Andrew S. Burt

Andrew Sheridan Burt (21 November 1839 – 12 January 1915) was a United States Army soldier who rose from private to brigadier general and served in four conflicts over the course of his 41-year military career. During the Philippine–American War, he commanded the 25th Infantry (Colored), one of four segregated African-American regiments (two cavalry and two infantry) retained by the Army after March 1869.

Early life and education Burt was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1857, he entered Yale College but left after two and a half years without graduating to join A. G. Burt & Co., his father's banking house in Cincinnati.

Career After the outbreak of the American Civil War, Burt enlisted as a private in the 6th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in April 1861. A month later, he was offered a regular army commission as a first lieutenant. Promoted to sergeant, he accepted the officer's commission in July 1861 and was assigned to the newly established 18th U.S. Infantry in the Army of the Ohio.

As a junior officer, Burt initially served as an aide-de-camp on the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division staff. Colonel Robert L. McCook was the brigade commander and Brigadier General George H. Thomas was the division commander. At the Battle of Mill Springs, Burt was wounded and later brevetted captain for gallant and meritorious service. In January 1863, he joined the staff of Major General William Rosecrans' Army of the Cumberland. In May 1863, Burt was promoted to captain. Later that year, he was commended for gallantry after the Battle of Chickamauga by corps commander Major General Alexander McCook.

In January 1883, Burt was promoted to major and transferred to the 8th Infantry. While serving as commander of Fort Bidwell, California in 1885, he managed tensions between the settlers and local Indians. In January 1888, Burt was promoted to lieutenant colonel and transferred to the 7th Infantry. In July 1892, he was promoted to colonel and given command of the 25th Infantry (Colored).

After the war, Burt reverted to his permanent rank of colonel and resumed command of the 25th Infantry. His unit was soon sent to the Philippines, where it helped suppress the native insurrection. Burt subsequently retired from active duty on 15 April 1902.

Burt married Elizabeth Johnston Reynolds (4 March 1839 – 27 March 1926) on 13 September 1862. They had two boys and a girl. Their younger son, Reynolds Johnston Burt (2 August 1874 – 19 September 1969), was an 1896 U.S. Military Academy graduate who retired from the Army as a brigadier general in 1937. As a young lieutenant, Reynolds Burt served as an aide-de-camp to his father during the Spanish–American War and then as a junior officer in his regiment during the Philippine insurrection.

After retirement, Andrew Burt was active in the Army and Navy Union and was an advocate for African-American Army veterans. He foresaw the potential for conflict between the United States and Japan over the Philippines.

Around midnight on 11 January 1915, Burt suffered heart failure in his residence at The Portner in Washington, D.C. and died soon afterward. After a funeral service at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, he was interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on 15 January 1915.