Edmund Pendleton Gaines (March 20, 1777 – June 6, 1849) was a career United States Army officer who served for nearly fifty years, and attained the rank of major general by brevet.
In the early years of his military career, Gaines carried out important tasks including construction of a federal post road from Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez, Mississippi.
During the War of 1812, Gaines advanced through the ranks to colonel as commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment and he fought with distinction at the Battle of Crysler's Farm.
The quarrel became public and President John Quincy Adams decided to bypass both Gaines and Scott to offer the post to Alexander Macomb.
When Macomb died in 1841, President John Tyler quickly headed off a rekindling of the Gaines–Scott dispute by appointing Scott as the Army's commanding general.
At the start of the Mexican–American War, Gaines was stationed in Louisiana and issued a public call throughout the southern and southwestern states for volunteers to join Zachary Taylor's army.
Gaines died in New Orleans, Louisiana and was buried at Church Street Graveyard in Mobile, Alabama.
[4] Edmund Gaines completed his early education in Tennessee and studied law in preparation for a career as an attorney.
[4] Gaines served with the 6th Infantry Regiment until the end of the Quasi-War with France that had caused a temporary expansion of the army.
[4] In the early 19th century, Gaines surveyed routes and boundaries in the Mississippi Territory including parts of the Natchez Trace.
[6] In 1800, he commanded ten companies of the 2nd Infantry Regiment in the construction of the federal post road from Nashville to Natchez.
[9] Burr was detained by a military guard under Gaines's command and later turned over to federal authorities, who transported him to Richmond, Virginia.
[20] General Jacob Brown was wounded at the Battle of Lundy's Lane and when the Army of the Niagara returned to the fort, command of this force was passed to Gaines.
For this victory – the First Battle of Fort Erie – Gaines was awarded the Thanks of Congress, a Congressional Gold Medal, and a brevet promotion to major general.
[24] Gaines' wound ended his active field duty for the rest of the war, and he was given command of the Fourth Military District with headquarters in Philadelphia.
[28] He also continued a bitter feud with Scott that centered over which had seniority, as both hoped to eventually succeed the ailing Brown.
[7][37] On February 20, 1836, Gaines and his men were the first U.S. soldiers to visit the scene of the Dade Massacre in Florida, where they identified and interred the bodies.
[41] Eager to overshadow Scott, Gaines unsuccessfully attempted to claim jurisdiction over supplies and administration of Army activities related to the war, and was reprimanded by the U.S. government for overstepping his authority when he called up Louisiana volunteers to join the force commanded by Zachary Taylor.
[44] A number of places in the United States were named in his honor, including Gainesvilles in Florida, Texas, Georgia, and New York; Gaines Township in Michigan; and Gainesboro in Tennessee.