James Vote Bomford James Vote ( Voty ) Bomford ( 1811 – 1892 ) was a distinguished soldier in the United States military , Union Civil War officer , and retired Brigadier General . He graduated from Norwich University in 1828 , was graduated from West Point in 1832 , and was a Colonel in the 8th United States Infantry . Bomford was twice wounded in action at Perryville ( brevetted Colonel ) and served in the Mexican - American War . His father was George Bomford , an inventor and military officer in the United States Army that invented the Columbiad cannon . His son , also named George , was expelled but allowed to retire following his involvement in the " Eggnog Riot " at West Point . George did enter the military and retired as a captain . Family . James was born 5 October 1811 on Governors Island , New York to George Bomford and Louisa Sophia Catton , daughter of noted English artist Charles P . Catton . They had four children , George Newman Bomford , James Vote Bomford , Jr . , Elizabeth Bernardine " Lilly " Bomford , and Fredrika Augusta Bomford . Military service . Voty Bomford served gallantly in the Black Hawk War , Seminole War , was in all the major battles of the Mexican war , being the first man to plant the American flag on the citadel of the City of Mexico , and the Civil War . He was a Lieutenant - Colonel of the 8th infantry when Fort Sumter was fired upon and for failure to agree not to fight against the South he was held as a prisoner from April , 1861 to May , 1862 . After release he was assigned as executive officer of the Sixteenth Infantry under the command of Colonel ( Brigadier - General Volunteers ) Andrew Porter . Military history . Bomford left West point as a brevet Second Lieutenant of the 2d Infantry on 1 July 1832 and participated in the Black Hawk expedition . He was promoted to 2nd Lt . of the 2d Infantry 6 October 1834 and participated in the Florida war from 1837 ‑ 38 . He was stationed on the Northern frontier during Canadian border disturbances . Promoted to First Lieutenant ( 7 July 1838 ) he became Adjutant of 8th Infantry at Sackett ' s Harbor , New York . Still in the 8th Infantry he was promoted to Captain 4 March 1845 . In this capacity he served in the war with Mexico and engaged in the Battle of Palo Alto ( 8 May 1846 ) , Battle of Resaca de la Palma ( 9 May 1846 ) , Battle of Monterey ( 21 – 23 September 1846 ) , Siege of Vera Cruz ( 9 ‑ 29 March 1847 ) , Battle of Cerro Gordo ( 17 ‑ 18 April 1847 ) , the capture of San Antonio and the resulting Battle of Churubusco ( both on 20 August 1847 ) , and the Battle of Molino del Rey ( 8 September 1847 ) . During this battle that included Bomford , General Worth ordered the 500 men of the U . S . 8th Infantry Regiment , commanded by Major George Wright , to initiate the advance against the army of General Santa Ana that had four thousand cavalry and a force of 14 , 000 men , against the 2800 men General Worth commanded . The battle of Molino del Rey , that was two miles ( 3 km ) from Mexico City , preceded the Battle of Chapultepec ( 13 September 1847 ) . This is the battle that resulted in the capture of Mexico City , the placement of the American flag by Bomford , and the end of the war . He was Brevetted Major 20 August 1847 , for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in the Battles of Contreras and Churubusco , and Brevetted Lt . Col . 8 September 1847 , for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in the Battle of Molino del Rey . Assigned to Fort Davis , Texas ( 1860 ‑ 61 ) , and attached to the 6th Infantry , Bomford was promoted to Major on 17 October 1860 . When the Civil War started he refused to agree not to fight against the South and along with his regiment was taken prisoner . He was promoted to Lt . Colonel 10 January 1862 and assigned to the 16th Infantry ( July – November 1862 ) and was the Chief of Staff to Major General Alexander M . McCook , a member of the famed " Fighting McCook " family of Ohio , where he fought at Perryville and was wounded twice . Bomford was Brevetted Colonel 8 October 1862 , for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Battle of Perryville , Kentucky . He was assigned as acting assistant Provost Marshal General of Western Division of Pennsylvania , 30 May 1863 to 31 July 1964 during which time he was promoted to Colonel and assigned to the 8th Infantry 18 May 1864 . Bomford also Served : in command of the District of North Carolina from September 20 , 1866 to April , 1867 ; the regiment at Raleigh , North Carolina from April , 1867 to May 18 , 1868 ; of the District of South Carolina from May 18 , 1868 to October 23 , 1870 ; of regiment at David ' s Island , New York Harbor , from November 5 , 1870 to July 5 , 1872 ; as Acting Inspector in the Department of the Platte , at Omaha , Nebraska from July 15 to October 1 , 1872 ; in command of regiment at Fort D . A . Russell , Wyoming from October 5 , 1872 to November 26 , 1873 ; and on sick leave of absence from November 16 , 1873 to June 8 , 1874 . The last year as commander of David ' s Island Rodman Gun s ( cast 1872 ) were set up on the island . David ' s Island was formally Rodman ' s Island that once belonged to relatives along with nearby Rodman ' s Neck . Rodmans guns were improvements to the Columbiads that Bomford ' s father invented . Under the law ( 17 July 1862 ) , and being over the age of 62 , Brigadier General James Bomford was retired from duty 8 June 1872 after 43 distinguished years of service . Death . Bomford died 6 January 1892 , at Elizabeth , New Jersey at the aged of 80 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery , Hillside . See also . Center of Military History