United States Army General. He was appointed in 1808 as a Captain in the 3rd United States Infantry and saw action during the War of 1812. In 1814, he was promoted to Colonel in the 45th Infantry and in 1815, he became commander of the 6th Infantry. After the war, he led the two Yellowstone Expeditions of 1819 and 1825, and established the first United States Army fort west of the Missouri River. The site, just north of present-day Omaha, Nebraska, was named after him and today is Fort Atkinson State Historical Park. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1821 and later commanded United States forces in the Black Hawk War of 1832. He led the troops at the Battle of Bad Axe River August 1-2, 1832, where the Sauk and Fox tribes under Chief Black Hawk were decisively defeated. He spent the remainder of his 34-year career at Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis, Missouri. He is the subject of a biography, "General Henry Atkinson - A Western Military Career," by Roger L. Nichols (1965).
United States Army General. He was appointed in 1808 as a Captain in the 3rd United States Infantry and saw action during the War of 1812. In 1814, he was promoted to Colonel in the 45th Infantry and in 1815, he became commander of the 6th Infantry. After the war, he led the two Yellowstone Expeditions of 1819 and 1825, and established the first United States Army fort west of the Missouri River. The site, just north of present-day Omaha, Nebraska, was named after him and today is Fort Atkinson State Historical Park. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1821 and later commanded United States forces in the Black Hawk War of 1832. He led the troops at the Battle of Bad Axe River August 1-2, 1832, where the Sauk and Fox tribes under Chief Black Hawk were decisively defeated. He spent the remainder of his 34-year career at Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis, Missouri. He is the subject of a biography, "General Henry Atkinson - A Western Military Career," by Roger L. Nichols (1965).
Bio by: George Bacon
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