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Orville E. Babcock




After fighting in the Knoxville Campaign, he was became the Chief Engineer of the Department of Ohio on January 23 , 1863. On March 29 , Babcock was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and became the aid-de-camp to General Ulysses S. Grant where he participated in the Battle Of The Wilderness , the Battle Of Spotsylvania Court House and Battle Of Cold Harbor . As Grant's aide-de-camp, it fell to Babcock to deliver Grant's surrender demand to General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox, Virginia , and to escort Lee to his meeting with Grant at the Appomattox Court House .

Babcock was Brevetted Brigadier General for his services during the Civil War. After the war, he served as Grant's private secretary. In 1875 he was indicted as a member of the Whiskey Ring , but was pardoned by Grant. Babcock left Washington to become the chief engineer of the Sixth District of the Light House Establishment . As part of this job, Babcock was responsible for the planning and building of the Mosquito Inlet Lighthouse . Before construction could begin, the boat bringing Babcock to shore from a schooner overturned in the Inlet, and he drowned on June 2, 1884.

He died in Mosquito Inlet , Florida and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 2, Grave 3828.