Samuel E. Pingree

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Samuel E. Pingree
40^th Governor of Vermont
In office 1884 – 1886
Lieutenant(s)	Ebenezer J. Ormsbee
Preceded by	John L. Barstow
Succeeded by	Ebenezer J. Ormsbee

Born	August 2, 1832 Salisbury, New Hampshire
Died	June 1, 1922 Hartford, Vermont
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Lydia M. Steele
Profession	lawyer / politician

Samuel Everett Pingree August 2, 1832 – June 1, 1922) was a lawyer, a U.S. politician of the Republican Party, and an American Civil War veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor.

1 Early life
2 Civil War
3 Postwar life
4 See also
5 References
6 Notes
7 External links

[edit] Early life

Pingree was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire, the son of Stephen and Judith (True) Pingree. He received his early education in Andover, New Hampshire, and McIndoes Falls, Vermont, then entered Dartmouth College, where he graduated in 1857. He studied law in Bethel, Vermont, and was admitted to the bar in Windsor County in December 1859. He began practicing law in Hartford.

[edit] Civil War

He enlisted in Company F, 3rd Vermont Infantry, and was soon chosen 1st lieutenant. In August 1861, he was promoted to captain, and was commissioned major on September 27, 1862, and lieutenant colonel on January 15, 1863. He was severely wounded at the Battle at Lee's Mills on April 16, 1862, and spent ten weeks recuperating in a Philadelphia hospital.

During the second day of the Battle of the Wilderness, Pingree was placed in command of the 2nd Vermont Infantry, since all the field officers of that unit had been killed or wounded. Pingree participated in the the battles of Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Weldon Railroad, where he narrowly escaped capture with a portion of his command. Pingree's final military action occurred at Fort Stevens on July 11 and July 12, 1864. He mustered out of the service on July 27, 1864.

On August 17, 1891, Pingree was awarded the Medal of Honor, for his actions at Lee's Mills, on April 16, 1862, when he "gallantly led his Co. across a wide, deep creek, drove the enemy from the rifle pits, which were within 2 yards of the farther bank, and remained at the head of his men until a second time severely wounded."

[edit] Postwar life

Pingree returned to Hartford and his law practice. In 1868 and 1869, he was state's attorney for Windsor County. He served as town clerk of Hartford for 50 years, and in 1868 was chosen delegate-at-large to the Republican National Convention at Chicago. In 1870 he was elected president of the Vermont Officers' Reunion Society.

In the fall of 1882, Colonel Pingree was elected lieutenant governor, and in 1884, governor. "His administration was characterized by the same efficiency and zeal which he has ever displayed as soldier, lawyer and citizen."^[1]

After his tenure as governor, Pingree served as chairman of the board of the newly established state railway commission from 1886 to 1894.

He was a trustee of Vermont Academy in Saxtons River from 1885 to 1910. He also served as judge advocate of the Medal of Honor Legion, an organization established in 1890 to protect the reputation of the medal.^[2]

In 1898 he was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Norwich University.

Governor Pingree married, on September 15, 1869, Lydia M. Steele, daughter of Sanford and Mary (Hinman) Steele, of Stanstead, Quebec.

[edit] See also

Vermont in the Civil War

[edit] References

Benedict, G. G., Vermont in the Civil War. A History of the part taken by the Vermont Soldiers And Sailors in the War For The Union, 1861-5, Burlington, VT: The Free Press Association, 1888, pp. i:114-116, 138-144, 148-149, 254-259, 376, 443, 462, 476, 491; ii:357-361, 364.

Carleton, Hiram, Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont, New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1903, i:16-18.

* Dodge, Prentiss C., Encyclopedia Vermont Biography, Burlington, VT: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, p. 47.

Peck, Theodore S., compiler, Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers and lists of Vermonters Who Served in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion, 1861-66. Montpelier, VT.: Press of the Watchman Publishing Co., 1892, pp. 67, 70, 89, 741.

Ullery, Jacob G., compiler, Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont, Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894), part 2, p. 315.

[edit] Notes

^ Ullery, Jacob G., compiler, Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont, Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, part 2, p. 315.
^ Mollan, Mark C., "The Army Medal of Honor, The First Fifty-five Years, Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives and Records Administration, Summer 2001, vol. 33, no. 2.