Col. Orlando Hurley Moore

Civil War Officer

The following text is from The Story of the Twenty-fifth Michigan, by B. F. Travis, 1897.

“Orlando Hurley Moore was born at Wilkesbarre, Pa., July 13, 1827, coming with his parents to Schoolcraft, Mich., when a boy and later to Kalamazoo. His education was mainly in the art of drawing and painting, in which he developed a considerable talent, but his mind was of too active a nature to be confined to the studio alone.

“By the time he reached the maturity of manhood, the nation was fast approaching a crisis in its history under the operations of the fugitive slave law of 1850, which was made a handle in support of the fierce demands of the slave power as a compromise. The enforcement of this law, together with the repeal of the Missouri Compromise in 1854, was instrumental in exciting the military inclinations of the subject of this sketch to enter the service.

“He was given a second lieutenant’s commission in the 6th United States Infantry, July 27, 1856; promoted to first lieutenant, March 2, 1861 and to captain on May 26 following.

“After his entry into the army, he was marched with his troops across the plains and through the mountains to the Pacific coast, and placed in charge of the arsenal at Benicia, wherein was stored the military property of the United States, including 60,000 stands of arms. This was in the days previous to the Pacific railroads, when communications and transfers across the plains and mountains were made at great expense of time and labor.

“At the time of the breaking out of the war, Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston was in command of the military department of the Pacific and was known to be in sympathy with the rebellion. He found himself in the midst of a large body of men of congenial feelings, who wished to cut themselves loose from the union and form an independent republic of their own. They had plotted and were arranging to carry their plans into execution by seizing the arsenal with all it sinews of war, and in fact, were practically in possession, when Capt. Moore organized his command, together with the assistance of private citizens, in a counterplot and saved the public property from the hands of the would be disunionists.

“Feeling that his services would be of greater value in the active operations of the east than on mere post duty on the Pacific coast, he asked to be transferred to the seat of war. His request was granted and he was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 13th Michigan, December 28, 1862, but retained his captaincy in the 6th Infantry. He resigned from the 13th Michigan on July 4, 1862, and was commissioned to the command of the 25th Michigan, August 18 following. His military history to the close of the war has been told in the preceding pages.

“At the close of the war, he returned to his captaincy in the regular army and was stationed for awhile in the south, during the troublesome times of reconstruction. His regiment was assigned to service on the frontier, to quell the continuous outbreaks of the Indians, who had become very troublesome along the border. They were kept in check most of the time by the force of arms, though in many cases arguments and persuasions were fully as effective in the prevention of hostilities. In the latter course Capt. Moore, out of the kindness of his nature, entered with a greater zeal to prevent the Indian outbreaks, than to suppress them by the brute force of military power, and was successful many a time in keeping the savages upon peaceful terms. He was possessed with such honesty and keenness of skill in the arguments he made use of, as to not only convince the redmen of the foolishness of their purposes when restive for the war-path, but at the same time gaining their friendship and confidence. Through all the trials consequent upon his dealings with the restless savages, they never found him deceptive in his management of them, and they in return met him with veneration and respect.

“His perception of military affairs was at once keen and comprehensive; he was quick to take in the situation and often chafed under the inferior abilities of his superior officers. There were times when his patriotism and devotion to duty would gain the mastery over him so far that he would allow himself to indulge in the forbidden criticism of those in command over him. These mistakes came with a rebound against him, else he would have received deserving promotion to higher grades in the volunteer service. He was kept down only by the envy and ill-conceited displeasure of officers who had greater access and influence with the appointing power.

“In his family relations he was a model of kindness and affection, and always had his family with him whenever his duties to the service did not forbid the enjoyment of its companionship. Hence the death of his wife (to whom he was married in 1855) at Tulare, California, in 1878, and later, in 1887, of his only son, Allen G., who held the chair of Microscopy in the Cleveland Medical College–an eminent position for one not more than twenty-six years of age–was a crushing blow to him.

“In 1872 he was commissioned to the rank of Major, and in 1882 to that of Lieutenant Colonel, being transferred to the 17th Infantry. In the summer of 1880, while on an Indian campaign in the Rocky Mountains, he received a sunstroke that felled him from his horse, and when taken up, remained unconscious for eleven days. His life was despaired of, but with tender care and treatment he recovered, though not fully in his mind. This trouble was but slightly felt at first, but gradually growing worse, he felt himself unfitted to perform the duties of his command and asked to be retired from the army, which was granted him in 1884.

“His health still failing, he was taken to the home of his daughter in Coldwater, until it reached a point in mental disability that his relatives were obliged to place him in the quiet retreat of St. Joseph, at Dearborn, near Detroit, where he expired Oct. 31st, 1890. He was taken to California for burial and rests by the side of his wife, in Tulare.”