Totten, Joseph G., brigadier-general, was born in New 
Haven Conn., Aug. 23, 1788, graduated at West Point in 1805, 
as second lieutenant of engineers, and remained in the service 
until March, 1806, when he resigned and went into civil life, 
from which he again entered the army in 1808.  Promoted to be 
a first lieutenant in 181O and captain in 1812, he was chief 
engineer of the army on the Niagara frontier in the campaigns 
of 1812 and 1813, being brevetted major "for meritorious 
services" in June, 1813.  He became chief engineer of the army 
on Lake Champlain in the campaign of 1814, and was brevetted 
lieutenant-colonel Sept. 11, 1814, "for gallant conduct at the 
battle of Plattsburg."  Passing through the successive grades 
of major and lieutenant-colonel in his own corps, he became 
colonel and chief engineer on Dec. 7, 1838.  From 1816 to 
1838, with but an intermission of two years, he was a member 
of the board of engineers for planning the national defenses.  
During the Mexican war he served as chief engineer of the army 
under Gen. Scott until the capture of Vera Cruz, conducted the 
siege operations against that place, and was brevetted a 
brigadier-general "for gallant and meritorious conduct" on 
that occasion.  Subsequently he resumed his duties as chief 
engineer, continuing in their performance with but two short 
intervals until his death.  The fortifications of Newport, R. 
I., were built under his immediate supervision and with other 
defenses and fortifications are enduring monuments to his 
memory.  In the first days of the Civil war Gen. Scott urged 
upon Gen. Totten the acceptance of the position of commander-
in-chief which the latter declined on account of physical 
inability for field service.  During the period of 26 years in 
which Gen. Totten stood at the head of the engineer 
department, he discharged his varied duties with untiring 
devotion, spotless integrity and signal ability, as an 
acknowledgment of which the president, upon hearing of his 
serious illness, forwarded his commission as brevet major-
general, U. S. A.  He had been commissioned brigadier-general 
in the regular army March 3, 1863.  Gen. Totten died at 
Washington, D. C., April 22, 1864.