SUMNER
SUMTER
SUMNER, Samuel Storrow, soldier, was born
at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., Feb. 6, 1842; son of
Edwin Vose Sumner (q.v.). He was commis-
sioned 2d lieutenant, 5th cavalry, U.S.A.., June
11. 1861; served in the Peninsular campaign;
was bre vetted 1st lieu-
tenant for gallantry
at Fair Oaks, June 1,
18G2, and was pro-
moted 1st lieutenant,
5th cavalry, Jan. 14,
1862. He received a
volunteer commis-
sion of captain and
aide-de-camp on Aug.
20, 1862, on the staff
of General E. V.
Sumner, who com-
manded the second
corps in the Army
of the Potomac and
later on the staffs
of Gens. Wool and Burnside. He was brevetted
captain, U.S.A., for gallant service at Antietam,
Sept. 17, 1862; served in the MaryMid campaign
and later as aide-de-camp to General Parke in
the Mississippi campaign, being honorably mus-
tered out of the volunteer service, Aug. 15, 1863.
He was promoted captain, U.S.A., March 30,
1864; brevetted major, March 13, 1865, for gallant
and meritorious conduct during the campaign
against Vicksburg. He was promoted major, 8th
cavalry, April 2, 1879," brevetted lieutenant-
colonel, Feb. 27, 1890, for gallant services in
action against the Indians at Summit Springs,
Col,, July 11, 1869; promoted lieutenant-colonel,
6th cavalry, Feb. 18, 1891, and promoted colonel,
6th cavalry. May 33, 1896. He was commissioned
brigadier-general of volunteers, May 4, 1898; was
chief mustering officer for the state of Pennsyl-
vania, and subsequently commanded a division
in the South. He was -promoted major-general
of volunteers, Sept. 7, 1898, for gallantry at
Santiago, where he commanded the cavalry divi-
sion. He was honorably discharged from the
volunteer service, April 15, 1899; was immedi-
ately sent to England as military attache, and in
July, 1900, when war in China was imminent, he
applied for orders to join the U.S. troops at
Tientsin, where he commanded the 2d brigade.
He was transferred to the Philippines and pro-
moted brigadier-general, U.S.A., Feb. 4, 1901,
and commanded the 1st division in Southern
Luzon P.I. He was ordered to the United
States in 1903; given command of the Depart-
ment of the Missouri, and promoted to the rank
of major-general. United States Army. General
Sumner was married to Frederica Bennett of
Oswego, N.Y.
X. — 6
SUMNER, William Hyslop, soldier, was born
in Roxbury, July 4, 1780; son of Increase (q.v.)
and Elizabeth (Hyslop) Sumner. He was gradu-
ated at Harvard, A.B., 1799, A.M., 1802; practised
law, and was a representative in the general
court, 1808-19. During the war of 1812 lie was
sent to Maine to superintend the coast defences.
He was commissioned brigadier-general in 1818,
and appointed adjutant-general of Massachusetts.
He was a member of the Massachusetts Historical
society and is the author of: An Inquiry into the
Importance of the Militia (1823); Observations
of National Defence (1824); Reminiscences
(1854); Memoir of Increase Sumner, Governor of
Massaclmsefts (1854); Reminiscences of General
Wari-e7i and Bunker Hill (1858); History of
East Boston (1858); and Reminiscences of La-
fayette s Visit to Boston {1859} . He died in Ja-
maica Plain, Mass., Oct. 24, 1861.
SUMTER, Thomas, soldier, was born in Vir- ginia in 1734. In 1755 he enlisted to fight in the French and Indian wars, and accompanied Brad- dock's expedition against Fort Duquesne. Later he removed to South Carolina, took part in the Cherokee war, and accompanied Oconostotah, the Cherokee chieftain, to England, 1761-63. He was an active patriot in the pi-e-Revolution- ary period; and when the Revolutionary war be- gan in 1876, he was commissioned lieutenant- colonel. South Carolina riflemen. He was soon promoted colonel, and in May, 1780, when Charleston was captured by the British, Sumter took his regiment to the Santeo river swamps, and raised a considerable force in North Carolina. He marched to Catawba river and attacked and routed a force of British soldiers and Tory volunteers. He was promoted brigadier-general for this brilliant exploit; and on July 3, 1780, with about 600 men, he made a characteristic at- tack at Rock Mount, S.C., but finding the enemy well intrenched and having no aitillery, he was forced to withdraw. He immediately marched upon Hanging Rock, and August 6, surprised and defeated an entrenched force equal to his own in numbers and superior in equipment. His command, suffering from the privations of war, revelled in the liquor and food which they found in the British camp, and later, when at- tacked by the reinforced British, they were in no condition to defend the fort. Sumter made an orderly retreat to the Wraxall river, and on August 15 captured one of Cornwallis's supply trains on its way to Camden. Gates was defeated at Camden the following day, and Sumter found his prisoners and wagons a hin- drance *o his rapid retreat. On Aug. 18. 1780. he was overtaken and routed by Colonel Tarleton at Fishing Creek. He took refuge in the moun- tains, and in an incredibly short time was at the
