Henry Prince (general)

Henry Prince was born in Eastport, Maine, the son of Benjamin D. Prince. His father served as paymaster in the Massachusetts Militia during the War of 1812. Henry Prince would follow in his father's footsteps both as a military officer and paymaster. Prince enrolled as a cadet at the United States Military Academy on September 1, 1831, and graduated 30th in his class on July 1, 1835. Later on September 18, 1835, the army commissioned Prince as a Brevet Second Lieutenant in the 4th Infantry Regiment. Prince made his formal oath of allegiance to the United States on November 3, 1835. == Early service ==

The Seminole Wars and Indian Territory Prince's first posting with the 4th Infantry was Florida, where he would see regular action in the Seminole Wars. He participated in several battles, including at Oloklikaha, Thlonotosassa Creek, and Camp Izard where he was wounded in action while defending the fort. On June 11, 1836, Prince received his formal commission as a 2nd lieutenant. He would remain on duty in Florida through 1837 and into 1838, receiving an appointment to 1st lieutenant on July 7. By the end of 1838, however, the army had transferred Prince and his company to assist with resettling the Muscogee Creek as part of the US government's Indian removal policy. After the Florida war ended in 1842, Prince would spend the next several years in various posts and roles, including recruitment, Coast Survey, and finally in late 1846, adjutant of the 4th infantry. Prince would serve as adjutant under General George Cadwalader. John Baillie McIntosh later recalled Prince's actions: The cool deportment of the experienced officers at this time, particularly of my acting adjutant. Lieutenant Henry Prince, who, at this critical moment, advanced in front of the line and urged the men to follow, greatly contributed to encourage and to restore the enthusiasm of the command...General Cadwalader described Prince's efforts in a difficult crossing over the highly contested Puente Nacional:Lieutenant and Adjutant Henry Prince, of the 4th infantry, who had been assigned to command the howitzers, rendered me highly valuable service at this critical moment. He advanced with the battery, and succeeded in breaching the barricades, and preparing the way for our troops to charge, which was made under a heavy fire from the enemy. Later, he would take part in both the Battle of Contreras and the Battle of Churubusco, where he would be brevetted for gallantry for his actions. He would additionally receive a brevet major for his actions in the Battle of Molino del Rey. Prince returned to active duty on December 10, 1850. He would serve as a Coast Surveyor for the next five years. On March 7, 1855, he took command of Fort Steilacoom, Washington. a role that his father had once performed in the War of 1812. In 1857 he became paymaster in San Antonio, and later served in the Utah Campaign. == Civil War ==

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Prince was working in the Army's pay department as a paymaster. Prince would join the 6th Maine Infantry Regiment, as part of Company K. Prince was first elected Colonel of the regiment, but later declined the position as he would have had to resign his position as paymaster. On April 28, 1862, he was appointed Brigadier General United States Volunteers. He would then command a brigade and later a division in Nathaniel P. Banks's Army of Virginia. He described the moment of his capture in a report to the military command:On approaching the right I perceived that the firing in the other brigades had ceased, which forcibly impressed upon me the necessity of learning immediately something of the day.  No staff officer was left with me.  I was the only mounted person present.  I determined to go back to the ridge, where I might see the field or communicate with others... While walking my horse in the dense corn, where the ground was heavy, my bridle was seized, and I perceived that I was in the midst of enemies before otherwise discovering any person to be there. After he was exchanged, he participated in the North Carolina campaigns and then the Overland campaign. Prince would later command the Second division of the III Corps. As division commander, he participated in the Battle of Manassas Gap, as well as the Bristoe and Mine Run campaigns. His participation in the Mine Run campaign came under scrutiny as William H. French blamed his failure to exploit a Confederate advantage on one of his "division commanders", widely considered to be Prince. On July 17, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Prince for appointment to the grade of Brevet Brigadier General, U.S.A. (Regular Army), to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on July 23, 1866. == Postwar life ==

On April 30, 1866, he was mustered out of the volunteer service. He continued to serve in the Army and returned to his work in the pay department. In 1869 he was named as paymaster for New York city under the Military Division of the Atlantic. In 1873 while serving in New York he was proposed as a member to the Century Association by George S. Green. He was elected a member on October 4, 1873. He rose to Lieutenant-colonel and then department paymaster general in 1877. He would then retire from army service on December 31, 1879, at age 62. In 1886, Prince was living in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. While in the process of moving his belongings from Maine to Massachusetts, the facility where they were stored caught fire, causing him to lose a significant amount of his private papers, books, records and valuables. Prince later moved to England where he was said to live off the interest of his retirement pension of $3,000 per year. He was considered quite wealthy and the former paymaster reportedly had no money troubles.A coroner's inquest recorded a verdict of "Suicide while in a state of unsound mind". == See also ==