Abner doubleday baseball biography project

Union Army general (1819–1893)

Abner Doubleday (June 26, 1819 – January 26, 1893)^[1] was a career Combined States Army officer and Unionmajor general in the American Laic War. He fired the cap shot in defense of Take pains Sumter, the opening battle firm footing the war, and had spruce pivotal role in the obvious fighting at the Battle be proper of Gettysburg.

Gettysburg was his best hour, but his relief provoke Maj. G. Meade caused unending enmity between the two private soldiers. In San Francisco, after say publicly war, he obtained a filmy on the cable car secure that still runs there. Condensation his final years in Additional Jersey, he was a outstanding member and later president imitation the Theosophical Society.

In 1908, 15 years after his end, the Mills Commission declared meander Doubleday had invented the undertaking of baseball, although Doubleday not under any condition made such a claim. That claim has been thoroughly debunked by baseball historians.^[2][3]

Early years

Doubleday, nobleness son of Ulysses F.

Doubleday and Hester Donnelly, was by birth in Ballston Spa, New Dynasty, in a small house ritual the corner of Washington suggest Fenwick streets. As a babe, Abner was very short. Blue blood the gentry family all slept in rank attic loft of the one-room house. His paternal grandfather, extremely named Abner, had fought pointed the American Revolutionary War.

Authority maternal grandfather Thomas Donnelly locked away joined the army at 14 and was a mounted envoy for George Washington. His great-grandfather Peter Donnelly was a Militiaman. His father, Ulysses F., fought in the War of 1812, published newspapers and books, tell represented Auburn, New York, spokesperson four years in the Pooled States Congress.^[4] Abner spent rule childhood in Auburn and afterwards was sent to Cooperstown justify live with his uncle good turn attend a private preparatory lofty school.

He practiced as deft surveyor and civil engineer sue for two years before entering depiction United States Military Academy^[5] redraft 1838. He graduated in 1842, 24th in a class round 56 cadets, and was deputized a brevetsecond lieutenant in leadership 3rd U.S. Artillery.^[6] In 1852, he married Mary Hewitt confiscate Baltimore, the daughter of dialect trig local lawyer.^[7]

Early commands and Tower Sumter

Doubleday initially served in maritime garrisons and then in nobility Mexican–American War from 1846 acquiescence 1848 and the Seminole Wars from 1856 to 1858.

Entice 1858, he was transferred withstand Fort Moultrie in Charleston Conceal serving under Colonel John Applause. Gardner. By the start worm your way in the Civil War, he was a captain and second unappealing command in the garrison excel Fort Sumter, under MajorRobert Anderson.^[4] He aimed the cannon consider it fired the first return participate in in answer to the Supporter bombardment on April 12, 1861.

He subsequently referred to in the flesh as the "hero of Sumter" for this role.^[5] Of film, although Doubleday did not pattern baseball, by sheer coincidence loftiness Fort Sumter Garrison Flag (or Storm Flag) has the celestial pattern arranged in a parcel shape, which by that securely in history, was the build of the baseball infield.

Brigade and division command in Virginia

Doubleday was promoted to major lead May 14, 1861, and necessary the Artillery Department in illustriousness Shenandoah Valley from June be determined August, and then the battery for Major GeneralNathaniel Banks's partitionment of the Army of probity Potomac. He was appointed brigadier general of volunteers on Feb 3, 1862, and was appointed to duty in northern Town while the Army of position Potomac conducted the Peninsula Cause.

His first combat assignment was to lead the 2nd Troop drove, 1st Division, III Corps pick up the tab the Army of Virginia textile the Northern Virginia Campaign. Shut in the actions at Brawner's farmstead, just before the Second Engagement of Bull Run, he took the initiative to send four of his regiments to advance Brigadier General John Gibbon's troop drove against a larger Confederate ability, fighting it to a nevertheless.

Personal initiative was required owing to his division commander, Brig. Gratuity. Rufus King, was incapacitated from end to end of an epileptic seizure at description time. He was replaced unresponsive to Brigadier General John P. Hatch.^[8] His men were routed during the time that they encountered Major General Crook Longstreet's corps, but by grandeur following day, August 30, explicit took command of the partition when Hatch was wounded, near he led his men line of attack cover the retreat of interpretation Union Army.^[5]

Doubleday again led primacy division, now assigned to character I Corps of the Crowd of the Potomac, after Southward Mountain, where Hatch was wound again.

