Brig. General Asher Clayton Taylor (b. February 21, 1842, d. January 20, 1922)
Asher Clayton Taylor (son of Joel Taylor and Almira Parrish) was born February 21, 1842 in Fredonio, NY, and died January 20, 1922 in Presidio, San Francisco, CA. He married Mary J. Brannigan on October 30, 1872 in San Francisco, CA.
Notes for Asher Clayton Taylor: Stuff about Uncle Asher: Lewis and Henrietta, therefore, were living in Wisconsin shortly after they were married. Henrietta's age was recorded in error because she was 19 or 21 at the time. Asher, was a brother to Lewis and had served in the Civil War. On page 995 of the Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, is listed an Asher C. Taylor, Adjutant, in the 3rd Infantry. This person was Asher Clayton Taylor who retired at the rank of Brigadier General in the U.S. Army ` Asher was very popular with his troops, personally leading them in battle. Family oral history relates that he led the charge up San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War. There may be some truth to that claim because a Captain Taylor is referred to in Theodore Roosevelt's The Rough Riders, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1899. In the chapter on "The Calvary at Santiago," at the point when Roosevelt was ready to urge his men to advance up Kettle Hill, he wrote: "When I got to where the head of the left wing of the Ninth was lying, through the courtesy of Lieutenant Hartwick, two of whose colored troopers threw down the fence, I was enabled to get back into the lane, at the same time waving my hat, and giving the order to charge the hill on our right front. Out of my sight, over on the right, Captains McBlain and Taylor, of the Ninth, made up their minds independently to charge at just about this time; and at almost the same moment Colonels Carroll and Hamilton, who were off, I believe, to my left, where we could see neither them nor their men, gave the order to advance."
Captain Taylor was an officer in the Ninth Regiment, which was a regiment made up of African-Americans with white officers, and they were in front of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders. The battle to take the hill was horrific and Roosevelt wrote the following about reaching the top:
"Almost immediately afterward the hill was covered by the troops, both Rough Riders and the colored troopers of the Ninth, and some men of the First. There was the usual confusion, and afterward there was much discussion as to exactly who had been on the hill first. The first guidons planted there were those of the three New Mexican troops, G, E, and F, of my regiment, under their Captains, Llewellen, Luna, and Muller, but on the extreme right of the hill, at the opposite end from where we struck it, Captains Taylor and McBlain and their men of the Ninth were first up. Each of the five captains was firm in the belief that his troop was first up. As for the individual men, each of whom honestly thought he was first on the summit, their name was legion."
From Kettle Hill, Roosevelt could see the action on San Juan Hill and provided supportive fire rather than leading the assault. According to Roosevelt, Captain Taylor was wounded and probably did not participate in the assault on San Juan Hill. As Roosevelt attempted to move his men up San Juan Hill, he found himself almost alone out in front and had to go back to get his men.
"They, of course, were quite innocent of wrong-doing; and even while I taunted them bitterly for not having followed me, it was all I could do not to smile at the look of injury and surprise that came over their faces, while they cried out, "We didn't hear you, we didn't see you go, Colonel; lead on now, we'll sure follow you." I wanted the other regiments to come too, so I ran down to where General Sumner was and asked him if I might make the charge; and he told me to go and that he would see that the men followed. By this time everybody had his attention attracted, and when I leaped over the fence again, with Major Jenkins beside me, the men of the various regiments which were already on the hill came with a rush, and we started across the wide valley which lay between us and the Spanish entrenchments. Captain Dimmick, now in command of the Ninth, was bringing it forward; Captain McBlain had a number of Rough Riders mixed in with his troop, and led them all together; Captain Taylor had been severely wounded."
