Samuel B. Ringgold (1796 – May 11, 1846) was an
artillery
Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...
officer in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
who was noted for several military innovations which caused him to be called the "Father of Modern Artillery." He was also, according to some records, the first U.S. officer to fall in 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 ...
, perishing from wounds received at the
Battle of Palo Alto
The Battle of Palo Alto ( es, Batalla de Palo Alto) was the first major battle of the Mexican–American War and was fought on May 8, 1846, on disputed ground five miles (8 km) from the modern-day city of Brownsville, Texas. A force of som ...
.
Early life and career
Ringgold was the son of
Samuel Ringgold, a
U.S. Congressman
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 ...
from
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
. A younger brother,
Cadwallader Ringgold
Cadwalader Ringgold (August 20, 1802 – April 29, 1867) was an officer in the United States Navy who served in the United States Exploring Expedition, later headed an expedition to the Northwest and, after initially retiring, returned to service ...
, served in the navy, becoming a rear admiral.
On July 24, 1818, Samuel Ringgold graduated 5th in a class of 23 from the
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...
at West Point. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Artillery.
In the early 1820s, Ringgold was on the staff of General
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786May 29, 1866) was an American military commander and political candidate. He served as a general in the United States Army from 1814 to 1861, taking part in the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the early s ...
. At about that time, (roughly 1825)
John Vanderlyn
John Vanderlyn (October 18, 1775September 23, 1852) was an American neoclassicist painter.
Biography
Vanderlyn was born at Kingston, New York, and was the grandson of colonial portrait painter Pieter Vanderlyn. He was employed by a print-sell ...
, then working in New York City, painted Ringgold's portrait.
Ringgold's significant military innovations included the Ringgold military saddle and artillery techniques. Based on his research in Europe, he rewrote the Army's manual for artillery, which included the tactical concept of flying artillery—employing artillery pieces that could be moved quickly from place to place.
The Army adapted his manual, "Instructions for Field Artillery" on March 6, 1845, and he was promoted to the rank of Major in acknowledgment
of his military innovations.
Mexican–American War
Ringgold served in General
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was an American military leader who served as the 12th president of the United States from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army, rising to th ...
's
occupation force in
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
as a Major of Artillery. On May 8, 1846, as he and 2,400 troops were en route to Fort Texas, they were engaged at the
Battle of Palo Alto
The Battle of Palo Alto ( es, Batalla de Palo Alto) was the first major battle of the Mexican–American War and was fought on May 8, 1846, on disputed ground five miles (8 km) from the modern-day city of Brownsville, Texas. A force of som ...
by Mexican General
Mariano Arista
José Mariano Arista (26 July 1802 – 7 August 1855) was a Mexican soldier and politician.
He was in command of the Mexican forces at the opening battles of the Mexican American War: the Battle of Palo Alto and the Battle of Resaca de la Pal ...
and his force of 3,800 men.
Arista's army was stretched a mile wide, making an American bayonet charge, Taylor's first option, impossible. Taylor, in an unlikely move, advanced his artillery to attack the enemy. The use of Ringgold's flying artillery tactic won the battle for the Americans. The Mexican artillery, heavy and slow, was futile in the thick steel-wool brush at Palo Alto. Arista ordered cavalry charges to flank the artillery gunners, but the American flying artillery was able to mobilize, relocate, and repel the oncoming dragoons.
During the battle, Ringgold was mortally wounded by cannon fire that mangled both his legs just below the crotch. Nevertheless, he refused to leave the field during the battle. He survived three days, during which time he debriefed on the battle, before dying in
Port Isabel, Texas
Port Isabel is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville metropolitan areas. The population was 5,006 at the 2010 census.
The city's name is given ...
.
Robert D'Unger, then journalist at the ''Baltimore Democrat'', claimed that he was the first to report news by telegraph while reporting Ringgold's death.
Commemoration
![Major Ringgold Mortally Wounded LOC](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Major_Ringgold_Mortally_Wounded_LOC.jpg)
His bravery was a boost to morale through the military and the country. Songs, poetry, plays were written about him, including a mention in the fourth verse of ''
Maryland, My Maryland
"Maryland, My Maryland" was the state song of the U.S. state of Maryland from 1939 until 2021. The song is set to the melody of "Lauriger Horatius" — the same tune "O Tannenbaum" was taken from. The lyrics are from a nine-stanza poem written by ...
''. A song entitled "The Death of Ringgold," commemorating his death, was a popular patriotic song in the US during the war.
John H. Hewitt wrote a song
"On to the Charge", and dedicated it to the late Major Ringgold
Cities and counties were named in his honor, including:
*
Ringgold, Georgia
Ringgold is a city in and the county seat of Catoosa County, Georgia, United States. Its population was 3,414 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Chattanooga, Tennessee–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Ringgold was founded in 184 ...
(Catoosa County seat)
*
Ringgold, Louisiana
Ringgold is a town in the U.S. state of Louisiana, in the western half of Bienville Parish. The town of Ringgold is named for United States Army Major Samuel Ringgold. The population of Ringgold was 1,495 at the 2010 census, and 1,370 at the U.S ...
*
Ringgold, Virginia
Ringgold is an unincorporated area, unincorporated community in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Pittsylvania County in the U.S. state of Virginia with a postal zip code 24586.
The community was named after Samuel Ringgold (soldier), Maj. Samuel R ...
*
Ringgold, Maryland
Ringgold is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Washington County, Maryland, United States. Its population was 166 as of the 2010 census.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau ...
*
Ringgold Township, Pennsylvania
Ringgold Township is a township in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 771 at the 2020 census.
The township was named after Maj. Samuel Ringgold, a hero of the Battle of Palo Alto in the Mexican–American War.
Geo ...
*
Ringgold County, Iowa
Ringgold County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,663, making it the Iowa county with the second-smallest population. The county seat is Mount Ayr. The county is named after Maj. Samuel ...
*
New Ringgold, Pennsylvania
New Ringgold is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 253 at the 2020 census.
ZIP Code 17960 serves the borough and portions of East Brunswick Township and West Penn Township. The town serves as a crossr ...
Also:
* The
Ringgold Civic Park in
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville () is a city in Cameron County in the U.S. state of Texas. It is on the western Gulf Coast in South Texas, adjacent to the border with Matamoros, Mexico. The city covers , and has a population of 186,738 as of the 2020 census. It ...
was named after him as well as Ringgold Street at the
University of Texas at Brownsville
, mottoeng = Cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy.
, established =
, closed = (merged with UT–Pan American to form The UTRGV)
, type = Public State University
, preside ...
.
*
Fort Ringgold, constructed after the Mexican War in 1848 to protect the Mexican border, was named after him. It is located in
Rio Grande City, Texas
Rio Grande City is a city in and the county seat of Starr County, Texas. The population was 14,411 at the time of the 2020 census. The city is west of McAllen. The city also holds the March record high for the United States at . The city is co ...
. The Fort is currently the home of Ringgold Elementary and Ringgold Middle School.
*
U.S. Army Mine Planter ''Major Samuel Ringgold'' built 1904.
* Ringgold Fire Company,
Pulaski, New York
Pulaski () is a village in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 2,365 at the 2010 census.
The Village of Pulaski is within the Town of Richland, and lies between the eastern shore of Lake Ontario and the Tug Hill region. T ...
.
Family tree
References
External links
Samuel Ringgold, Mexican–American War Officer from the Cullum biographies
Daguerreotype
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ringgold, Samuel
United States Military Academy alumni
American military personnel killed in the Mexican–American War
1796 births
1846 deaths
Military personnel from Maryland
United States Army officers