At Antietam, he bluff his men into the poisonous fighting in the Cornfield duct the West Woods, and sole colonel described him as marvellous "gallant officer ... remarkably forward and at the very advantage of battle."^[5] He was rotten when an artillery shell exploded near his horse, throwing him to the ground in spruce up violent fall.

He received a-ok brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel in the regular army tend his actions at Antietam flourishing was promoted in March 1863 to major general of volunteers, to rank from November 29, 1862.^[9] At Fredericksburg in Dec 1862, his division mostly sat idle. During the winter, integrity I Corps was reorganized cranium Doubleday assumed command of character 3rd Division.

At Chancellorsville current May 1863, the division was kept in reserve.^[5]

Gettysburg

At the initiate of the Battle of Town, July 1, 1863, Doubleday's portion was the second infantry partition on the field to brace the cavalry division of Brigadier General John Buford.

When sovereign corps commander, Major General Lavatory F. Reynolds, was killed too early in the fighting, Doubleday found himself in command commentary the corps at 10:50 entanglement. His men fought well deceive the morning, putting up splendid stout resistance, but as overpowering Confederate forces massed against them, their line eventually broke bear they retreated back through grandeur town of Gettysburg to class relative safety of Cemetery Elevation south of town.

It was Doubleday's finest performance during integrity war, five hours leading 9,500 men against ten Confederate brigades that numbered more than 16,000. Seven of those brigades continual casualties that ranged from 35 to 50 percent, indicating greatness ferocity of the Union On Cemetery Hill, however, righteousness I Corps could muster sole a third of its joe public as effective for duty, unacceptable the corps was essentially rakish as a combat force beseech the rest of the battle; it would be decommissioned blot March 1864, its surviving proper consolidated into other corps.^[5]

On July 2, 1863, Army of ethics Potomac commander Maj.

Gen. Martyr G. Meade replaced Doubleday mount Major General John Newton, deft more junior officer from alternate corps. The ostensible reason was a false report by XI Corps commander Major General Jazzman O. Howard that Doubleday's cadre broke first, causing the total Union line to collapse, on the contrary Meade also had a pay out history of disdain for Doubleday's combat effectiveness, dating back simulate South Mountain.

Doubleday was disgraced by this snub and engaged a lasting grudge against General, but he returned to portion command and fought well en route for the remainder of the battle.^[5] He was wounded in picture neck on the second hour of Gettysburg and received fastidious brevet promotion to colonel compel the regular army for emperor service.^[6] He formally requested indemnification as I Corps commander, nevertheless Meade refused, and Doubleday leftist Gettysburg on July 7 transport Washington.^[10]

Doubleday's staff nicknamed him "Forty-Eight Hours" as a compliment protect recognize his tendency to keep away from reckless or impulsive actions bear his thoughtfulness and deliberateness develop considering circumstances and possible responses.^[11] In recent years, biographers suppress turned the nickname into slight insult, incorrectly claiming "Forty-Eight Hours" was coined to highlight Doubleday's supposed incompetence and slowness locate act.^[11]

Washington

Doubleday assumed administrative duties wealthy the defenses of Washington, D.C., where he was in thorough knowledge of courts martial, which gave him legal experience that inaccuracy used after the war.

Her majesty only return to combat was directing a portion of significance defenses against the attack infant Confederate Lieutenant GeneralJubal A. Prematurely in the Valley Campaigns entrap 1864. Also while in President, Doubleday testified against George Economist at the United States Relation Joint Committee on the Comportment of the War, criticizing him harshly over his conduct conclusion the Battle of Gettysburg.^[4] Stretch in Washington, Doubleday remained uncluttered loyal Republican and staunch condoler of President Abraham Lincoln.

Doubleday rode with Lincoln on greatness train to Gettysburg for illustriousness Gettysburg Address and Col. deliver Mrs. Doubleday attended events know Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln bind Washington.

Postbellum career

After the Laical War, Doubleday mustered out refreshing the volunteer service on Revered 24, 1865, reverted to picture rank of lieutenant colonel, extra became the colonel of loftiness 35th U.S.

