Clement Alexander Finley Flagler (August 17, 1867 – May 7, 1922) was a United States Army Major General who was noteworthy as regimental, brigade and division commander in World War I.
The son of Daniel Webster Flagler and grandson of Clement Alexander Finley, Clement Flagler graduated from Iowa's Griswold College in 1885 and the United States Military Academy in 1889. Commissioned as an Engineer officer, Flagler served on the West Point faculty and then carried out a series of Engineer assignments, with a specialty in rivers and harbors construction. He took part in the Spanish–American War and the Pancho Villa Expedition, and was a graduate of the Army War College.
During World War I, Flagler became a temporary major general and commanded the 7th Engineer Regiment, 5th Infantry Division Artillery, III Corps Artillery, and the 42nd (Rainbow) Infantry Division. He was a recipient of both the French Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre in recognition of his wartime achievements.
After the war, Flagler reverted to his permanent rank of colonel, and resumed his career as an Engineer officer. He died in Baltimore, Maryland, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.
Early life He was born Clement Alexander Finley Flagler in Augusta, Georgia, the son of Brigadier General Daniel Webster Flagler, for whom Fort Flagler, Washington was named.Daniel Webster Flagler entry, The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, compiled and edited by Rossiter Johnson and John Howard Brown, 1904
The younger Flagler was named for his maternal grandfather, Army Surgeon General Clement Alexander Finley. Known as Clement Flagler, Clement A.F. Flagler, and C.A.F Flagler, he grew up in Iowa while his father commanded the Rock Island Arsenal.A History of the Rock Island Arsenal From its Establishment in 1836 to December, 1876: And of the Island of Rock Island, the Site of the Arsenal, from 1804 to 1863. Prepared under the instructions of Brig. Gen. Stephen V. Benet́, by Daniel Webster Flagler, 1877Annals of Iowa, published by State Historical Society of Iowa, 1905, p. 600
In 1885 he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Griswold College. He then accepted appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, after being recommended by Congressman Jerry Murphy. He graduated in 1889, and Flagler's high class ranking (third in a class of 49) enabled him to obtain a sought after position in the Army's Engineer branch. Among his fellow graduates included several men who would become general officers, such as Charles Dudley Rhodes, William S. Graves, Eben Eveleth Winslow, Frank Daniel Webster, Walter Augustus Bethel, Winthrop S. Wood, Chester Harding, William L. Kenly, Joseph D. Leitch, Edward McGlachlin Jr., George LeRoy Irwin, William Wright Harts, William G. Haan, Charles Crawford and William Lassiter. Charles Young was another distinguished graduate, becoming the first African American to attain the rank of colonel.
While at West Point Flagler was nicknamed "Sioux" as a testament to his dark eyes, hair, and complexion, his having been raised in Iowa, and his self-professed Native American heritage, and his classmates used it with him for the rest of his life.Obituary, Clement Alexander Finley Flagler, Annual Report, published by United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, 1922, p. 66
Start of military career Assigned as an Engineer officer, Flagler served as instructor in civil and military engineering at West Point,Davis, Henry Blaine Jr. (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. p. 129. . and as engineer officer at Chickamauga, Georgia."Changes at West Point", New York Times, March 18, 1894"Gen. Wilson Leaves Chickamauga Camp" , Atlanta Constitution, July 6, 1898
Spanish–American War During the Spanish–American War Flagler was temporarily promoted to major and assigned as engineer officer on the staff of the U.S. Army commander in Puerto Rico."The United Service: Army", New York Times, August 8, 1900"A Joint Service Board To Report on Lands Needed By Armyand Navy in Porto Rico", New York Times, November 20, 1900
Post–Spanish–American War Following the Spanish–American War Flagler continued to carry out Engineer assignments, including serving as officer in charge of the federal lighthouse district based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a posting as chief engineering officer for the Army's Department of the East. Flagler also played a role in choosing the route for enlarging the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal.Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, published by U.S. Army War Department, 1901, p. 684Annual Report, published by United States Lighthouse Board, 1906, p. 3 Reports of the Department of Commerce and Labor, published by United States Dept. of Commerce and Labor, 1907, p. 527"To Forces of Land and Sea" , Baltimore Sun, May 16, 1904"Roosevelt Won't Interfere: Declines to Modify Order Transferring Major Flagler", New York Times, July 31, 1908Report, Hearings before the Committee on Railways and Canals on the Bill to Acquire and Enlarge the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal, published by U.S. House of Representatives 1908, p. 63"The United Service", New York Times, November 26, 1910"Work Halted on New Line" , Christian Science Monitor, October 9, 1912
