The Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps By: Ronald M Boos Jr. Every Marine before graduating from Boot Camp knows his name. He is

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1 The Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps By: Ronald M Boos Jr Every Marine before graduating from Boot Camp knows his name. He is to all Marines past and present the Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps. Archibald Henderson was a commanding presence in the nation s capital during his tour of duty at the Commandant of the Marine Corps, a tour of duty that lasted thirty-nine years commanding the Corps longer than anyone ever had or ever will. All Marines know his name but very few know exactly who this statuesque figure was or what he did during his career that spanned over half a century. Archibald Henderson was born in Colchester, Virginia on January 21, He was only one of ten children born to Colonel Alexander Henderson (House of Burgesses and close friend of George Washington) and Sally Moore (smart, beautiful, redheaded, song bird). While nothing is known about Henderson s childhood education his life and presence later in his career suggests that he received a fair amount at some point in his life. According to records, Henderson was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on June 4, Although Henderson s motivation for joining the Corps during peacetime is unknown, it was apparent that his aptitude for the military service was unusually high. Evidence to this was the fact that the young Lieutenant was promoted to the rank of Captain on April 1, 1811, less than five years during a period of national peace. The year following, Captain Henderson was ordered to service on the Constitution during the war of 1812, and in the following December he would gain his first combat experience against the British 1 Lewis C., (1950) Famous American Marines. Boston. 75

2 frigate Java off the coast of Brazil. Henderson would continue to serve on the Constitution for the remainder of the war and was promoted to Brevet Major in Henderson again distinguished himself on February 20, 1815 when the Constitution, finally free of a two-year blockade at Boston, engaged into battle with the British Corvette Cyane, and the British Sloop Levant. By the end of both the initial and subsequent engagements, both British ships would be captured by the crew of the Constitution but the Levant would subsequently be lost again to a British Battle Group on March 10, Due to his superior command of the Marines on the Constitution, during this time, Henderson was presented the Silver Star and received the gratitude of the Congress. After the war ended, and the Corps ranks were once again reduced, Henderson was given shore duty as the Commanding Officer (CO) of the Marine Barracks at Boston, and then at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and finally at Naval Station, New Orleans. During this time, the Commandant, Major Anthony Gale, had been court-martialed and dismissed from the service. To succeed Gale, Congress appointed Henderson as Lieutenant Colonel Commandant with less than fourteen years of service. When Henderson took command of the Corps he found the men s morale to be at a low point. In order to remedy not only this problem but also the declining efficiency of the Corps, Henderson started to implement a series of changes that would alter the Marine Corps forever. Henderson demanded stringent military bearing and esprit de corps of his Marines, and he sound a small solution to both problems by implementing a standard set of uniforms. Henderson also started the creation of a brother-ship

3 with the Navy that lasts to this day. To ensure the competency of his officers, Henderson commanded all new officers to be properly trained at his Headquarters in Washington so that he could oversee it himself. He also ensured that he had a small Battalion at his Headquarters that was trained and familiar with the latest in artillery, and military tactics. Under Henderson the Corps began to distinguish itself. Providing assistance during the fires at Boston, the Island of St. Thomas, and the Island of Smyrna, the Corps began its career as a humanitarian force. However the Corps was still a courageous combat force as was evident when in 1824 Major Robert Wainwright with a detachment of his Marines quelled a Boston prisoners riot. Further embedding Henderson s goal of a well disciplined, tight knit force were the various battles that the Corps was involved with. Under Henderson s command Marines fought battles against Spanish forces in Northern Florida, against Pirates in the West Indies, and against other forces located everywhere from Sumatra to Samoa. In 1835 with the battle against the Indians raging in the south, Henderson volunteered his personal services and two Battalions of Marines for active duty. Mobilizing nearly half the strength of the Corps for service, Henderson left the detachments on shore detail with only a Sergeant s guard, taking with him nearly every officer in the Corps. By this time Henderson had become very popular with his Officers and Marines and before his departure, the Officer s Corps presented him with a cane made from the wood of the Cyane. Leaving a sign on his office door, which simply stated, Gone to Florida to fight the Indians. Will be back when the war is over Henderson took personal

