- Michael Rudolph
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Michael Rudolph Born 1758
Elkton, MarylandDied 1795
at seaAllegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Army Years of service 1778–1783, 1790–1793 Rank Major Commands held Adjutant General of the U.S. Army
Inspector General of the U.S. ArmyBattles/wars Michael Rudolph (1758–1795) was an officer in the United States Army who served as acting Adjutant General and acting Inspector General of the U.S. Army in 1793.
Rudolph was born in Elkton, Maryland of parents of German descent, and received no formal education. In April, 1778, at around the age of sixteen, he enlisted in Lee's Legion, where he served for the duration of the American Revolutionary War. He was commissioned a lieutenant in July, 1779 and in September, 1779 was brevetted a captain for his actions in the Battle of Paulus Hook. He was discharged at the conclusion of the war and returned to civilian life.
He returned to the Army in June, 1790 as a captain in the 1st U. S. Infantry. He was promoted to major commanding the Squadron of Light Dragoons in March, 1792. In February, 1793 he was made acting Adjutant General and acting Inspector General of the U.S. Army. Shortly afterward, he was given command of Fort Hamilton, Ohio. There, he refused to postpone the execution of several soldiers for desertion even though he knew an appeal of their case was pending. Moments after the execution was carried out, a messenger arrived with orders reprieving some of the executed men. The execution infuriated Rudolph's commander, General Anthony Wayne, who ordered Rudolph's resignation in July, 1793. Accounts say he returned home to find his wife had been unfaithful, and went to sea to seek his fortune, where he was captured and killed by pirates.
A legend which circulated in the mid-19th century had Rudolph making his way to France where he became the military commander Michel Ney.
See also
- List of Adjutant Generals of the U.S. Army
- List of Inspectors General of the U.S. Army
References
- Clary, David A.; Whitethorne, Joseph W. A. (1987). The Inspectors General of the United States Army, 1777-1903. Washington, D.C.: U. S. Army Center of Military History. p. 427.
- Heitman, Francis B. (1903). Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, Volume 1. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. pp. 37–38, 850.
- Garden, Alexander (1822). Anecdotes of the Revolutionary War in America. Charleston, South Carolina: A. E. Miller. pp. 128–129. http://books.google.com/books?id=WJ98ynQ-W-AC. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
- McClung, David Waddle (1892). The centennial anniversary of the city of Hamilton, Ohio, September 17–19, 1891. Hamilton, Ohio: Lawrence Printing and Publishing. p. 158. http://books.google.com/books?id=M_1YAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
- Rodenbough, Theophilus F.; Haskin, William L. (1896). The Army of the United States. New York City: Maynard, Merrill & Co.. pp. 5 & 23. http://www.history.army.mil/books/R&H/R&H-FM.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
- Minor, Benjamin B. (January 1847). "Michael Ney, otherwise Michael Rudolph". Southern Literary Messenger. XIII. Richmond, Virginia: Macfarlane and Fergusson. pp. 17–23. http://books.google.com/books?id=kVIFAAAAQAAJ&printsec=titlepage#PPA17,M1. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
Further reading
- Dupuy, Eliza Ann (1870). Michael Rudolph: "the Bravest of the Brave". Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson.
Military offices Preceded by
Henry De Butts (acting)Adjutant General of the U. S. Army
February 23, 1793-July 17, 1793 (acting)Succeeded by
Edward Butler (acting)Preceded by
Henry De Butts (acting)Inspector General of the U.S. Army
February 23, 1793-July 17, 1793 (acting)Succeeded by
Edward Butler (acting)Categories:- 1758 births
- 1795 deaths
- People from Cecil County, Maryland
- Adjutant Generals of the United States Army
- American people of the Northwest Indian War
- Continental Army officers
- Inspectors General of the United States Army
- People lost at sea
- United States Army personnel stubs
- Military history stubs
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