Maj. Gen. Robert C. Schenk

[jkBluesman]

Maj. Gen. Robert Cumming Schenk (b. 1809, d. 1890). A close political ally of Pres. Abraham Lincoln, Schenk served only the first half of the war as commander before returning to politics. Born in Franklin, Ohio as son of William Schenk, a general in the War of 1812 and founder of Franklin, Robert Schenk studied arts at the Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. However, he did not work as an artist but studied law as well and was admitted to the bar in 1831. As member of the Whig Party he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives four times and served from 1843 to 1851. After three years as Minister to Brazil – with the responsibility to negotiate commerce treaties with other South American countries – he returned to Ohio. While he disliked John C. Fremont and thus not supported his presidential election in 1856, Schenk became a Republican nevertheless. He was one of the first to advocate Lincoln’s nomination as presidential candidate in 1859 and helped him to win in 1860. He was rewarded with the rank of brigadier general of volunteers (dating from May 17) after Fort Sumter had been fired upon in April 1861. Schenk’s first military action was a reconnaissance move towards Vienna, Virginia on June 17 by rail. His troops were ambushed but avoided capture as the Confederate believed them to be an advance guard. At First Bull Run, Schenk’s brigade was not able to take the Stone Bridge on the right although it was only defended by a small force. But Schenk’s men at least retreated in good order when the battle was lost. Assigned to Western Virginia, the political general had to fight under his old enemy Fremont. On May 8, 1862, Schenk was attacked by Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson at McDowell and defeated. One month later, Schenk was ordered by Fremont to attack Jackson at Cross Keys, but was repulsed. When Gen. John Pope organized his Army of Virginia, Schenk was given a division in the I corps. Fighting at Second Bull Run (August 29-30, 1862), he received a crippling wound in his right arm while leading an attack on Jackson’s men. Though the assault was not a success, Schenk was promoted to major general of volunteers on September 18 dating from August 30. Unfit for field duties, he got in command of the Middle Military Department, where his main task was to suppress pro-Southern sentiments in Maryland. In the election of 1862, Schenk was nominated by the Ohio Republicans and won a seat in the House. He maintained his seat till 1871. Pres. U.S. Grant sent Schenk as Minister to Great Britain. The ambassador became very popular in England when a duchess published Schenk’s rules for poker: the first book ever that only dealt with draw poker. He allowed that his popularity in Britain was used to persuade people to invest in stock for a silver mine in Utah. When the mine was quickly exhausted Schenk was blamed and had to return to the United States in 1876. A congressional investigation exonerated him, but his political career was over. Schenk published another book on poker before he died in 1890. He is buried in Dayton, Ohio. His eldest brother, James Findlay Schenk served in the navy during the war and later became a rear admiral.

Ldr: 2
Tact: 2
Init: 3
Cmd: 3
Cav: 0

Teaches: Charge?

[Gil R.]

Thanks.

[Gil R.]

Here's the edited bio. Yet another rather interesting general I knew nothing about.

It's a bit long, but that's partly because I need more info on his performance at Bull Run.



Maj. Gen. Robert Cumming Schenck (b. 1809, d. 1890). A close political ally of Pres. Abraham Lincoln, Schenck served only the first half of the war as commander before returning to politics. Born in Franklin, Ohio to William C. Schenck, the town’s founder and a general in the War of 1812, Schenck studied arts at the Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, but instead chose a legal career. As a member of the Whig Party he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives four times, serving from 1843 to 1851. After three years as Minister to Brazil – with the responsibility of negotiating commercial treaties with other South American countries – Schenck returned to Ohio. While he disliked John C. Fremont and thus had not supported his presidential campaign in 1856, Schenck became a Republican nevertheless. He was one of the first to advocate Lincoln’s nomination as the party’s presidential candidate in 1859 and helped him to win in 1860. Despite his lack of military experience, at the outbreak of war Lincoln rewarded Schenck with an appointment to brigadier general of volunteers on June 5, 1861 (dating from May 17), telling him, “I want to make a general out of you.” Commanding a brigade of Ohio regiments, Schenck’s first military action was a reconnaissance move towards Vienna, Virginia by rail on June 17. His troops were ambushed but avoided capture since the Confederates believed them to be an advance guard, and escaped the skirmish with just twelve casualties – but Schenck’s reputation was badly damaged. At the First Battle of Bull Run a month later, Schenck’s brigade, serving in Gen. Nathaniel Tyler’s division, was not able to take the Stone Bridge, even though it was only defended by a small force. (Heidler says that Schenck received unclear orders and moved too slowly to participate in the battle – how do we reconcile this?) Schenck’s men did at least retreat in good order when the battle was lost, unlike many of their comrades. Assigned to western Virginia, Schenck had to fight under his old political enemy Fremont. On May 8, 1862, Schenck was attacked by Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson at McDowell and defeated. One month later, Schenck was ordered by Fremont to attack Jackson at Cross Keys, but was repulsed. When Gen. John Pope organized his Army of Virginia, Schenck was given a division in the I Corps. Fighting at Second Bull Run (August 29-30, 1862), he received a crippling wound in his right arm while leading an attack on Jackson’s men. Though the assault was not a success, Schenck was promoted to major general of volunteers on September 18 (dating from August 30). Unfit for field duties, after recuperating he was put in command of the Middle Military Department, where his task was to suppress pro-Southern sentiments in Maryland, though he actually inflamed them; his greatest failure in this post, however, involved his decision not to act when he received intelligence that the Army of Northern Virginia was approaching Winchester, which subsequently fell. In the election of 1862, Schenck was nominated by the Ohio Republicans and won a seat in the House of Representatives over the incumbent, famed Copperhead Clement Vallandigham. He remained in Congress until 1871 when, having failed to win reelection, he was appointed by Pres. Ulysses S. Grant as Minister to Great Britain. The ambassador became very popular in England when a duchess published his rules for poker – the first book ever that only dealt with draw poker. While in England, Schenck was caught up in a major fraud scandal associated with the Emma Mine in Utah: Schenck, capitalizing on his popularity, had been involved in encouraging investment in the silver mine, and when it was quickly exhausted he was blamed and had to return to the United States in 1876. A congressional investigation exonerated him, but his political career was over. Schenck published another book on poker before he died in 1890. He is buried in Dayton, Ohio. His eldest brother, James Findlay Schenck, served in the navy during the war and later became a rear admiral. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

