General Arthur MacArthur (Article 88)

When most Americans hear the name General MacArthur, if it rings a bell at all, it usually brings an image of General Douglas MacArthur. He was the leader of the Pacific theater in WWII and was the General fired by President Truman over policies during the Korean War. He made the famous statement to Congress that, “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”

 But there was an earlier General MacArthur; one who fought in the Civil War. He was the father of Douglas MacArthur and his story is as compelling, and heroic, as his son’s. It is just not as well known.

 Arthur MacArthur was born in 1845 and raised near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father was a prominent lawyer, judge and politician. Both his mother and his father expected Arthur and his brother, Frank, to excel in school and in athletic endeavors and they did not disappoint their parents.  Arthur also became an excellent horseman and marksman, skills which would prove useful, even life-saving, later in his life. Arthur went to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point at fifteen years of age and, after graduation in 1862, first joined a Wisconsin volunteer regiment as a Second Lieutenant. The Civil War had broken out a year earlier and Arthur’s Wisconsin unit was sent to Tennessee, where Confederate and Union forces had been engaged for months, with no real advantage gained by either side. But men were dying, in numbers greater than anyone had anticipated only a few months before. Arthur was soon involved in battles at Chickamauga and Stones River and began to distinguish himself both to his men and to his superior officers. His commanding officer had praised Arthur’s leadership in several battles, noting in battle reports that he was focused, calm, and collected. As a result, he was promoted to First Lieutenant in August 1863. Then, on November 25, 1863, Lt. MacArthur found himself leading a small unit towards Missionary Ridge, near Chattanooga, Tennessee.

 His leadership would soon be tested.

 His men may have become dispirited as they fought through withering fire toward the ridge and the casualties mounted. At one point, sensing that his men were faltering, the young Lieutenant picked up the Regimental Battle flag after the bearer had fallen, shouted over and over “On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin” as he ran through Confederate fire, and planted the flag on the ridge. His actions inspired his men and the survivors stormed to the flag.  Field officers who saw his heroic actions, submitted a report that requested he be considered for the Medal of Honor. Their descriptions were so compelling that, within only a few days, the award was approved. After his heroics at Missionary Ridge, Arthur MacArthur rose rapidly through the ranks and at nineteen, he was promoted to Lt. Colonel. The Northern press, always looking for heroes, and catchy nick-names, began to refer to Arthur as the “Boy Colonel.” Such publicity was usually helpful in gaining further promotions, especially when politicians appreciated a “good hero story” for their constituents. (Note: The Confederacy also had a young soldier, Henry Burgwyn, who was called “The Boy Colonel of the Confederacy.”)

Young Arthur did not seem to take advantage of his notoriety and his letters home never mentioned his successes. He continued to lead men in battle until he was severely wounded at the Battle of Franklin (Tennessee) in November 1864. He recovered over the next few months and saw only staff duty for the rest of the Civil War. Then, as did most Union Officers when the War ended, Arthur, mustered out of the Army and returned home.

 Colonel Arthur MacArthur was only twenty years old!

 His plans were to become a lawyer, but he soon found that he was just not cut out for law school and, in 1866, rejoined the U.S. Army. His new rank was only First Lieutenant, which might seem to be a demotion; however, it was a common situation after the Civil War. The peacetime army was much smaller and most career officers were given lower ranks than they had attained during the War. His commanding officers noted his abilities and he was soon promoted to Captain; however, MacArthur, would then stay at that rank for a very long time.

 But he enjoyed military life, and was good at it.

 Ten years after the Civil War, he married Mary Hardy, the daughter of a distinguished Norfolk, Virginia family. His wife’s brothers had fought for the Confederacy and, with resentments still running deep, one refused to attend the wedding. But Arthur and Mary settled into Army life and began a family. One son died as a child, but two boys, Arthur III and Douglas thrived under their care. Like his father and mother before him, Arthur and his wife expected excellence from their sons and both boys worked hard to gain the approval of their parents. Douglas attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as did his father, and became a General; while his brother, Arthur III, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served with distinction as a naval officer in WWI.

 Although Arthur II held the rank of Captain in peace-time, he quickly rose to the rank of Colonel during the Spanish American war and then to Brigadier General after successful missions during the short Philippine-American War in 1899. Depending on his responsibilities, he was at various times promoted temporarily to Major General. Finally, he was promoted permanently to Major General when he became the Military Governor of the Philippines in 1901. However, that position became the only military assignment of his career in which his superior considered him a failure and ordered him removed. In this case it was the new civilian Governor of the Philippines, (future President) William Howard Taft who wanted General MacArthur transferred. It seems Arthur MacArthur was as much a thorn in the side of (future President) Taft as his son Douglas would become to President Truman fifty years later. Arthur MacArthur, who had the personal goal of eventually becoming the Commanding General of all of the U.S. Army, in the interim resumed positions commanding the Pacific forces. In 1906, by then a Lt. General, he became the highest-ranking officer in the U.S. Army when the current Army Chief of Staff retired; however, (now) Secretary of War William Howard Taft quashed the appointment. Evidently, his animus toward Arthur MacArthur had not been quelled over the previous five years. Although extremely disappointed, MacArthur remained on active duty until 1909 when he retired at age 64. Ironically, the same year William Howard Taft (his long-time nemesis) became President of the United States.

 Arthur MacArthur was an inspiration to both of his sons, but especially to Douglas MacArthur who had graduated as first in his class of 1903 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. They are one of the few fathers and sons who both reached the rank of General (or Admiral), and only one of two father/son teams to each receive the Medal of Honor. Douglas MacArthur was twice nominated for the Medal of Honor for heroism during WWI, but received other citations, and then again during WWII when the Medal of Honor was approved. (The only other father/son recipients of the Medal of Honor were Theodore Roosevelt for service in the Spanish American War and his son, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. in WWII).

 While not a famous as his son, General Douglas MacArthur, General Arthur MacArthur was a true American hero.

 In 1912, the retired General was to be the keynote speaker at the fiftieth reunion of the 24th Wisconsin and was at the podium standing next to the tattered Regimental flag he had hoisted over the Confederate position after his rallying charge. He collapsed and died, almost instantly. When the several doctors who were in attendance determined the General had died, the others on the podium, all men in their 60s and 70s, wrapped his body in the flag he had carried at Missionary Ridge.

 He had lived a life in service to his country, and died among the men he heroically led.

 The first General MacArthur deserves to be remembered.