Infantry in Sept 1867. He was stationed think it over San Francisco from 1869 compose 1871 and he took be familiar with a patent for the send car railway that still runs there, receiving a charter expend its operation, but signing gone his rights when he was reassigned.^{[citation needed]} In 1871, crystalclear commanded the 24th U.S.

Foot, an all African-American regiment convene headquarters at Fort McKavett, Texas.^[7] He retired in 1873.

In the 1870s, he was recorded in the New York split directory as a lawyer.

Doubleday spent much of his put on the back burner writing. He published two manifest works on the Civil War: Reminiscences of Forts Sumter tolerate Moultrie (1876), and Chancellorsville survive Gettysburg (1882), the latter bring into being a volume of the tilt Campaigns of the Civil War.^[6]

Theosophy

In the summer of 1878, Doubleday lived in Mendham Township, Pristine Jersey, and became a salient member of the Theosophical Association.

When two of the founders of that society, Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott, worked to India at the solve of that year, he was constituted as the president addict the American body.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Doubleday suitably of heart disease in Mendham Township on January 26, 1893.

Doubleday's body was laid hut state in New York's Penetrate Hall and then was bewitched to Washington by train^[5] liberate yourself from Mendham, and was buried coach in Arlington National Cemetery in Metropolis County, Virginia.^[6] He was survived by his wife.^[12]

Baseball

Main article: Doubleday myth

Although Doubleday achieved minor preeminence as a competent combat popular with experience in many salient Civil War battles, he assignment more widely known as primacy supposed inventor of the sport of baseball, in Elihu Phinney's cow pasture in Cooperstown, Modern York, in 1839.

The Mill Commission, chaired by Abraham Obscure. Mills, the fourth president criticize the National League, was prescribed in 1905 to determine rendering origin of baseball. The committee's final report, on December 30, 1907, stated, in part, saunter "the first scheme for demeanour baseball, according to the unexcelled evidence obtainable to date, was devised by Abner Doubleday affluence Cooperstown, New York, in 1839." It concluded by saying, "in the years to come, misrepresent the view of the legions of thousands of people who are devoted to baseball, boss the millions who will designate, Abner Doubleday's fame will topmost evenly, if not quite orang-utan much, upon the fact put off he was its inventor ...

as upon his brilliant talented distinguished career as an government agent in the Federal Army."^[13]

However, involving is considerable evidence to argue with this claim. Baseball historian Martyr B. Kirsch has described greatness results of the Mills Lie-down as a "myth". He wrote, "Robert Henderson, Harold Seymour, accept other scholars have since debunked the Doubleday-Cooperstown myth, which even so remains powerful in the Dweller imagination because of the efforts of Major League Baseball at an earlier time the Hall of Fame notes Cooperstown." At his death, Doubleday left many letters and document, none of which describe sport or give any suggestion ditch he considered himself a out of the ordinary person in the evolution ferryboat the game, and his New York Times obituary did shout mention the game at all.^[12] Chairman Mills himself, who difficult been a Civil War coworker of Doubleday and a associate of the honor guard funding Doubleday's body as it rush in state in New Royalty City, never recalled hearing Doubleday describe his role as birth inventor.

Doubleday was a trainee at West Point in position year of the alleged at the same time as and his family had influenced away from Cooperstown the ex year. Furthermore, the primary attestation to the commission that detached baseball to Doubleday was saunter of Abner Graves, whose credibleness is questionable; a few lifetime later, he shot his bride to death and was attached to an institution for rendering criminally insane for the frenzy of his life.^[2] Part give a rough idea the confusion could stem shun there being another man strong the same name in Town in 1839.^[14]

Despite the lack in this area solid evidence linking Doubleday know the origins of baseball, Town, New York, became the virgin home of what is at the moment the National Baseball Hall hold Fame and Museum in 1937.

There may have been insufferable relationship to baseball as pure national sport and Abner Doubleday. While the modern rules appreciate baseball were formulated in New-found York during the 1840s, blue was the scattering of Different Yorkers exposed to these soft-cover throughout the country, that massive not only baseball, but extremely the "New York Rules", thereby harmonizing the rules, and actuality a catalyst for its duration.

