Peter Conover Hains

Peter Conover Hains (July 6, 1840 – November 7, 1921) was a major general in the United States Army, military engineer, and veteran of the American Civil War, Spanish–American War, and the First World War. He is best known for his civil engineering efforts, such as the creation of the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., and for laying out the Panama Canal.

Early life and career Peter Conover Hains was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Reuben Peter Hains (1817–1873), and Amanda Hains (1821–1913). He was appointed to West Point from New Jersey, and graduated ranking 19th in the Class of June 1861. Among his classmates were Medal of Honor recipient First Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing and Major Generals George Custer, USA, and Pierce Manning Butler Young, CSA.

Civil War Hains was both commissioned as, and promoted to, a second and first lieutenant of the 2nd U.S. Artillery Regiment on June 24, 1861. Hains briefly commanded Battery M of the U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade and ordered the first shot fired by Union artillery during the Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861 Hains then transferred to the Corps of Topographical Engineers on July 24, 1862. He won a brevet promotion to captain on May 22, 1862, for actions at Hanover Court House. Less than a year later, on March 3, 1863, Hains transferred into the Corps of Engineers. Thornton was acquitted in January 1909; Peter was convicted of manslaughter in May 1909 and sent to Sing Sing Prison, but, on Hains' appeal, was pardoned by John Alden Dix, Governor of New York, in 1911.

Hains was the oldest officer to serve on active duty since Major General John E. Wool retired in 1863 at the age of 79. (The oldest active duty officer in the history of the U.S. Army was Brevet Brigadier General John Walbach who died on active duty in 1857 at the age of 90.) He was likely the only person to serve on active duty with the U.S. Military in both the American Civil War and the First World War.

General Hains died at Walter Reed General Hospital on November 7, 1921, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Awards and decorations

InsigniaCorps Castle1st Row AwardsCivil War Campaign MedalSpanish War Service MedalWorld War I Victory Medal