John Titcomb Sprague

John Titcomb Sprague (3 July 1810 – 6 September 1878) was a career officer in the United States Army. A three-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps (1834–1837), he served in the US Army from 1837 to 1861 and 1865 to 1870, and the Union Army during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. During the Civil War, he served concurrently as Adjutant General of New York and led the state militia during its wartime mobilization. Sprague attained the rank of colonel in the US Army, the brevet rank of brigadier general in the Union Army, and held the rank of brigadier general in the New York Militia.

A native of Newburyport, Massachusetts and the son of an army surgeon, Sprague was raised and educated at military posts including Detroit. As a teenager, he secured employment with the American Fur Company. While in Michigan, he came to the attention of territorial governor Lewis Cass, who entrusted him to carry out sensitive negotiations with Native American tribes in the western part of the territory. In 1834, Cass was serving as Secretary of War and recommended Sprague for a commission in the marine corps. He served for three years, including the Seminole Wars in Florida. In 1837, he received a commission in the army, after which he served in Florida and Texas, including command of the Department of Florida during the Mexican–American War.

During the American Civil War, Sprague carried out Union Army assignments as mustering and disbursing officer for New York and General Recruiting Service superintendent for New York. In 1863, he was concurrently appointed to serve as Adjutant General of New York, making him responsible for organizing the New York Militia and the state's contributions to the United States Volunteers raised for the war. After the war, Sprague commanded the 7th Infantry Regiment. He retired in 1870 and lived in St. Augustine, Florida, where he practiced law and was president of the St. John's Railroad. He later moved to Manhattan, where he died on 6 September 1878.

Early life John T. Sprague was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts on 3 July 1810, a son of army surgeon Lawrence Sprague and Sarah (Titcomb) Sprague. He was raised and educated on military posts as his family traveled for his father's career. In 1825, Lawrence Sprague was assigned to duty in Detroit, and his family, including John Sprague, accompanied him.

Cass continued to entrust Sprague with sensitive missions, including escorting Sauk leader Black Hawk on a post-Black Hawk War trip to Washington to meet Cass, then on a tour of the United States that ended at Black Hawk's home territory near what is now Davenport, Iowa. He was initially assigned to the 5th United States Infantry Regiment, and in July 1838 he transferred to the 8th Infantry. In 1862, he was elected to command the 113th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, but the War Department declined to allow him to accept. He held this post until January 1865, and worked to organize, train, and equip the New York Militia and New York's contingents of United States Volunteers while continuing to perform his army duties.

Later career

After leaving the adjutant general's post, Sprague was assigned as chief of staff for the headquarters of the Military Division of the Missouri. After the war, he received brevet promotions to colonel and brigadier general in recognition of his superior service. He was promoted to colonel in March 1865. In 1868, Florida was readmitted to the Union, and Sprague turned administration over to the state authorities and continued in command of the 7th Infantry in St. Augustine. In March 1869, post-war force reductions led to several senior officers being designated as supernumerary, including Sprague. He remained on active duty with duties unassigned until December 1870, when he left the army under the provisions of a July law that permitted officers with 30 years of service to retire.

After retiring, Sprague lived in New York City and became involved in several business ventures, including becoming an original incorporator of the Texas and Pacific Railway in 1871. He later practiced law in St. Augustine, Florida and served as president of the St. John's Railroad. A Democrat who aligned himself in a coalition with "Reform" Republicans in opposition to the Republicans who controlled Florida's Reconstruction government, in 1872 he was a candidate for governor of Florida. The Democratic and Liberal Republican nominations went to William D. Bloxham, who lost the general election to Republican Ossian B. Hart. In 1875, he was mentioned as a candidate for US senator, but the Florida Legislature chose Democrat Charles W. Jones.

After the 1876 death of his wife, Sprague returned to New York City. He died in Manhattan on September 6, 1878. His funeral took place at St. George's Episcopal Church in Manhattan. Sprague was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery.

Family In 1843, Sprague married Mary Worth, a daughter of Brevet Major General William J. Worth. They were the parents of four children who reached adulthood:

Mary "Maggie" Sprague (1847–1926), the wife of Brigadier General James M. J. Sanno. Sarah Worth Sprague (1854–1936), the wife of Brigadier General Henry Wilson Hubbell. Josephine "Josie" Worth Sprague (1863–1939), the wife of Brigadier General Alexander Lucian Dade. John T. Sprague (1865–1950), a physician who attained the rank of lieutenant colonel while serving as an army doctor during World War I.

Lawrence Sprague Babbitt (1839–1903), a career U.S. Army officer, was Sprague's nephew. Mary Genevieve Worth Sanno (1871–1966), the granddaughter of John T. Sprague, was the wife of army Brigadier General James Joseph Hornbrook. Sprague's grandson John T. Sprague (1902–1980) attained the rank of major general in the United States Air Force. Margaret Hubbell (1881–1967), the granddaughter of John T. Sprague, was the wife of army Major General James A. Woodruff.

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