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Home Town Newark, New Jersey
Last Address Portsmouth, Rhode Island Buried at Saint Mary's Episcopal Churchyard, Portsmouth, Rhode Island
James Parker (February 20, 1854 â?? June 2, 1934) was a Major General in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the Philippine-American War during 1899. His son, Cortlandt Parker, also became a Major General in the United States Army.
Biography. Born in Newark, New Jersey on February 20, 1854, James Parker was educated at Newark Academy, Phillips Academy (Andover, Massachusetts) and Rutgers College, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi fraternity. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1876, 31st in a class of 50 cadets, and was appointed Second Lieutenant. Thus began his 42 years of military service which culminated in his appointment as a Major General in the U.S. Army.
He is buried in Saint Mary's Episcopal Churchyard, Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
Military career. He spent his early years serving in the Fourth United States Cavalry participating in the Indian Wars of the Southwest. His military career was influenced by the magnetic personality of the commander of the Fourth Cavalry, General Ranald S. Mackenzie, a legend for his success as a cavalry commander in the American Civil War. In May 1886, First Lieutenant Parker commanded one column of troops sent into Mexico to track down the famous Apache leader Geronimo and his band, and cooperated with Captain Henry W. Lawton and First Lieutenant Charles B. Gatewood when Geronimo was captured.
Later he served as second in command of the 12th New York Infantry in Cuba during the Spanish-American War and saw significant combat while commanding the 45th Volunteer Infantry in the Philippine-American War during 1899 where he earned the Medal of Honor. From 1903 to 1908, he also served as Head of Militia Affairs in the Adjutant General's office.
Medal of Honor citation. Citation:
While in command of a small garrison repulsed a savage night attack by overwhelming numbers of the enemy, fighting at close quarters in the dark for several hours.
Decorations. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Major General Parker was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and three Silver Stars for his service and battlefield exploits.
Description The American Indian Wars, or Indian Wars, were the multiple armed conflicts between European governments and colonists, and later American settlers or the United States government, and the native peoples of North America. These conflicts occurred across the North American continent from the time of earliest colonial settlements until 1924. In many cases, wars resulted from competition for resources and land ownership as Europeans and later Americans encroached onto territory which had been inhabited by Native Americans for the previous centuries. There was population pressure as settlers expanded their territory, generally pushing indigenous people northward and westward. Warfare and raiding also took place as a result of wars between European powers; in North America, these enlisted their Native American allies to help them conduct warfare against each other's settlements.
Many conflicts were local, involving disputes over land use, and some entailed cycles of reprisal. Particularly in later years, conflicts were spurred by ideologies such as Manifest Destiny, which held that the United States was destined to expand from coast to coast on the North American continent. In the 1830s, the United States had a policy of Indian removal east of the Mississippi River, which was a planned, large-scale removal of indigenous peoples from the areas where Americans were settling. Particularly in the years leading up to Congressional passage of the related act, there was armed conflict between settlers and Native Americans; some removal was achieved through sale or exchange of territory through treaties.
