George Lippitt Andrews (April 22, 1828 – July 19, 1920) was an officer of the United States Army, who commanded the African-American 25th Infantry Regiment for 20 years.

Early life and education

Andrews was born in

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay ...

, on April 22, 1828.Marquis Who's Who, Inc. ''Who Was Who in American History, the Military''. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975. P. 13 He was educated in the grammar schools of Providence.

Personal life

He was first married to Alice Beverly Potter. He was married a second time to Emily Kemble (Oliver) Brown on May 13, 1874. His son was George Andrews who became Adjutant General of the United States Army with the rank of brigadier general.

Career

Andrews started a career in business in Providence in 1841 and moved to

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...

, in 1858. Andrews was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 1st Missouri Infantry at the start of 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 ...

in 1861. While with this regiment, he was picked by his commander, Union Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers,

Nathaniel Lyon Nathaniel Lyon (July 14, 1818 – August 10, 1861) was the first Union general to be killed in the American Civil War. He is noted for his actions in Missouri in 1861, at the beginning of the conflict, to forestall secret secessionist plans of th ...

, to lead the 3rd Brigade which fought at the Battle of Wilsons Creek in Missouri on August 10, 1861. He was mustered out of volunteer service in September 1861 and was commissioned in the Regular Army as the major of the 17th Infantry to rank from May 14 of the same year. In June 1863, he was in command of

Fort Preble Fort Preble was a military fort in South Portland, Maine, United States, built in 1808 and progressively added to through 1906. The fort was active during all major wars from the War of 1812 through World War II. The fort was deactivated in 1950 ...

South Portland, Maine South Portland is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, and is the fourth-largest city in the state, incorporated in 1898. At the 2020 census, the city population was 26,498. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is sit ...

, during an action called the

Battle of Portland Harbor The Battle of Portland Harbor was an incident during the American Civil War, in June 1863, in the waters off Portland, Maine. Two civilian ships engaged two vessels under Confederate States Navy employment. Background Around June 24, a Confed ...

. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on October 14, 1864, and was assigned to the 13th Infantry. He was reassigned as lieutenant colonel of the 25th Infantry on December 15, 1870. On January 1, 1871, he was promoted to colonel and assigned as commander of the 25th Infantry. He commanded the 25th Infantry for 21 years until he retired from the Army in 1892.Francis B. Heitman. ''Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, 1789-1903''. Vol. 1. pg. 166. He was a Veteran Companion of the District of Columbia Commandery of the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or simply the Loyal Legion is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Army. The original membership was composed of members ...

and a Compatriot of the Rhode Island Society of the

Sons of the American Revolution The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR or NSSAR) is an American Congressional charter, congressionally chartered organization, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville, Kentucky. A non-prof ...

. In 1904, in recognition of his long and distinguished career, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on the retired list. After retiring from the Army, General Andrews made his home in

Washington, D. C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...

He died at his home there on July 19, 1920. He is buried in

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Andrews, George Lippitt 1828 births 1920 deaths Military personnel from Rhode Island Buffalo Soldiers Union Army officers