WORTH, WILLIAM JENKINS, military officer;
born in Hudson New York, March 1, 1794; began life as a clerk in a store
at Hudson, and entered the military service, as lieutenant of infantry,
in May, 1813. He was highly distinguished in the battles of Chippewa and
at Lundy's Lane, in July, 1814, and was severely wounded in the latter
contest. He was in command of cadets at West Point from 1820 to 1828,
and in 1838 was made colonel of the 8th United States Infantry. He
served in the
Seminole War from 1840 to 1842, and was in command of the
army in Florida in 1841—42. He was brevetted a brigadier-general in
March, 1842, commanded a brigade under
General Taylor in Mexico in 1846, and was
distinguished in the capture of Monterey.
In 1847—48 he commanded a division, under
General Scott, in the capture of Vera
Cruz, and in the battles from Cerro Gordo to the assault and capture
of the city of Mexico. |
General William Worth
|
He was brevetted major-general, and was presented with a sword by
Congress, by the States of New York and Louisiana, and by his native
county, Columbia. A monument was erected to his memory at the junction
of Broadway and Fifth Avenue, New York City, by the corporation of that
city. He died in San Antonio, Texas, May 17, 1849. |