[jkBluesman]

Nice rephrasing, it is a smooth read now. It is always better to give the concret information if you have it (as you did with the Emma Mine).

I have read different stories about the Vienna ambush. Those who follow the opinion of the newspapers at the time are ooposed to Schenck's handling of the affair. Others point out that he was not well supported in his movement by career military officers who disliked the "political general".

The articel in "Heidler" is not very good. It starts with a mistake in the first paragraph (Lincoln offered Schenck a commission as brigadier not major general of volunteers in 1861) and there is another one in the passage on First Bull Run. Schenck's brigade was not moving towards the Union line, but the Confederate.
From Tyler's report (http://www.civilwarhome.com/tylerbullrunor.htm) it seems that Schenck's men were in position but did not see much action as they formed the division's reserve. This is supported by the battle map as printed in "Heidler" (First Bull Run).

So rephrased we could say: At the First Battle of Bull Run a month later, Schenck’s brigade, serving in Gen. Nathaniel Tyler’s division, was helt in reserve opposite the Stone Bridge and thus did not partizipate in the fighting around Henry House Hill. His men did at least retreat in good order when the battle was lost, unlike many of their comrades.

[Gil R.]

The change works perfectly. Thanks.

The bio was about 90 characters too long, so all I had to do was chop the description of his duties while minister to Brazil and it fit. Here's the final version:


Maj. Gen. Robert Cumming Schenck (b. 1809, d. 1890). A close political ally of Pres. Abraham Lincoln, Schenck served only the first half of the war as a commander before returning to politics. Born in Franklin, Ohio to William C. Schenck, the town’s founder and a general in the War of 1812, Schenck studied arts at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, but instead chose a legal career. As a member of the Whig Party he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives four times, serving from 1843 to 1851. After three years as Minister to Brazil, Schenck returned to Ohio. While he disliked John C. Fremont and thus had not supported his presidential campaign in 1856, Schenck became a Republican nevertheless. He was one of the first to advocate Lincoln’s nomination as the party’s presidential candidate in 1859 and helped him to win in 1860. Despite his lack of military experience, at the outbreak of war Lincoln rewarded Schenck with an appointment to brigadier general of volunteers on June 5, 1861 (dating from May 17), telling him, “I want to make a general out of you.” Commanding a brigade of Ohio regiments, Schenck’s first military action was a reconnaissance move towards Vienna, Virginia by rail on June 17. His troops were ambushed but avoided capture since the Confederates believed them to be an advance guard, and escaped the skirmish with just twelve casualties – but Schenck’s reputation was badly damaged. At the First Battle of Bull Run a month later, Schenck’s brigade, serving in Gen. Nathaniel Tyler’s division, was held in reserve opposite the Stone Bridge and thus did not participate in the fighting around Henry House Hill. His men did at least retreat in good order when the battle was lost, unlike many of their comrades. Assigned to western Virginia, Schenck had to fight under his old political enemy Fremont. On May 8, 1862, Schenck was attacked by Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson at McDowell and defeated. One month later, Schenck was ordered by Fremont to attack Jackson at Cross Keys, but was repulsed. When Gen. John Pope organized his Army of Virginia, Schenck was given a division in the I Corps. Fighting at Second Bull Run (August 29-30, 1862), he received a crippling wound in his right arm while leading an attack on Jackson’s men. Though the assault was not a success, Schenck was promoted to major general of volunteers on September 18 (dating from August 30). Unfit for field duties, after recuperating he was put in command of the Middle Military Department, where his task was to suppress pro-Southern sentiments in Maryland, though he actually inflamed them; his greatest failure in this post, however, involved his decision not to act when he received intelligence that the Army of Northern Virginia was approaching Winchester, which subsequently fell. In the election of 1862, Schenck was nominated by the Ohio Republicans and won a seat in the House of Representatives over the incumbent, famed Copperhead Clement Vallandigham. He remained in Congress until 1871 when, having failed to win reelection, he was appointed by Pres. Ulysses S. Grant as Minister to Great Britain. The ambassador became very popular in England when a duchess published his rules for poker – the first book ever that only dealt with draw poker. While in England, Schenck was caught up in a major fraud scandal associated with the Emma Mine in Utah: Schenck, capitalizing on his popularity, had been involved in encouraging investment in the silver mine, and when it was quickly exhausted he was blamed and had to return to the United States in 1876. A congressional investigation exonerated him, but his political career was over. Schenck published another book on poker before he died in 1890. He is buried in Dayton, Ohio. His eldest brother, James Findlay Schenck, served in the navy during the war and later became a rear admiral. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

Ldr: 2
Tact: 2
Init: 3
Cmd: 3
Cav: 0

Start date: 10
“Death” date: 39