Gilbert S. Carpenter

Gilbert S. Carpenter (17 April 1836 – 12 August 1904) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the American Civil War, American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, and Philippine–American War, he served from 1861 until 1899. He was promoted to temporary brigadier general during the Spanish–American War and permanent brigadier general while serving in the Philippines. Carpenter retired a few months before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 64.

A native of Medina, Ohio, Carpenter was raised and educated in Akron and graduated from Akron High School in 1854. He graduated from Western Reserve University in 1859, read law with his father, and was admitted to the bar in 1861. Instead of practicing law, he enlisted in the Union Army for the American Civil War. In April 1861, Carpenter joined the 19th Ohio Infantry Regiment, a three-month unit raised at the start of the conflict. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and served until the unit was mustered out in August.

In September 1861, he joined the 18th Ohio Infantry Regiment as a private, and he was subsequently promoted to first sergeant of the regiment's Company F. In June 1862, he was again commissioned as a second lieutenant, and in November he was promoted first lieutenant. Carpenter received brevet promotion to captain in December 1862 to recognize his commendable service in Tennessee during the Battle of Stones River.

Carpenter remained in the army after the war, and in January 1867 he was promoted to captain in the 45th Infantry Regiment. In 1869, he transferred to the 14th Infantry Regiment, with which he served until 1894, when he was promoted to major in the 4th Infantry Regiment. In 1897, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and second-in-command of the 7th Infantry Regiment.

In September 1898, Carpenter was promoted to temporary brigadier general of United States Volunteers when the army expanded for the Spanish–American War, and he served in Cuba during the war. In May 1899, he was discharged from the volunteers, and in June 1899, he was promoted to colonel in the regular army. From June to December 1899, he commanded the 18th Infantry Regiment in the Philippines during the Philippine–American War. On 5 December 1899, Carpenter was promoted to brigadier general in the regular army. He then requested retirement, which was approved on 26 December. In retirement, Carpenter resided in Montclair, New Jersey and Akron, Ohio. He died in Montclair on 12 August 1904 and was buried at Glendale Cemetery in Akron.