Henry Boynton Clitz

Henry Boynton Clitz (July 4, 1824 – October 30, 1888) was a career United States Army officer who served with distinction during the Mexican–American and Civil wars, for which he received brevet appointments. After his release as a prisoner of war from the Confederate Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia, on July 17, 1862, Clitz was Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, from October 23, 1862, to July 4, 1864. He was nominated and confirmed for appointment as a brevet brigadier general in the Regular Army on March 2, 1867, to rank from March 13, 1865. He retired from the Regular Army as a colonel of the 10th Infantry Regiment on July 1, 1885. Clitz, whose deteriorating mental state had been noticed by relatives for several months, disappeared at Niagara Falls, New York, and was presumed drowned on October 30, 1888. His parents were Lieutenant John Clitz and Mary Gale Mellen Clitz, who were married in Plattsburgh, New York, in 1819. John Clitz was a captain and commander of Fort Mackinac, Michigan, when he died in 1836. His widow was left with four sons and four daughters. His older brother John M. B. Clitz joined the U.S. Navy in 1837. Mary Clitz moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she lived for the rest of her life.

Clitz was appointed to the United States Military Academy at large and was a cadet from July 1, 1841, to July 1, 1845. Upon graduation, Clitz was appointed a brevet second lieutenant in the 7th Infantry Regiment.

Assignments: 1848–1861 After the Mexican–American War, Clitz served at the US Military Academy, as Assistant Instructor of Infantry Tactics, from September 15, 1848, to September 27, 1855.

Clitz was promoted to captain in the 3rd Infantry Regiment on December 6, 1858.

At the Battle of Gaines's Mill on June 27, 1862, Clitz was severely wounded in both legs and captured by the Confederate forces. The 12th and 14th US Infantry Regiments were attacked by a much larger Confederate force as they tried to hold the line while Union Army wagons and other units withdrew. The 12th US Infantry Regiment lost 54 killed, 102 wounded and 56 missing out of 470 who went into action. Clitz was reported dead, although he actually was severely wounded and captured. Clitz was appointed brevet lieutenant colonel in the Regular Army to rank from June 27, 1862, for gallant and meritorious conduct at the Battle of Gaines's Mill, Virginia.

Commandant of Cadets at West Point and garrison duty Clitz served at the US Military Academy, as Commandant of Cadets and Instructor of Artillery, Infantry, and Cavalry Tactics, from October 23, 1862, to July 4, 1864. Upton stressed light column formations instead of the close order formations that led to many casualties at battles such as the Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864. Commanding General William T. Sherman supported these recommendations but they failed to gain adherence from many older officers and the US Army bureaucracy.

On March 2, 1867, President Andrew Johnson nominated Clitz for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general in the Regular Army for "gallant and distinguished services in the field," to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on the same day, March 2, 1867.

Clitz was in command of the 6th US Infantry Regiment from March 21, 1867, to June 16, 1867; in command of the post at Charleston, South Carolina, from March 21, 1867, to June 15, 1868; on leave of absence from June 15, 1868, to October 24, 1868; and again in command at Charleston, South Carolina from October 24, 1868, to April 6, 1869. from June 2, 1884, to July 1, 1884; and on sick leave of absence from July 1, 1884, to July 1, 1885. He was also described in the biographical sketch in General Cullum's Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy as having "personal magnetism" and a "genial nature." The story noted that Clitz had never married. It stated that "members of his household, including his aged mother, a widowed mother, and a niece," had noticed "his mind was clouded" over the past two months. The police in New York were making inquiries about Clitz upon the request of the Chief of Police of Washington, D.C. On this date he "disappeared and [was] supposed to have drowned."

A memorial cenotaph was erected in his honor at Elmwood Cemetery.