Born in New York City, July 26, 1862, the son of Lawrence Sprague and Fannie McDougall Babbitt, he graduated from West Point in 1884, from the Heavy Artillery School, 1889. He married Maud Ainsworth, February 23, 1924.
He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, June 15, 1884, and promoted through the grades to Brigadier General, National Army, October 2, 1917, Brigadier General, U.S. Army, February 12, 1918 and Major General, U.S. Army, April 14, 1923.
He commanded a brigade in the Marne, St. Mihiel and Argonne Offensives in World War I and served with the Army of Occupation following the war. He retired from the Army on September 19, 1924.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for “exceptionally meritorious and conspicious services” in World War I; Officer, Legion d’Honour (France); Comendator, Order of El Sol del Peru (Peru); Abdon Calderon, First Class (Ecuador).
He resided in Santa Barbara, California, until his death on December 9, 1939. He was buried in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery. His first wife, Emily Fenno Babbitt, is buried with him.
E. B. BABBITT DEAD; MAJOR GENERAL, 77
Commanded Brigade in Marne, St. Mihiel and the Argonne Drives
Retired in ‘24
In Active Duty 40 Years
Early In War Was Assistant to Chief of Ordnance
He Won Distinguished Service Medal
SANTA BARBARA, California, December 9, 1939 – Major General Edwin Burr Babbitt, who retired from the United States Army in 1924 after forty years of service, died today at the age of 77.
General Babbitt commanded the Fourth Field Brigade in France and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. He entered the United States Military Academy in 1880.
Funeral services will be held Monday in the Mount Carmel Church, Montecito, California. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery.
General Babbitt was born in New York, a son of Colonel Lawrence Sprague Babbitt. After receiving his Second Lieutenant’s commission in 1884 he spent five years in the Artillery School. In October 1917, he was made a Brigadier General of the National Army and in February 1918 received the same rank in the Regular Army. He was promoted to Major General in April 1923.
In the early years of the World War period General Babbitt was assistant to the Chief of Ordnance. In the Spring of 1918 he landed in France in time to command a brigade in the Marne, St. Mihiel and Argonne offensives. He also received a Legion of Merit.
In 1924 he married Maud Ainsworth of Portland, Maine.
BABBITT, EDWIN B
United States Army
- DATE OF DEATH: 12/09/1939
- BURIED AT: SECTION 1 SITE 254
- ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
BABBITT, EMMA F
- DATE OF DEATH: 05/20/1918
- BURIED AT: SECTION 1 SITE 234
- ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
- WIFE OF EB BABBITT, US ARMY
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard