Born in East Greenwich,
RI on July 12th, 1807, Casey was accepted into the U.S.
Military Academy just 11 days before his 15th birthday.
Casey graduated from West Point on July 1, 1826, ranked
40th in a class of 42. with a brevet to 2nd Lieutenant,
7th Infantry and a commission of the same date to 2nd Lieutenant,
2nd Infantry. He served on Frontier Duty at Ft. Towson,
RI, 1826-1829, being engaged in a Skirmish with hostile
Indians, September 2, 1828; in garrison at Sackett's Harbor,
NY, 1829- 1832; on Recruiting Service, 1832-1833; in garrison
at Ft. Niagara, NY, 1833-1834 and Ft. Gratoit, MI, 1834-1836.
He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry, June 28,
1836.
Casey continued on
Frontier Duty in the Creek Nation, 1836; in the Florida
War against the Seminole Indians, 1837-1842, being engaged
leading the advance in the Rout of Halleck Tustennuggee's
band in the Big Hammock of Pilaklikaha, April 19, 1842;
in garrison at Buffalo, NY, 1842-1845, and Ft. Mackinac,
MI, 1845-1847. He was promoted to Captain, 2nd Infantry,
July 1, 1839.
He was in the War with
Mexico, engaged in the Skirmish of Ocalaca, August 16, 1847;
Battle of Contreras, August 19-20, 1847; and Battle of Churubusco,
August 20, 1847. He received a brevet to Major, August 20,
1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the Battles
of Contreras and Churubusco.
Casey was next engaged
in the Battle of Molino del Rey, September 8, 1847, and
the Storming of Chapultepec, September 13, 1847, where he
was severely wounded while leading the assault column under
his command. He was breveted to Lieutenant Colonel, September
13, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the Battle
of Chapultepec. The legislature of Rhode Island voted him
its thanks for meritorious service during the Mexican War.
He next served in garrison
at Ft. Hamilton, NY, 1848 and on a voyage via Cape Horn
to California, 1848-1849. Casey was on Frontier Duty at
Benicia, CA, 1849; escorting Capt. Warner's Topographical
party, 1849; at Benicia, CA, 1849-1851; on the Expedition
to Port Orford and Coquille River, OR, 1851-1852; again
at Benicia, CA, 1852; on Recruiting Service, 1852-1854;
and served as a member of a Board of Officers, 1854-1855,
to revise the "Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics",
adopted March 29, 1855 for the service of the United States.
He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, 9th Infantry, March
3, 1855.
Casey served as a member
of the Board for Dragoon Manual for Colt's Revolver, 1854;
and of the Board for the examination of Breech-loading Arms,
1854-1855; on Frontier Duty, in command of Puget Sound District,
WA, January 17, 1856-February 19, 1857, being engaged in
Operations against the hostile Indians, March-June, 1856;
at Ft. Steilacoom, WA, 1856-1859; San Juan Island, WA, 1859;
and Ft. Steilacoom, WA, 1859-1861.
He was commissioned
a Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, August 31, 1861 and
was engaged in organizing, disciplining and instructing
volunteers at Washington, D. C., September 12, 1861-March
28, 1862. He was promoted to Colonel, 4th Infantry, October
9, 1861.
In the Virginia Peninsular
Campaign, he was engaged in the Battle of Fair Oaks (Seven
Pines), May 31, 1862, his division of Erasmus D. Keyes'
IV Corps bearing the brunt of the first Confederate attack
by A. P. Hill's troops. Casey's Redoubt at Seven Pines was
named for him. Even though his position was overrun, he
was breveted to Brigadier- General, U. S. Army, May 31,
1862, for gallant and meritorious conduct, and was promoted
to Major-General, U. S. Volunteers. He received the thanks
of the Rhode Island Legislature for his "bravery, skill,
and energy" at the Battle.
Casey was next placed
in command at White House, VA, June 1862; in command of
Provisional Brigade, at Washington, D. C., August 11, 1862-February,
1863; as President of the Board for the Examining Candidates
for Officers of Colored Troops, May 22, 1863-July 5, 1865.
He was breveted to Major-General, U. S. Army, March 13,
1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the Rebellion.
Following the Civil
War, he served in command of a regiment and troops at Ft.
Wayne and Detroit, MI, October 2, 1865-April 5, 1867; as
a Commissioner to examine the War Claims of Ohio, April
17- December 31, 1867; on a Court of Inquiry, 1868; and
as a Member of the Retiring Board, New York City, October
28, 1868-April 26, 1869. He retired from active service
July 8, 1868.
Casey compiled and
edited a system of "Infantry Tactics" (based upon
the French "Ordonnances" of 1831 and 1845), which
was adopted for the service of the United States, August
11, 1862; and of "Infantry Tactics for Colored Troops",
adopted March 9, 1863. He died at Brooklyn, NY on January
22, 1882 and was buried on the Casey family farm at North
Kingstown, RI.
