Peter D. Vroom (U.S. Army officer)

Peter D. Vroom (April 18, 1842 – March 19, 1926) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the American Civil War, American Indian Wars, and Spanish–American War, he served from 1862 to 1903, attained the rank of brigadier general, and was most notable for his service as Inspector General of the United States Army.

Peter D. Vroom
Born(1842-04-18)April 18, 1842
Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedMarch 19, 1926(1926-03-19) (aged 83)
Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnion (American Civil War)
United States
BranchU.S. Army Cavalry Branch
Years of service1862–1866 (Union)
1866–1903 (Army)
RankBrigadier General
UnitOffice of the Inspector General of the United States Army
Commands heldTroop L, 3rd Cavalry Regiment
Fort Robinson
Inspector General of the United States Army
WarsAmerican Civil War
American Indian Wars
Spanish–American War
Philippine–American War
Alma materRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Spouse(s)Margaret Emily Wood (m. 1893–1901, her death)
RelationsPeter Dumont Vroom (father)
Garret D. Wall (grandfather)

Biography

Peter Dumont Vroom was born in Trenton, New Jersey on April 18, 1842, a son of Peter Dumont Vroom and Maria Matilda (Wall) Vroom.[1] Garret D. Wall was his paternal grandfather.[2] Vroom was educated in Trenton and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1862 with a civil engineering (CE) degree.[1] Contemporary news accounts described Vroom as noticeably handsome, with one stating that at six feet four inches and generously proportioned, he was one of the army's most distinguished looking men.[3]

Start of career

In August 1862, Vroom joined the Union Army for the American Civil War and received his commission as a first lieutenant in the 1st New Jersey Infantry Regiment.[4] He was wounded at the September 1862 Battle of South Mountain, and participated in the December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg and July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg.[4] In September 1863, he was commissioned as a major in the 2nd New Jersey Cavalry Regiment.[4] At the end of the war, Vroom was serving as inspector of the XVI Corps Cavalry force commanded by Benjamin Grierson in Mississippi.[4] In November 1867, he received promotion to lieutenant colonel by brevet in recognition of his superior wartime service.[5] In December 1867, he received brevet promotion to colonel.[6]

Continued career

Vroom was discharged from the Union Army in April 1866 and was appointed in the regular army as a second lieutenant in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment.[4] He was promoted to first lieutenant in July 1866[1] and served throughout the western United States during the American Indian Wars.[4] He received promotion to captain in May 1876[1] and participated in the June 1876 Battle of the Rosebud as commander of the 3rd Cavalry's Troop L.[4][7] In the late 1870s, Vroom was commander of the post at Fort Robinson, Nebraska.[8]

In the 1880s, Vroom was transferred to Inspector General duties, and he was promoted to major in December 1888.[1] His subsequent inspector general postings included the Department of the Platte,[9] Department of the Missouri,[10] Department of the East, and Department of Texas.[4] In 1890, Vroom was assigned to temporary duty in the office of the Army's Inspector General, and carried out inspections of the military departments at Maryland Agricultural College, St. John's College, Delaware College, and Pennsylvania Military Academy.[11]

Vroom married Margaret Emily Wood (1867–1901), the daughter of Brigadier General Palmer Gaylord Wood,[12][13] and he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1895.[1] During the Spanish–American War, he served in Puerto Rico as inspector general of the force commanded by Nelson A. Miles.[4] He contracted malaria during the war, and after convalescence was again assigned as inspector general of the Department of the East.[4]

Later career

Vroom was promoted to colonel in January 1900,[1] and in July 1902 he was assigned as inspector general of the Philippine Division during the Philippine–American War.[4] An issue of seniority arose when Inspector General of the U.S. Army Joseph Cabell Breckinridge Sr. was scheduled to retire in April 1903; Vroom was second in seniority to George H. Burton within the Inspector general's office, but had more time in grade as a colonel.[4] The issue was resolved when Vroom agreed to accept promotion to brigadier general, then immediately retire.[4] On April 12, he was promoted and assigned as the army's Inspector General while en route from the Philippines.[4] He retired the same day, and Burton was appointed to succeed him.[4]

Vroom died in Atlantic City, New Jersey on March 19, 1926.[14] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[14]

References
  1. Scannell, John James, ed. (1919). Scannell's New Jersey's First Citizens and State Guide. Vol. II. Paterson, NJ: J. J. Scannell. p. 637 – via Google Books.
  2. Johnson, Rossiter, ed. (1904). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. X. Boston, MA: The Biographical Society. p. Voorhees–Vroom – via Google Books.
  3. "More or Less famous: Peter D. Vroom". Buffalo Evening News. Buffalo, NY. January 21, 1892. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Clary, David A.; Whitehorne, Joseph W. A. (1987). The Inspectors General of the United States Army, 1777–1903. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 428–430 – via Google Books.
  5. "Brevet Appointments". New York Herald. New York, NY. November 10, 1867. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. U.S. Army Adjutant General (1868). War Department Circulars: General Orders No. 84. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of War. p. 9 – via Google Books.
  7. "The Sioux War". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, IL. July 5, 1876. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Fort Robinson Correspondent, New York Herald (March 7, 1879). "An Indian's Despair". The Osage City Free Press. Osage City, KS. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "The New Inspector General". Omaha Daily Bee. Omaha, NE. March 30, 1889. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Army Headquarters: Maj. Peter D. Vroom". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, MO. March 26, 1891. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Army and Navy News: Major Peter D. Vroom". The New York Times. New York, NY. May 27, 1890. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Theta Delta Chi Fraternity (December 1893). "Our Graduates: Vroom–Wood". The Shield. Elmira, NY: Elmira Advertiser Association. p. 321 – via Google Books.
  13. "Brief Bits of City News: Mrs. P. D. Vroom". The Evening Standard. Leavenworth, KS. July 8, 1901. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Brig. Gen. P. D. Vroom Dies In Atlantic City". The Sunday Star. Washington, DC. March 21, 1926. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com.
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