In 1914 Flagler graduated from the Army War College.Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Military Academy, by George Washington Cullum and Edward Singleton Holden, Volume VI-A, 1920, p. 510
After his War College graduation Flagler served as engineer officer for the District of Columbia Engineer District."Col. Flagler is Sent to Rome", New York Times, March 17, 1917
Pancho Villa Expedition During Mexican border skirmishes of 1914–1916, Flagler served on General Funston's staff in the Vera Cruz Expedition.The New International Year Book, published by Dodd, Mead and Co., 1923, p. 246Who Was Who in America, With World Notables, published by Marquis Who's Who, 1960, p. 404"Tell of Huerta's Nonchalance", by Associated Press, New York Times, May 17, 1914
World War I Shortly after the American entry into World War I, in April 1917, Flagler was, on May 15, promoted to the rank of colonel. Two months later, when a new regiment of engineers, the 7th, was being raised, he was assigned to command the new regiment. In December of that year the 7th Engineers was assigned to the 5th Division, then in its early stages of creation and commanded by Major General John E. McMahon. Flagler left his regiment soon afterwards, to take command of the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, also part of the 5th Division, and having under its command the 19th, 20th, and 21st Field Artillery Regiments. At the time the brigade was stationed at Camp Stanley, Leon Springs, Texas.
Having assumed command of the brigade on December 31, Flagler received another promotion, this time to the rank of brigadier general, on February 7, 1918. With the Western Front as its destination, the brigade began to depart from the United States in May, several weeks after the 5th Division's two infantry brigades. Upon its arrival in France, the brigade journeyed to Camp la Valdahon to receive instruction before rejoining the rest of the division in the St. Die sector of the Vosges region of France. Flagler was still in command of the brigade during the division's first major action, which came in September when it participated in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, and in the Meuse–Argonne offensive the following month.
Flagler was relieved in command of the brigade on October 9 by Brigadier General William C. Rivers upon receiving a new appointment, to command the artillery units of III Corps, then commanded by Major General Robert Lee Bullard until Major General John L. Hines succeeded him a few days later. He was promoted again, this time to the rank of major general, on October 17, and continued to command the corps artillery until the Armistice with Germany on November 11, which brought an end to the war. Eleven days later he received another assignment when he took command of the 42nd "Rainbow" Division, taking over from Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur.Soldiers All: Portraits and Sketches of the Men of the A.E.F., by Joseph Cummings Chase, 1919, p. 353 Rainbow Memories: Character Sketches and History of the 1st Battalion, 166th Infantry, 42nd Division, A.E.F., by First Lieutenant Alison Reppy, 1919, p. 111"Rainbow Boys Lauded by General Flagler" , Atlanta Constitution, April 8, 1919
Post World War I After World War I Flagler served as commandant of the Army's Engineer School at Camp Humphreys, Virginia"Gen. Flagler Sent to Humphreys", New York Times, May 14, 1919 and then chief engineer of the department based in Honolulu, Hawaii.All About Hawaii: The Recognized Book of Authentic Information on Hawaii, compiled and published by Thomas G. Thrum, 1921, p. 168
In 1921 Flagler was assigned to Baltimore as chief engineer of the Eastern Division, the post in which he was serving when he died.Annual Report, published by United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, 1922, p. 67
Military awards General Flagler was a recipient of the Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre for his World War I service.Obituaries, Engineering and Contracting magazine, Volume 57, 1922, p, 114
Death and interment General Flagler died at Johns Hopkins Hospital in BaltimoreObituaries, Engineering and Contracting magazine, Volume 57, 1922, p. 114"Col. CAF Flagler, Engineer Chief, Dies" , Baltimore Sun, May 9, 1922"War Hero Dies" , Chicago Daily Tribune, May 9, 1922 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington County, Virginia.Annual Report, published by United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, 1922, p. 66
Family In 1897, Flagler married Mrs. Caroline DeWitt Quinan (1870–1938) in Salt Lake City. Caroline DeWitt had children with her first husband, William R. Quinan, from whom she was divorced in 1896, but none with Flagler.
Legacy Flagler Road, which runs between 18th and 21st Streets at Fort Belvoir, and includes the post headquarters, is named for him. Fort Belvoir was previously the location of the Army Engineer Center and School, and several streets and buildings there are named for prominent Engineer officers.
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