Louis Henry Marshall

Louis Henry Marshall (1827–1891) was a native of Virginia and a U.S. Army officer on the frontier in the Antebellum Period, in the American Civil War and in the Snake War.

Early life Louis Henry Marshall was born in Virginia on May 23, 1828. He was the son of Assistant Adjutant General William Louis Marshall (1803-1879), who served in the Civil War, and Anne Kinloch [Lee] Marshall (1800-1864). His mother was the sister of Robert E. Lee and daughter of Henry Lee III. His father was the son of one-time Transylvania University president Louis Marshall, and brother to three Congressmen: Thomas Francis Marshall, Alexander Keith Marshall, and Edward C. Marshall. His father was also a nephew of Chief Justice John Marshall. His first cousin, once removed was United States Solicitor General William Marshall Bullitt. He was also a second cousin, thrice removed of President Thomas Jefferson.

Military Career Appointed at large to the United States Military Academy in 1845, Marshall missed serving in the Mexican–American War, attending West Point from July 1, 1845, to July 1, 1849. Graduating 41st of 43 in his class, he was promoted to Brevet Second Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry Regiment, on July 1, 1849. He served in the garrison at Fort Columbus, New York, from 1849 to 1850. Then he was on frontier duty in New Mexico Territory, at Santa Fé in 1850, then at San Elizario, Texas into 1851, then at Cantonment Dawson, New Mexico Territory, where he was promoted Second Lieutenant, March 5, 1851. He next served at Fort Union, New Mexico Territory, to 1852, then again at Santa Fé, to 1853, then escorted a Topographical party from 1853 to 1854.

Marshall next served at Fort Craig, from 1854 to March 3, 1855, where he received his promotion to First Lieutenant, 10th U.S. Infantry Regiment, and an assignment to the Cavalry School for Practice, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania until 1856, when he was assigned to Recruiting service until 1858. Later that year he returned to frontier duty at Camp Floyd, Utah Territory, serving there until 1860, then at Fort Laramie, Nebraska Territory, to 1861, serving as Quartermaster, 10th Infantry Regiment, from July 16 to December 29, 1860, when he was appointed captain, 10th Infantry and granted a leave of absence, in 1861.

Marshall took command just as the Snakes had begun a raiding over much of eastern Oregon, attacking ranches, stagecoaches and stations, wagons and other travelers on the roads through their territory. The worst of these were three attacks on unarmed or poorly armed Chinese immigrants traveling from California to the Owyhee mining towns on May 19–21, 1866. Called the Chinese Massacres the Snakes killed at least 99 Chinese in the three incidents.