Clement Flagler

Clement Alexander Finley Flagler
Flagler as a division commander in World War I
Nickname	Sioux
Born	August 17, 1867 (1867-08-17) Augusta, Georgia
Died	May 7, 1922 (1922-05-08) (aged 54) Baltimore, Maryland
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1889-1922
Rank	Major General
Commands held	7th Engineer Regiment 5th Infantry Division Artillery III Corps Artillery 42nd (Rainbow) Infantry Division United States Army Engineer School
Battles/wars	Spanish-American War Pancho Villa Expedition World War I
Awards	Legion of Honor Croix de Guerre
Relations	Brigadier General Daniel Webster Flagler (1835-1899) (Father) Brigadier General Clement Alexander Finley (Maternal Grandfather)

Clement Alexander Finley Flagler (1867–1922) was a United States Army Major General who was noteworthy as regimental, brigade and division commander in World War I.

Early life

He was born Clement Alexander Finley Flagler in Augusta, Georgia, the son of Brigadier General Daniel Webster Flagler, for whom Fort Flagler, Washington was named.^[1]

The younger Flagler was named for his maternal grandfather, Army Surgeon General Clement Alexander Finley. Known as Clement Flagler, Clement A.F. Flagler, and C.A.F Flagler, he grew up in Iowa while his father commanded the Rock Island Arsenal.^[2][3]

In 1885 he received a bachelor of science degree from Griswold College, afterwards accepting appointment to the United States Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1889.^[4]

While at West Point Flagler was nicknamed "Sioux" as a testament to his dark eyes, hair and complexion, his having been raised in Iowa, and his self-professed Native American heritage, and his classmates used it with him for the rest of his life.^[5]

Start of military career

Assigned as an Engineer officer, Flagler served as instructor in civil and military engineering at West Point, and as engineer officer at Chickamauga, Georgia.^[6][7]

Spanish-American War

During the Spanish-American War Flagler was temporarily promoted to Major and assigned as engineer officer on the staff of the U.S. Army commander in Puerto Rico.^[8][9]

Post Spanish American War

Following the Spanish-American War Flagler continued to carry out Engineer assignments, including serving as officer in charge of the federal lighthouse district based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a posting as chief engineering officer for the Army's Department of the East. Flagler also played a role in choosing the route for enlarging the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal.^{[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]}

In 1914 Flagler graduated from the Army War College.^[18]

After his War College graduation Flagler served as engineer officer for the District of Columbia Engineer District.^[19]

Pancho Villa Expedition

During Mexican border skirmishes of 1914-1916, Flagler served on General Funston's staff in Vera Cruz Expedition.^[20][21][22]

World War I

During World War I, Flagler successively commanded the 7th Engineer Regiment, 5th Infantry Division Artillery, III Corps Artillery, and the 42nd (Rainbow) Infantry Division, attaining the temporary rank of Major General.^{[23][24][25][26]}

Post World War I

After World War I Flagler served as commandant of the Army's Engineer School at Camp Humphreys, Virginia^[27] and then chief engineer of the department based in Honolulu, Hawaii.^[28]

In 1921 Flagler was assigned to Baltimore as chief engineer of the Eastern Division, the post in which he was serving when he died.^[29]

Military awards

General Flagler was a recipient of the Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre for his World War I service.^[30]

Death and interment

General Flagler died at Johns Hopkins University Hospital^[31][32][33] and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section West E Site 147.^[34]

External Resources

• Find A Grave page, Clement Flagler, accessed March 20, 2011
• Clement Alexander Finley Flagler page, Arlington National Cemetery.net web site, accessed March 20, 2011

