MG Roger Jones (1788-1852) - Find a Grave Memorial

MG Roger Jones Veteran

Birth

1788

Westmoreland County, Virginia, USA

Death

15 Jul 1852 (aged 63–64)

Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA

Burial

Congressional Cemetery

Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA Add to Map

Plot

R 57 S 253

Memorial ID

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Army officer. He was appointed a lieutenant in 1809 and promoted to captain in 1812. Jones received brevets to major for service at a half dozen War of 1812 battles and lieutenant colonel for gallantry at Fort Erie. In 1824 he was promoted to colonel and appointed Adjutant General of the Army, a post in which he served until his death. Jones was promoted to brigadier general in 1832 and major general in 1848. He was commended during the Mexican War for taking steps to rapidly increase the Army's size and ensure it was trained, equipped, transported, paid and fed. During his tenure he molded his department into the most important in the Army Headquarters, a preeminence it held until a reorganization prior to World War I. He died after a sudden illness, which was reported in contemporary news accounts as probably being cholera. Jones was the friend and confidant of numerous officials, including Presidents Tyler and Taylor, and President Fillmore participated in his funeral procession. Fort Jones, California was named for him. He was the brother of Thomas Catesby Jones, a Navy officer who served in the War of 1812 and Mexican War.

A newspaper article on Jones's death, republished in the Sandusky, Ohio "Daily Commercial Register" for July 16, 1852 read:

To-day's Report.
WASHINGTON, July 15.

Roger Jones, Adjutant General United States Army, died this evening. Rumor says that his disease was cholera morbus. Drs. Witherspoon and Miller were called to him, but in half an hour after, he died.

(Thanks to contributor dm wms for the newspaper article transcript.)

Inscription

ROGER JONES

ADJUTANT
GENERAL
of the Army and Maj. Gen'. by brevet.
Born in Westmoreland County of
Virginia; died at Washington City on
the 15th day of July 1852, in the 64th
year of his age.

He entered the service of his Country as a
Lieutenant of Marines in 1809, and was
appointed a Captain of Artillery at the
Commencement of the War with Great
Britain and served with honor 43 years.
He was twice breveted for distinguished
gallantry and conduct on the field of
Battle at Chippewa and the Sortie at
Fort Erie.

A brave soldier and a good man.