A Civil War Biography

Langdon Cheaves Easton

Easton was born 10 August 1814 in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from West Point in 1838, 22nd in his class, and was assigned to the 6th Infantry. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on 23 July 1839 then was assigned as an assistant quartermaster with the rank of captain on 3 March 1847. He served in both the Seminole War in Florida and the war with Mexico.

He was next assigned as head of the quartermaster depot located at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He remained at that post until 3 December 1863 when he was called for field service. On 15 December 1863 Easton was assigned as chief quartermaster of the Army of the Cumberland. He served in that position until 4 May 1864 when he became chief quartermaster of the western armies, the Army of the Cumberland, the Army of the Ohio, and the Army of the Tennessee which were combined under the overall command of William T. Sherman.

Easton was promoted to colonel in the quartermaster's corps on 2 August 1864. He remained with the western armies through the Atlanta campaign for which he was brevetted lieutenant colonel, colonel, and brigadier general USA, on 17 September 1864, "for distinguished and important service in the quartermaster's department in the campaign terminating in the capture of Atlanta, Georgia," the March to the Sea, and the Carolina campaign. He was brevetted major general USA on 13 March 1865, "for meritorious service during the war."

Following Joseph E. Johnston's surrender in North Carolina, Easton remained with the western armies as they moved to Washington DC through Raleigh, North Carolina and Richmond, the former Confederate capital. He took part in the Grand Review on 24 May 1865 and did not relinquish his quartermaster duties until 27 June 1865 after the armies had disbanded. Following the war he was stationed in Mississippi and Missouri. He was promoted to colonel USA and assistant quartermaster general on 6 June 1872. Easton retired from active duty on 24 January 1881. He died in New York City on 29 April 1884.

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