4 command of the First Battalion. Composed of Marines from Washington, Norfolk, Baltimore and Philadelphia, the First Battalion was sailed to Charleston, SC on the Steamboat Columbus. After then traveling by train to Columbus, Georgia the First covered 224 miles by foot over fourteen days of marching. 2 Once the regiment was assembled, Henderson turned the First over to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Miller. Over the next several weeks the Marines scoured the countryside rounding up Indians and herding them into concentration camps, to be transported to a reservation in Oklahoma. In 1837 Henderson was brevetted a Brigadier General and given tactical command of the Second Brigade which included; an artillery Regiment, the Georgia Regiment, a Battalion of friendly Creek Indians, the Fourth Infantry regular, and of course the Marines. Henderson was to use the Second Brigade to aid General Jessup of the Army in a campaign against the Indians. Heading east to the Ocklawana headquarters, Henderson captured an Indian camp and fought the warriors deep in the Great Cypress Swamp. With Jessup and Henderson constantly harassing the Indians and forcing them into starvation, the Chiefs finally agreed to assemble for transportation to the west. At this point Henderson felt that he had been too long from the Washington bureaucratic wars. 3 Henderson returned to office at his Headquarters. Henderson would not go without a word of praise from General Jessup. Jessup spoke of the valuable services rendered by the Colonel, and went on to tender him his warmest thanks for the able, zealous 2 Lewis C., (1950) Famous American Marines. Boston Millett A., (1991) Semper Fidelis The History of the United States Marine Corps. 72

5 and cheerful support (Jessup) has on every occasion received from him both in Florida and Alabama 4 Henderson maintained his distinguished career in the Marine Corps by overseeing such world altering events as the Mexican War, and the American expedition to Japan. Henderson continued to strengthen the Marine Corps with his aim being that the Corps keep in step with the expanding Navy, and that the Corps maintain a constant state of readiness. This intent was evident during the Plug Ugly Riot on Washington in Although he was at the age of seventyfour at the time, Henderson made his way through the crowd in civilian clothes and came upon the rioters one brass cannon. Suddenly, Henderson grabbed the cannon and turned the muzzle away from the Battalion of Marine that it had been aimed in on. Some rioters shot at Henderson, but all missed their target. The Marine then charged at the mob, capturing the cannon. The individuals responsible for organizing the mob were arrested and marched to the Mayor s office. 5 Two years later on January 6, 1859 Henderson died in his sleep while still filling the office that he was born to hold. The President, his Cabinet, and various high-ranking officers from across the military attended his funeral. His wife, Anne Maria Cazenove, three sons and three daughters, survived Henderson. One of his sons, Charles Henderson, distinguished himself in the Marine Corps during the Mexican War, and later joined the Confederacy during the American Civil War. To memorialize the Grand Old Man, the Navy designated transport No 1 4 Lewis C., (1950) Famous American Marines. Boston Lewis C., (1950) Famous American Marines. Boston. 88

6 the Henderson during a ceremony held on June 17, Henderson can, without doubt, be given the credit for giving the Marine Corps its first national reputation, writes Metcalf. 6 During his administration many customs and traditions grew up, the maintenance of which had much to do with the shaping of the later colorful history of the Corps and its devotion to duty. 6 Metcalf C., (1939) A History of the United States Marine Corps. New York. 189

7 REFERENCE Metcalf C., (1939) A History of the United States Marine Corps. New York: G. P. Putnam s Sons Lewis C., (1950) Famous American Marines. Boston: L. C. Page & Company Millett A., (1991) Semper Fidelis The History of the United States Marine Corps. New York: The Free Press