COL. JOHN JAMES ABERT, the distinguished military engineer, was born in Frederick, Md., September 17, 1788, and died in Washington, D. C, January 27, 1863.
He was the son of John Abert, who came to this country with Gen. Rochambeau in 17S0. His mother was Margarita Meng. Young Abert entered as a cadet of the Military academy, West Point, in the year 1808, only six years after its first establishment by law. Graduating from the academy in 181 1, he was from then until November, 1814, employed in the war office. Meanwhile he studied law and was admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia in 1813. In the war of 1812, he volunteered as a private soldier for the defense of the capital; was in the battle of Bladensburg, August 24, 1814, and his services on that occasion were acknowledged by conferring upon him a land warrant under the existing laws. He was appointed topographical engineer, with rank of major, November 22, 1814. At that time there was no organized corps of those officers, but they formed a part of the general staff, and served with generals in the field. After the close of the war, they were employed in surveys of the sea-coast and inland frontiers, reporting to the chief of engineers, and the results of their labors were collected in a topographical bureau established in the war department under charge of Major Roberdeau. On the reorganization of the army, in 1816, Major Abert was retained. In 1824 he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel for ten years' faithful service in one grade ; and at the death of Col. Roberdeau, February 12, 1829, he was appointed to the charge of the topographical bureau. As the duties of his bureau increased in magnitude and importance, Col. Abert exerted himself to cause it to be made a distinct branch of the war department, which he effected June 22, 1S31. At this time his corps consisted of six majors and four captains by brevet and six civil engineers ; besides which some twenty subalterns of the line of the army were detailed on topographical duty under his orders. He was Indian commissioner in 1832-3. Upon the reconstruction of the army, by act of congress approved July 5, 1838 (5 U. S. statutes, sec. 4, p. 257 ), the corps of topographical engineers was organized and created one of the staff corps of the army, with the officer to whose fostering care and judicious management.it mainly owed its existence for its colonel and chief. Col. Abert was, in fact, at the head of his corps for upwards of thirty-two years, until he was honorably retired from active duty September 11, 186 1, after his long and faithful service. The army and the country will not need to be reminded of the vast interest and value attached to the operation of this corps since its organization. The geographical and other information concerning this continent which its officers have collected and published has challenged the admiration of the scientific world, while the practical benefit of their labors has been felt in nearly every state and every territory ; the whole forming a proud monument to him who was its founder. He was a member of several scientific societies, and was one of the organizers of the National Institute of Science, which was subsequently merged into the Smithsonian institute.
Lake Abert, in Oregon, was named in honor of Col. Abert, and in recognition of his valuable military services.
On January 25, 1812, he was married to Ellen Matlack Stretch, the granddaughter of Col. Timothy Matlack, the Revolutionary patriot. After fifty years of wedded life, January 25, 1862, Col. Abert and his wife celebrated their golden wedding in their elegant home. No. 1731 "I" street, in Washington city. His sons served with distinction in the United States army during the Civil war.
