District of Columbia (Thirty-eighth Congress) and the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Interior (Thirty-ninth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1866.
Later career and death
He was appointed by President
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General, he led the Union Ar ...
as the
Governor of Idaho Territory, but died in
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mari ...
, on April 16, 1871, before taking the oath of office. He was interred in
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. The privately owned cemetery was established in 1863 at Strawberry Hill, whose summit was renamed "The Crown", a high point ...
.
See also
*
List of American Civil War generals (Union)
References
Retrieved on 2008-02-12
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dumont, Ebenezer
Union Army generals
People of Indiana in the American Civil War
American military personnel of the Mexican–American War
1814 births
1871 deaths
Burials at Crown Hill Cemetery
Speakers of the Indiana House of Representatives
Hanover College alumni
Indiana Unionists
Unionist Party members of the United States House of Representatives
People from Vevay, Indiana
19th-century American politicians
Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana