CDV of Union General Christopher Augur by Matthew Brady

CDV of Union General Christopher Augur by Matthew Brady with Brady Backmark.
 
Major General Christopher Columbus Augur (1821–1898) was a career U.S. Army officer whose service spanned from the Mexican-American War through the Civil War and into the Indian Wars of the postbellum period. A graduate of West Point in 1843, he served in the Pacific Northwest before the Civil War, playing a key role in frontier campaigns and helping to establish military outposts. During the Civil War, he rose to prominence after being wounded at the Battle of Cedar Mountain in 1862 and later commanded the left wing during the Siege of Port Hudson—the final Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi. He was eventually placed in charge of the XXII Corps and the Department of Washington, responsible for the defense of the capital during a critical time.
 
Following the war, Augur remained in the Regular Army and held a series of important departmental commands, including in Texas, the Gulf, and the Missouri. He was instrumental in overseeing military operations during westward expansion and was involved in negotiating peace treaties with Native American tribes. Known more for steady leadership than battlefield glory, Augur earned a reputation for professionalism and reliability. He retired in 1885 and died in Washington, D.C., in 1898. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.