U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jessup, Thomas Sidney (1788-1860) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Aler's History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia by F. Vernon Aler, 1888 Printed for the Author by The Mail Publishing Company, Hagerstown, MD. CHAPTER VIII. Historical Pen Sketches of the Early Residents of Berkeley County by the late Hon. Chas. James Faulkner. Pages 98-99, MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS SIDNEY JESSUP Was born in the County of Berkeley, in 1788 and entered the army in 1808 as a second lieutenant of the seventh infantry. So rapid was his promotion, that in 1812 he was brigade major, and acting adjutant general to Brigadier General Hull. In 1813 he was major of the 19th infantry; transferred in 1814 to the 25th infantry as brevet lieutenant colonel, for distinguished and meritorious bravery in the battle of Chippewa, of the 5th of July, 1814. In November of the same year, he was breveted colonel for gallant conduct and distinguished skill in the battle of Niagara, of the 25th of July, 1814, in which he was severely wounded. On the reduction of the army in 1815, we was retained in the first infantry, and in 1817 was lieutenant colonel of the third infantry. In 1818 he was appointed adjutant general with the rank of colonel; and the same year, Quarter-master General, with the rank of Brigadier General; and was breveted Major General in May, 1828, for ten years meritorious service. He was assigned to the command of the army in the Creek nation, Alabama, in 1836, and succeeded Gen. Call in Florada on the 8th of December, 1836; was wounded in action with the Seminole Indians near Jupiter Inlet on the 24th of January, 1838; and was succeeded by Col. Z. Taylor on the 15th of May 1838; whereupon he returned to the duties of his department, which he managed with distinguished ability. He continued at the head of the Quartermaster s department of the United States, until the period of his death, which occurred on the 10th day of June, 1860. — The writer of this sketch, who was himself at one time Chairman of the committee on military affairs of the House of Representatives, knew Gen. Jessup well, and had an opportunity of estimating his valuable services to the country. To his fine military capacity in the field, he added great administrative ability. In the management of the vast concerns of the Quartermaster's department, he evinced great foresight, but the labor developed upon him by the Mexican war, in managing the details of the campaign in a far distant country, can only be properly appreciated by those who shared in its difficulties and responsibilities. A grateful country must ever bear in honorable remembrance the services of the veteran soldier and gentleman whose name and fame will go down to posterity as a portion of the brightest military records. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Berkeley County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/berkeley/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------