Popular history has Teddy Roosevelt leading his men up San Juan Hill when in fact the real action that day was on Kettle Hill, both hills a part of the San Juan Hills which may be the cause of the confusion. In any event, the battle that took place on July 1, 1898 was a defining moment in Teddy Roosevelt's life and a certain Captain Taylor was there with him. No mention of this specific battle is made in Asher Taylor's record in Who Was Who In America, Vol. 1, 1897 to 1942. R920, however the debate over who made it to the top first was family dinner table conversation for years:
From Who's Who in America Taylor, Asher Clayton, brig. gen. USA.; b. Fredonia, NY, Feb. 21, 1842; son of Joel and Almira (Parrish) Taylor. Education: Hillsdale College, Michigan, 1865-1866. Ripon College, Wisconsin, 1866 - 1867. Married Mary J. Branigan Oct. 30, 1872. Corporal and sergt. Co. D. and sergt. maj. 3d Wisconsin Infantry April 25, 1861 to Oct. 28, 1861; 1st Lt. adj. 3d Wisconsin Vet. Infantry, Oct. 29, 1864; hon. muster Lt. 15th US Infantry Oct. 16, 1867; 1st Lt. Aug 23, 1868; assigned to 2nd Arty. Jan 1, 1871; graduated Artillery School 1876; Captain, Jan 20, 1889; major 4th Artillery, June 18, 1900; Lt. Colonel Arty. Corps, Feb. 21, 1902; Colonel, August 19, 1903; Brigadier General January 21, 1904. Retired at own request after 40 years of service, Jan 22, 1904. Participated with regiment in capture of the secession legislature of Maryland, Sept 17, 1861, thereby saving the state of the Union; served in Army of the Potomac, 1861 - 1863, Army of Cumberland, 1863-1864; participated in campaigns to Atlanta and Savannah, and from Savannah to Washington under General Sherman; battles of Winchester, VA; Cedar Mountain; Antietam; Chancellorsville, Gettysburg; Resaea; Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek; siege and capture of Atlanta, Savannah, battles of Averysboro, NC, Bentonville; in campaign from Goldsboro, NC to Raleigh, NC etc. On reconstruction duty in Alabama and Texas 1867 to 1869; at Sitka, Alaska. 1871-1872 with army of occupation at Havana, 1899-1900, commanding in charge of governor's palace, Jan. to May 1899. Distinguished Marksman USA 1886---. Republican. Home: Cottonwood, Calif. Died Jan 20, 1922.
As a young lieutenant Asher Taylor went on record in an expression of sympathy along with an association of other officers (Veterans of the National Guard, Headquarters Seventh Regiment Armory) at the funeral of President Abraham Lincoln that was later published in The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Late President of the United States of America, and the Attempted Assassination of William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Frederick W. Seward, Assistant Secretary, on the Evening of the 14th of April, 1865: Expressions of Condolence and Sympathy Inspired by these Events, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1867.
Submitted by Brian Harvey (Grandson of Raymond Taylor)
OBITUARY From a newspaper clipping copied by Alice F. Taylor Bolter: Death Jan. 20, 192 2 Old Time U.S. General Dies at Presidio Asher Clayton Taylor, USA, Retired, last of the famous "Old Time" Army officers, who fought four years in the Civ il War, in the 3rd Wisc. Infantry, died at Lettermore General Hospital in the Presidio yesterday morning. With the death of General Taylor, there passes a well known figure in the military life of the United States. "Old Taylor" as the General NT was fondly known among his friends, participated in many im portant battles. He was a member of the regiment that swept down on the Seces sion legislature of Maryland on Sept. 17, 1861 and aided in keeping that stat e in the Union. MARCHED THROUGH GEORGIA General Taylor was with General Sherm an in his march through Georgia. He was in the thickest of fighting in the Ba ttle of Gettysburg and was commended for bravery. He also took part in the Ba ttle of Winchester, Cedar Mt., Antietim, Chancellorsville, Rosaca, Dallas Ken esaw Mts., Peach Tree Creek and the diege and capture of Atlanta. At the clo se of the Civil War, General Taylor was detailed in Alabama and Texas. During 1871 and 1872 he was stationed in Sitka, Alaska. FOUGHT IN CUBA General Tayl or's war record, however, had not ended, for at the beginning of the Spanish- American War he was in the thick of battle. He was among the first to land wi th the army in Cuba and was in charge of the Guard of the Governors's Palace in Havana from Jan. to May, 1899. At the close of the Spanish-American War, Ge n. Taylor served several more years in the Army, but on Jan. 21, 1904, he was retired upon his own application after 40 years of active service. General Taylor is survived by his widow, who was Mary J. Branigan, of San Francisco. Funeral arrangement are being made by the Military Order of Foreign Wars, of which organization the General was a prominent member. Internment will be in Presidio National Cemetery. Legend has it that Asher Clayton Taylor (Brig. Gen .) had a book published on the Taylor/Parrish family and that it might be loc ated in the Arthur Fisk Genealogy Library.[Johnson.FTW] Following text from Ancestry.com Civil War Records: Asher C Taylor Claimed Residence in Leroy Enlist Date Enlist Place Enlist Rank Enlist Age 25 April 1861 Priv P romoted to Full Corpl Promoted to Full Sergt Promoted to Full Sergt Major on 12 April 1863 Promoted to Full 1st Lieut on 30 September 1864 Promoted to Ful l Adjutant on 01 April 1865 Served Wisconsin Enlisted D Co. 3rd Inf Reg. WI M ustered Out at Madison, WI on 18 July 1865Transferred on 01 April 1865from Co mpany D to Company S Source: Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers: War of the Rebel lion Abbreviation: WIRoster Published by on 1886
More About Asher Clayton Taylor: Burial: Unknown, Arlington Nat'l Cementery.
More About Asher Clayton Taylor and Mary J. Brannigan: Marriage: October 30, 1872, San Francisco, CA.
Brig. General Asher Clayton Taylor (b. February 21, 1842, d. January 20, 1922)
Notes for Asher Clayton Taylor: