Col. Poe, Orlando M.

HQ & US Regulars

This is what I have heard and found so far folks. Please keep in mind that information on them is very hard to find or authenticate.
Orlando Metcalfe Poe was born on the 7th Day of March 1832 in Navarre Ohio. He went to West Point and graduated with the Class of '56.

He was assigned to surveying duty. Between 1850 and 1860 Ocoee District East Tenn. was surveyed by Capt. O. M. Poe.

At the outbreak of the Rebellion 1861 he was a 1st Lt. on McClellan's staff were he organised the defences of Washington.

In September 1861 he became the Col. of 2nd Michigan. He led the Regiment during the Peninsula campaign. He was put in commanded 3rd Bde/1st Divn/III Corps at Second Bull Run. In November 1862 he was appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers. This promotion was not confirmed by the Senate.

Between August 16th and September 2nd 1862 at the battle of Second Bull Run O.M. Poe commanded Third (3) Brigade, First (1) Division, Ninth (9) Corps.

In 1862 he commanded First (1) Brigade, First (1) Division, Ninth (9) Corps at Fredericksburg.

He commanded the 2nd Michigan Infantry at the battle of Williamsburg.

After the army was taken away from Gen. McClelan. He returned to the Regular rank of Captain in the Engineers. He became chief engineer of the Army of the Ohio, chief engineer of the Military Division of the Mississippi, Atlanta campaign, March to the Sea, and Carolinas campaign.

On October 10, 1863 Captain Orlando M. Poe, the Chief Engineer, performed a reconnaissance to identify the best location for making an infantry attack at Blue Springs Tennessee.

Around November 14th 1864 under Sherman's orders Capt. O. M. Poe "thoroughly destroyed Atlanta, save its mere dwelling-houses and churches." The destruction was by fire purposely applied to buildings, and permitted to spread, as was expected, from house to house until the defenseless city was almost entirely reduced to ashes.

After the war he remained with the army as an aide to Sherman doing engineering duty.

The Grosse Point Light (Photo on Left) was constructed in 1880. It was designed by O.M. Poe. It was constructed as the leading navigational aid into port of Chicago.

In 1883 U. S. Army Colonel Orlando M. Poe is made Superintending Engineer of the Soo Canal.

In response to an advertisement and after the submission of proposals for work at the mouth of the Detroit river, a contract in writing was entered into December 31, 1892, by O. M. Poe, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, and appellees, by which the latter agreed to excavate a ship channel 20 and 21 feet deep, located in section 8 of the Detroit river, in accordance with specifications attached to the contract and made a part thereof. They were to receive in full compensation for their work the sum of 18 cents per cubic yard of excavation, scow measure.

In 1896 The State Lock on the Soo are replaced by the Poe Lock, named in his honor. In 1968 The Soo Canal's Poe Lock are replaced by the New Poe Lock.

Orlando M. Poe had post No. 433 of the G.A.R. in Detroit named in his honor. This G.A.R. was incorporated in 1903. The inscription on a monument to this G.A.R. is below.

Marker on a granite base, near Picnic Way, Belle Isle, Detroit. It was erected on September 27, 1923. The inscription reads:

1923. This tablet is dedicated to Gen. O. M. Poe Post No. 433, Grand Army of the Republic, by its auxiliary, Gen. Poe Woman's Relief Corps No. 8. "Not for selfish gain or applause, but for honor and the glory of the cause they did that which will never be forgotten."
Orlando M. Poe built the Poe Lock at the Sault, and designed the Spectacle Reef Lighthouse in northern Lake Huron.

Orlando M. Poe died in Detroit Michigan on October 2 1895. He now layes in Arlington National Cemetary in Arlington Virginia.

Page Oct. 27,2005

Pages on O.M. Poe

Pre War and During the Civil War

1836 East Tenn. Ocoee Distict Surveyed by O.M. Poe
O.M. Poe Report on Defence of Knoxville
Capt. O. M. Poe, Blue Springs Tenn. Oct. 10th 1863
O.M. Poe burns down Atlanta

Grand Army of the Republic

O.M. Poe GAR article
Inscription on Monument to O.M. Poe GAR

Post War Engineer Work

O.M. Poe Lighthouse (GROSSE POINT LIGHT)
O.M. Poe Locks Legal Case
Page on the Poe Locks

Part of the Biography by Ned Markey. He is a relative of Col. Poe's and Dr. Lyster's wives, who were sisters. He is a descendant of their brother. He can be reached at nmarkey@schiffhardin.com if you have any further information to help him in his research and myself at mich2inf@lycosmail.com so I can upgrade their Biographies.

NAME POE, Orlando Metcalfe
HIGHEST RANK ATTAINED Appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers. This promotion was not confirmed by the Senate.
DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH March 7 1832, Navarre OH
GRADUATED WEST POINT Class of 1856
MILITARY DUTIES Surveying duty & Civil War
COMMANDSCol. 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry,September 1861
Commanded 3rd Bde/1st Divn/III Corps at Second Bull Run
Commanded 1st Bde/1st Divn/IX Corps at Fredericksburg
Chief engineer of the Army of the Ohio
Chief engineer of the Military Division of the Mississippi
Chief engineer of the Atlanta campaign
Chief engineer of the March to the Sea
Chief engineer of the Carolinas campaign.
NOM DE GUERRE None Found
DATE OF DEATH October 2 1895
LOCATION OF DEATH Detroit Michigan
LOCATION OF BURIAL Arlington National Cemetary Virginia
POST WAR SERVICE Army service, aide to Sherman, engineering duty

"They have had a new Colonel appointed. His name is Poe. He is from the regular army. The boys don't like him much. He puts on too many airs to take with volunteers, and he will find out he is not in the regular army."
Pvt Perry Mayo 2nd Mich. V.I. Company C
The Civil War Letters of Perry Mayo, Page 188, Museum Michigan State University

Counter

List Of Bios
1st Rnk
Last Rnk
Company
Richardson, Israel B.
Col. (1st)
Brig. Gen.
HQ
Poe, Orlando M.
Col. (2nd)
Capt. (Reg.)
HQ
Humphrey, William ***
Capt.
Col. (3rd)
D, HQ
March, Edwin J.
Capt. (27th Inf.)
Col. (4th)
HQ
Apr. 29,2005
Schneider, Frederick ***
Capt.
Col. (5th)
A, HQ
Mar. 30,2001
Chipman, Henry L.
Lt. Col. (1st)
Capt. (Reg)
HQ
Dec. 30,2000
Larned, Sylvester
Lt. Col (2nd)
Lt. Col (2nd)
HQ
Mar. 13,05
William, Adolphus W.
Maj. (1st)
Col. (20th Inf.)
HQ
Dillman, Louis ***
Capt.
Lt. Col. (4th)
A, HQ
Hayden, Charles B. ***
3rd Sgt.
Lt. Col. (5th)
I,E & HQ
Byington, Cornelius ***
Capt.
Maj. (2nd)
C, HQ
Daniels, Henry H. ***
Sgt.
Adj.
B,C,D,H,HQ
Mar. 22,2000
Lyster, Henry F.
A/Surg.
Surgeon
HQ
Mar. 28,2005
May, Frank W.
Chaplain
Chaplain
HQ
Mar. 23,2000
Ethridge, Annie *7
Civilian
Civilian
Civ.

*** = These bios are under their first Company.
*7 = Annie was a Vivandiere. A Civilian that helped the wounded soldiers.
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