James Oakes – Brigadier General, United States Army

Born at Limestoneville, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1826. He graduated from West Point in 1846, 34th in a class of 59, and was assigned to the Dragoons-Cavalry. He served in the Mexican War, where he received two brevets, on Frontier duty and in Indian fighting, where he was wounded twice. He married Anna Maria deBeleen, November 11, 1854.

During the Civil War, he was promoted to Major, 2nd U.S. Cavalry, April 6, 1861, serving until September in Wheeling, West Virginia, on mustering duty. On May 17, 1861, he was offered the rank of Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers, but declined the commission. Transferring to the 5th U.S. Cavalry on August 3, 1861, he commanded the regiment in Washington, September 1861-January 1862, and in the move to Nashville, at Shiloh and at Corinth. From October 1862 to April 1863 he was engaged in mustering-disbursing at Jackson, Michigan, and until September 1866 was Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General for Illinois.

He was appointed Colonel, 6th U.S. Cavalry, July 31, 1866, and was also breveted Colonel and Brigadier General, U.S. Army, March 30, 1865, for recruiting services. He commanded the Freedman's Bureau and the District of Austin, Texas, 1867-69; afterwards he was on the Northern frontier of Texas and in Kansas.

He retired at his own request, after 30 years of service, April 29, 1878, and made his home in Washington, D.C. where he died on November 27, 1910. He was buried in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Maria debeelen Oakes (May 12, 1829-January 16, 1926), is buried with him.


GENERAL JAMES OAKES DEAD

Aged Veteran Stricken On Washington Street Near His Home

WASHINGTON, November 27, 1910 – General James Oakes, who was retired in 1879 after thirty-six years of active service in the Mexican and Civil Wars, as well as the Indian uprisings in the Southwest, sank unconscious to the pavement today near his home, and died twenty minuted later at a local hospital from heart trouble.

General Oakes was 85 years old and was well known in New York, Pittsburg and Washington.  He was born near Limestone, Pennsylgania, APril 4, 1826, and was educated at the University of Pennsylvania and the United States Military Academy, being appointed to the latter institution by President Tyler in 1842.  In 1864 ghe reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, being assigned to the United States Fourth Cavaltry, and was made a Brigadier General brevet March 30, 1865.

At the close of the war he was head of the Freedman's Bureau at Austin, Texas.  He was retired at his own requeston April 29, 1879.


OAKES, JAMES

  • COL 5TH US CAV
  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
  • DATE OF DEATH: 11/27/1910
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
  • BURIED AT:   SITE 86-B
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

OAKES, MARIA DE BEELEN W/O JAMES

  • DATE OF DEATH: 01/16/1926
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
  • BURIED AT: SECTION W-E  SITE 86-B
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
  • WIFE OF JAMES OAKES, COL,USA

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