Brig. General William Jackson Palmer, Union - Colorado Springs, CO
Posted by: 
Outspoken1
N 38° 50.274 W 104° 49.289
13S E 515493 N 4298803
If you have ever been to downtown Colorado Springs, you probably saw the statue of a man on a horse in the middle of the street. The statue commemorates General William Jackson Palmer who is known as the founder of Colorado Springs.
Waymark Code: WMC18Z
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 07/13/2011
Views: 13
"As the American Civil War began in 1861, although his Quaker upbringing made Palmer abhor violence, his passion to see the slaves set free compelled him to enter the war. Palmer took a commission as a colonel in the Union Army. Palmer was an expert scout and effective military recruiter for the Union cause, helping with the formation of the 15th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry.
In 1862, he was captured by the Confederates while scouting after the Battle of Antietam. He was well within Confederate lines, garbed in civilian clothes, while gathering information for General George McClellan. When questioned, Palmer gave his name as "W.J. Peters," and claimed to be a mine owner on an inspection trip. While the Confederates did not know he was a spy, his circumstances were suspicious. He was detained and sent to Richmond, Virginia, and incarcerated at the notorious Castle Thunder prison on Tobacco Row. He was set free in a prisoner exchange and rejoined his regiment in February 1863. Palmer was very vigorous in pursuing Confederate General John B. Hood after the Battle of Nashville in 1864. After end of the war, he received the Medal of Honor. He retired with the rank of brevet Brigadier General." (excerpted from (
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"One of the most respected men in railroad history, General Palmer was honest and trustworthy, unlike many other railroad barons of his day. When Palmer dreamed it was for the good of the line, the townsfolk and the country. But, Palmer did have a hard side. His railroad was famous for dictating terms to small towns, and if these terms were not met, the railroad would simply build a few miles away, often destroying the unsubmitting town because they did not have the railroad. Furthermore, he generally owned the land, or mine or steel mill that the railroad was being built to serve. But that was just business and overall, he was a good man who was heavily responsible for the development of Colorado and Utah in the 1870's and 1880's. After a humble start in life, he became one of the richest men in America." (excerpted from (
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