Isaac C. B. Suman (1831 - 1911)

Born 4 Jan 1831 in Middletown, Frederick, Maryland, United States

Died 7 Aug 1911 at age 80 in Valparaiso, Porter, Indiana, United States

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Biography

Isaac was born on January 4, 1831, in Middletown, Maryland. ^[1] He was the son of Albert and Mary Suman. His father, Albert, was a Revolutionary War veteran. Albert was also a slave owner in Maryland. ^[2] Isaac Suman was the next to youngest of the 7 Suman children. ^[3]

In 1852, after serving in the army, Suman moved to Ohio and learned the carpenter trade. Suman worked in northwestern Indiana constructing bridges for the Illinois Central Railroad. After that Suman moved to Valparaiso, Indiana and continued working as a carpenter. ^[3] On April 20, 1861, Isaac Suman married Catherine Margaret Goss in Porter County, Indiana. ^[2]

Military Service

• Mexican-American War
  

  Isaac Suman served with the United States Army during the Mexican-American War
  Service Started:
  Unit(s):
  Service Ended:

In May 1846, Isaac Suman enlisted Ringgold's Battery, 1st U.S. Artillery, Suman saw combat in several battles, including Palo Alto, Monterey and Buena Vista. ^[3]<name="Lib"/>

After the War, Suman was transferred to the 2nd Regiment, U.S. Dragoons. ^[2] Suman served for 5 years. ^[3]

• Civil War
  

  Colonel Isaac Suman served in the United States Civil War.
  Enlisted: Jul 15, 1861
  Mustered out: Nov 29, 1864
  Side: USA
  Regiment(s): F & S, 22nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry

On April 20, 1861, Isaac Suman enlisted as a Lieutenant in Company H, 9th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry. The regiment had a 90-day term of service and Suman mustered out on July 19, 1861. ^[4] The regiment was reorganized as a 3-year term regiment. Suman mustered in as a Captain in Company H on August 27, 1861. On August 20, 1862, Suman was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Field and Staff, 9th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry. ^[5]

Suman saw combat at the Battle of Phillipi; Battle of Cheat Mountain; Battle of Greenbrier River; Battle of Shiloh; Battle of Corinth; Battle of Perryville; and the Battle of Stones River. ^[6] At the Battle of Stones River, on December 31, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel Suman was wounded. On May 1, 1863, Suman was promoted to Colonel in command of the 9th Regiment. ^[7] At the Battle o Stones River, Suman was wounded in the shoulder. After the surgeon had dressed his wound, Suman returned to combat. He later received a second, more serious wound. ^[2]

Colonel Suman led his regiment at the Battle of Chickamauga; Siege of Chattanooga; Battle of Lookout Mountain; Battle of Missionary Ridge; Battle of Resaca; Battle of Kennesaw Mountain; Siege of Atlanta; Battle of Jonesboro; Second Battle of Franklin; and Battle of Nashville. ^[6] On November 25, 1864, Colonel Suman was wounded at the Battle of Missionary Ridge. ^[3]

President Lincoln nominated Colonel Suman for a Brigadier General promotion on March 13, 1865. Colonel Suman declined the commission on the grounds that the war was virtually over and that he did not seek honors. ^[2]

Colonel Suman mustered out of service on September 28, 1865. ^[3]

Death

In 1867, Suman declined a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 38th Infantry Regiment, United States Army.

By 1870, Suman was a lumber manufacturer in Valparaiso, Indiana. In 1873, Suman was appointed Postmaster at Sumanville, Indiana. by 1880, Suman was a farmer. From 1881 to 1885, Suman was appointed Postmaster at Valparaiso, Indiana. In 1894, Suman was elected Mayor of Valparaiso. ^[3]

"Brigadier General" Isaac C B Suman passed away in 1911. He was buried at Maplewood Cemetery, Valparaiso, Indiana. ^[1]

Memorials

• 9th Indiana Infantry Monument at Fort Oglethorpe in Catoosa County, Georgia. Text on the back side:

Indiana's Tribute

to Her

Ninth Regiment Infantry.

Colonel Isaac C. B. Suman, Commanding. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5859/isaac-c_b-suman: accessed 24 November 2023), memorial page for Isaac C. B. Suman (4 Jan 1831–7 Aug 1911), Find a Grave Memorial ID 5859, citing Maplewood Cemetery, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Isaac C.B. Suman, Colonel, F&S, 9Th in Infantry - DocsLib. https://docslib.org/doc/10369271/isaac-c-b-suman-colonel-f-s-9th-in-infantry#google_vignette
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} Porter County, Indiana, GenWeb - Biography for Isaac C. B. Suman. https://www.inportercounty.org/Data/Biographies/Suman1158.html
4. ↑ Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Military, Civil War, Adjutant General, Record for Suman, Isaac C B, Regiment 9, Company H. https://www.in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/indiana-archives-digital-index-records/
5. ↑ Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Military, Civil War, Adjutant General, Record for Suman, Isaac C B, Regiment 9, Company H. https://www.in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/indiana-archives-digital-index-records/
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} 9th Indiana Infantry Regiment | Military Wiki | Fandom. https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/9th_Indiana_Infantry_Regiment
7. ↑ Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Military, Civil War, Adjutant General, Record for Suman, Isaac C B, Regiment 9. https://www.in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/indiana-archives-digital-index-records/
8. ↑ 9th Indiana Infantry Monument. 9th Indiana Infantry - The Historical Marker Database