Joseph Abel Haskin

HASKIN, Joseph A., soldier, b. in New York in 1817; d. in Oswego, N. Y., 8 Aug., 1874. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1839, and entered the 1st artillery. He was on duty in Maine during the “disputed frontier” controversy, from 1840 till 1845, afterward in Florida and Louisiana, and during the Mexican war took part in all the battles under Gen. Scott, losing an arm at the storming of Chapultepec. He was subsequently in garrison and fortress duty on the frontiers and elsewhere, becoming captain in the 1st artillery in 1851, was compelled to surrender Baton Rouge arsenal to a vastly superior force of Confederates in the winter of 1861, served during the civil war in Washington, at Key West, in command of the northern defences of Washington in 1862-4, and as chief of artillery in the Department of Washington till 1866. He was promoted to be major in 1862, lieutenant–colonel of staff the same year, lieutenant–colonel, 1st artillery, in 1866, and brevet colonel and brevet brigadier–general, 13 March, 1865. He was retired from active service in 1872,