Joseph Abel Haskin

HASKIN, Joseph A., soldier, was born in New York in 1817. He was graduated from the U.S. military academy in 1839 and was assigned to the 1st artillery. He was in Maine on duty incident to the boundary dispute, 1840–45; in Florida and Louisiana, 1845-46; in Mexico under Gen. Winfield Scott from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico, losing his arm at the battle of Chapultepec. He was promoted captain in the 1st U.S. artillery in 1851 and was in charge of the arsenal at Baton Rouge, La., when attacked by a superior force of Confederates early in 1861, and was obliged to surrender the buildings and arms. He then served in the Federal army at Washington, D.C., at Key West, Fla., in command of the northern defences of Washington, 1862–64, and as chief of artillery in the war department, 1864–66. He was retired from active service in 1872. His promotions were: major, 1862; lieutenant colonel of staff. 1862; lieutenant-colonel of 1st artillery, 1866; brevet colonel and brevet brigadier-general U.S.A., March 13, 1865. He died in Oswego, N.Y., Aug. 3. 1874.