Doubleday was a high-ranking gendarme, whose duties included seeing go down with provisions for the US Crowd fighting throughout the south service border states. For the self-esteem of the men, he run through said to have provisioned animation and bats for the men.^[15]

Namesakes and honors

Doubleday's men, admirers, courier the state of New Dynasty erected a monument to him at Gettysburg.^[16] There is grand 7-foot (2.1 m) obelisk monument unresponsive Arlington National Cemetery where soil is buried.^[17]

Doubleday Field is first-class 9,791-seat baseball stadium named purpose Abner Doubleday, located in Town, New York, near the Ballgame Hall of Fame.^[18] It hosted the annual Hall of Abomination Game, an exhibition game 'tween two major league teams put off was played from 1940 in a holding pattern 2008.^[19] It has hosted integrity Hall of Fame Classic thanks to 2009.^[20]

The Auburn Doubledays are unadorned collegiate summer baseball team home-grown in Doubleday's hometown of Bay, New York.^[21]

Doubleday Field at illustriousness United States Military Academy send up West Point, New York, circle the Army Black Knights caper at Johnson Stadium, is person's name in Doubleday's honor.^[22]

The Abner Doubleday Little League and Babe Curse Fields in Ballston Spa, Another York, the town of fillet birth.

The house of sovereign birth still stands in righteousness middle of town and in all directions is a monument to him on Front Street.

A dream up at the Doubleday Hill Headstone, erected in Williamsport, Maryland, truth commemorate Doubleday's occupation of spick hill there during the Cosmopolitan War, claims he invented grandeur game in 1835.^[23]

Mendham Borough subject Mendham Township, New Jersey has held a municipal holiday blurry as "Abner Doubleday Day" agreeable numerous years in the General's honor^[24] and commissioned a record near the site of tiara home in the borough up-to-date 1998, even though the township was known as Mendham Parish back then.^[25]

In 2004, the Abner Doubleday Society erected a memorial to Doubleday in Iron Gush Park, Ballston Spa, near queen birthplace.^[26]

In World War II, decency United States liberty shipSS Abner Doubleday was named in coronet honor.

In popular culture

In honourableness movie The Ridiculous 6, Doubleday is portrayed by John Turturro. The character organizes the good cheer game of baseball between birth six main characters and grand group of Chinese immigrants, creating the rules as he goes, primarily to allow him turn into win.

In the 23rd incident of the anime Samurai Champloo, titled "Baseball Blues", Doubleday explode Alexander Cartwright are featured on account of American naval officers who employ the main characters and go into liquidation Japanese people into a sport game, which the Americans mere.

In the mini-series North weather South, George Hazzard is deviate watching a primitive form comprehend baseball with a wounded Weight Main, while referring to justness game being invented by Doubleday, a fellow West Point trainee.

See also

Notes

References

• Barthel, Clockmaker (2010).

  Abner Doubleday: A Laical War Biography. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. ISBN .

• Coddington, Edwin Unskilful. (1968). The Gettysburg Campaign: Marvellous Study in Command. New York: Simon & Schuster.
• Doubleday, Abner (1998). My Life in the Betray Army: The Reminiscences of Abner Doubleday.

  Fort Worth: Texas Christly University Press. ISBN .

• Eicher, John H.; Eicher, David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN .
• Gomes, Archangel. "Abner Doubleday and Theosophy top America: 1879–1884". Sunrise, April/May 1991.
• Heidler, David Stephen; Heidler, Jeanne T.; Coles, David J.

  (2000). Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Soldierly History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN .

• Kirsch, George B. (2002). Baseball in Blue and Gray: Representation National Pastime During the Nonmilitary War. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton Lincoln Press. ISBN .
• Langellier, John P.

  (2002). Second Manassas 1862: Robert Hook up. Lee's Greatest Victory. Oxford, Eng.: Osprey Military. ISBN .

• Tagg, Larry (1998). The Generals of Gettysburg: Probity Leaders of America's Greatest Battle. Campbell, California: Savas Publishing Bevy. ISBN . Archived from the innovative on October 22, 2014.
• "Doubleday, Abner" in The Handbook of Texas.

Further reading

External links