References

1. ^ Daniel Webster Flagler entry, The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans], compiled and edited by Rossiter Johnson and John Howard Brown, 1904
2. ^ A History of the Rock Island Arsenal From its Establishment in 1836 to December, 1876: and of the island of Rock Island, the site of the arsenal, from 1804 to 1863. Prepared under the instructions of Brig. Gen. Stephen V. Benet́, by Daniel Webster Flagler, 1877
3. ^ Annals of Iowa, published by State Historical Society of Iowa, 1905, page 600
4. ^ Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers, published by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Volume 48, Part 2, 1922, page 1914
5. ^ Obituary, Clement Alexander Finley Flagler, Annual Report, published by United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, 1922, page 66
6. ^ Newspaper article, Changes at West Point, New York Times, March 18, 1894
7. ^ Newspaper article, Gen. Wilson Leaves Chickamauga Camp, Atlanta Constitution, July 6, 1898
8. ^ Newspaper article, The United Service: Army, New York Times, August 8, 1900
9. ^ Newspaper article, A Joint Service Board To Report on Lands Needed By Armyand Navy in Porto Rico, New York Times, November 20, 1900
10. ^ Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, published by U.S. Army War Department, 1901, page 684
11. ^ Annual Report, published by United States Lighthouse Board, 1906, page 3
12. ^ Reports of the Department of Commerce and Labor, published by United States Dept. of Commerce and Labor, 1907, page 527
13. ^ Newspaper article, To Forces of Land and Sea, Baltimore Sun, May 16, 1904
14. ^ Newspaper article, Roosevelt Won't Interfere: Declines to Modify Order Transferring Major Flagler, New York Times, July 31, 1908
15. ^ Report, Hearings before the Committee on Railways and Canals on the Bill to Acquire and Enlarge the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal, published by U.S. House of Representatives 1908, page 63
16. ^ Newspaper article, The United Service, New York Times, November 26, 1910
17. ^ Newspaper article, Work Halted on New Line, Christian Science Monitor, October 9, 1912
18. ^ Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Military Academy, by George Washington Cullum and Edward Singleton Holden, Volume VI-A, 1920, page 510
19. ^ Newspaper article, Col. Flagler is Sent to Rome, New York Times, March 17, 1917
20. ^ The New International Year Book, published by Dodd, Mead and Co., 1923, page 246
21. ^ Who Was Who in America, With World Notables, published by Marquis Who's Who, 1960, page 404
22. ^ Newspaper article, Tell of Huerta's Nonchalance, By Associated Press, New York Times, May 17, 1914
23. ^ Soldiers all: portraits and sketches of the men of the A.E.F., by Joseph Cummings Chase, 1919, page 353
24. ^ Rainbow Memories: Character Sketches and History of the 1st Battalion, 166th Infantry, 42nd Division, A.E.F., by First Lieutenant Alison Reppy, 1919, page 111
25. ^ The Official History of the 5th Division, U.S.A., published by Society of the 5th Division, 1919, page 31
26. ^ Newspaper article, Rainbow Boys Lauded by General Flagler, Atlanta Constitution, April 8, 1919
27. ^ Newspaper article, Gen. Flagler Sent to Humphreys, New York Times, May 14, 1919
28. ^ All About Hawaii: The Recognized Book of Authentic Information on Hawaii, compiled and published by Thomas G. Thrum, 1921, page 168
29. ^ Annual Report, published by United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, 1922, page 67
30. ^ Obituaries, Engineering and Contracting magazine, Volume 57, 1922, page 114
31. ^ Obituaries, Engineering and Contracting magazine, Volume 57, 1922, page 114
32. ^ Newspaper article, Col. CAF Flagler, Engineer Chief, Dies, Baltimore Sun, May 9, 1922
33. ^ Newspaper article, War Hero Dies, Chicago Daily Tribune, May 9, 1922
34. ^ Annual Report, published by United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, 1922, page 66

Persondata
Name	Flagler, Clement A.F.
Alternative names
Short description	Major General
Date of birth	August 17, 1867
Place of birth	Augusta, Georgia
Date of death	May 7, 1922
Place of death	Baltimore, Maryland