Henry Larcom Abbot Henry Larcom Abbot ( August 13 , 1831 – October 1 , 1927 ) was a military engineer and career officer in the United States Army . He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and was appointed brevet brigadier general of volunteers for his contributions in engineering and artillery . In 1866 he received additional brevet appointments as major general of volunteers and brigadier general in the Regular Army . He conducted several scientific studies of the Mississippi River with Captain , later Major General Andrew A . Humphreys . After his retirement , Abbot served as a consultant for the locks on the Panama Canal . He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1863 . Early life . Henry Larcom Abbot was born in Beverly , Massachusetts . Abbot attended West Point and graduated second in his class ( which included James E . B . Stuart and George Washington Custis Lee ) with a degree in military engineering in 1854 . Initially he had wanted to join the Artillery , but shortly after graduation , a classmate convinced him to choose the Engineers . He was commissioned as a brevet second lieutenant in the U . S . Army on July 1 , 1854 , second lieutenant on October 2 , 1855 and first lieutenant on July 1 , 1857 . In 1855 , Abbot was assigned to work with Lieutenant Robert Williamson ' s Pacific Railroad Survey in California and Oregon . To honor his work on this survey , the California Geological Survey named Mount Abbot in the Sierra Nevada after him in 1873 . While serving in the Army , Lieutenant Abbot and Captain Andrew Humphreys conducted several scientific studies of the Mississippi River . They most notably studied the Mississippi river ' s flow starting at the Ohio River and going southward down to its base level at the Gulf of Mexico . They attempted to use several European formulas for stream discharge they had learned at West Point , but came to discover that they were all flawed . They then developed their own formula which ultimately also proved to be faulty , most notably they forgot to account for the roughness of slopes in river canals . Although the formula was not without flaw it influenced the evolution of hydrology and was instrumental in the establishing of an United States Army Engineer School at Fort Totten in New York City . Civil War . At the outbreak of the Civil War , Lt . Abbot was assigned to Brigadier General Irvin McDowell ' s forces and was wounded at the First Battle of Bull Run . He later became a Topographical Engineer in the Army of the Potomac during the Peninsula Campaign and aide - de - camp to Brig . Gen . Andrew Humphreys . During this campaign he was brevetted major for his service at the siege of Yorktown . On July 18 , 1862 , Abbot was promoted to captain in the Regular Army and was assigned to the staff of Brig . Gen . John G . Barnard until November 11 , 1862 . He was then briefly assigned as a Topographical Engineer in the Department of the Gulf . On January 19 , 1863 he was appointed colonel of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment but on March 3 , 1863 was transferred to the Washington Defenses where he commanded a brigade . In May 1864 he was transferred to command the Artillery during the siege of Petersburg . On December 12 , 1864 , President Abraham Lincoln nominated Abbot for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from August 1 , 1864 and the U . S . Senate confirmed the appointment on February 20 , 1865 . In December 1864 he was placed in command of all siege artillery in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the James that were besieging Petersburg . In January 1865 General Alfred H . Terry requested General Abbot accompany his expeditionary force to Fort Fisher . Abbot commanded a provisional brigade of siege artillery during the successful Second Battle of Fort Fisher . Abbot was mustered out of the volunteer service on September 25 , 1865 . On January 13 , 1866 , President Andrew Johnson nominated Abbot for appointment to the grade of brevet major general of volunteers to rank from March 13 , 1865 and the U . S . Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12 , 1865 . On July 17 , 1866 , President Johnson nominated Abbot for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general in the regular army to rank from March 13 , 1865 and the U . S . Senate confirmed the appointment on July 23 , 1865 . Post - Civil War and later life . In the post - war years , Abbot continued to serve in the U . S . Army Engineers . He was promoted to major on November 11 , 1865 . He was assigned to the command of the engineer battalion at Willet ' s Point , New York . He created the army ' s Engineer School of Application there , and served on numerous boards , including the Board on the Use of Iron in Permanent Defenses , the Board of Engineers for Fortifications , the Gun Foundry Board , the Board on Fortifications and Other Defenses , and the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications . Abbot ' s influence can be seen in many facets of the coast defense systems of the United States of that period — in particular , in the submarine mine system , and in the use of seacoast mortars . Abbot advocated the massing of 16 mortars in 4 sets of 4 , which would fire simultaneously at the enemy warships . The plan became known as the " Abbot Quad " . Panama Canal . After his retirement from the army , Abbot continued to work as a civil engineer and was employed as a consultant for the locks on the Panama Canal . " Brig . Gen . Henry Larcom Abbot , coauthor of a classic work on the hydrology of the Mississippi River , began his involvement with the Panama Canal as a member of the new French canal company ’ s Comité Technique and Comité Statutaire , from 1897 to 1900 . While the United States was assuming responsibility for building the Canal , Abbot worked for the French company as a consulting engineer during the transitional period , dividing his time between Paris and the isthmus . After the Americans assumed control of the project Abbot served from 1905 to 1906 on the Board of Consulting Engineers , a body appointed by Theodore Roosevelt and charged with the preparation of a plan for canal construction . The majority of the board recommended a sea - level canal . The minority report , probably written largely by Abbot , helped to persuade Roosevelt and Secretary of War William Howard Taft to adopt a plan for a lock canal . Abbot ’ s last service to the canal was as a member of the Panama Canal Slide Committee in 1915 . " " Abbot ’ s numerous articles and one book account for over half of the entries in this bibliography . They range widely over several topics . In addition to arguing for a lock canal he insisted that the Americans abandon once and for all any thought of building a canal in Nicaragua . Other articles answered critics who asserted that Panama was too hot , wet , and unhealthy , and that the area was subject to earthquakes . Abbot successfully presented the case for creating two artificial lakes instead of one . He maintained that the wild and unpredictable Chagres could be tamed and made useful in the building and operation of the canal . " Retirement . Abbot retired as a colonel on August 13 , 1895 . On April 23 , 1904 , he was appointed Brigadier General , U . S . A . , retired . Henry Larcom Abbot died on October 1 , 1927 at Cambridge , Massachusetts . He was buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery , Cambridge . Honors . Abbot was elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1863 . * Service Record * . 1 Cadet at the Military Academy , July 1 , 1850 , to July 1 , 1854 , when he was graduated . 2 Served as Assistant in the Office of Pacific Railroad Surveys , Washington , DC , Oct . 12 , 1854 , to May 1 , 1855 . 3 On Survey of railroad route between California and Oregon , May 1 , 1855 , to May 19 , 1857 . 4 Served as Assistant in office of Explorations and Surveys , Washington , D . C . , and on Hydrographic Survey of the Delta of the Mississippi River , LA . , May 19 , 1857 , to July 1 , 1861 . 5 Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States , 1861 - 66 : as Assistant Topographical Engineer on the Staff of Brigadier - General McDowell , July 5 – 15 , 1861 . 6 Served as Chief Topographical Engineer of General Tyler ' s Division in the Manassas Campaign of July , 1861 , being engaged in the Action of Blackburn ' s Ford , July 18 , 1861 , - and Battle of Bull Run , July 21 , 1861 , where he was wounded . 7 Served as Assistant Topographical Engineer in the Defenses of Washington , on the Staff of General McDowell , July 23 to Aug . 21 , 1861 . 8 Served as Assistant to General Barnard in the construction of field - works south of the Potomac , Aug . 21 , 1861 , to Mar . 19 , 1862 . 9 Served as Aide - de - Camp to General Barnard in the Virginia Peninsular Campaign ( Army of the Potomac ) , Mar . 10 to July 24 , 1862 , being engaged in the Siege of Yorktown , Apr . 5 to May 4 , 1862 , and various Engineer duties of the Seven Days ' Operation before Richmond , June 26 to July 2 , 1862 , including the preparation of maps ; 10 on sick leave of absence , July 24 to Sep . 25 , 1862 ; 11 Served as Aide - de - Camp to General Barnard , Sep . 25 to Nov . 11 , 1862 , being engaged in fortifying the southern approaches to Alexandria , VA . ; 12 Served as Chief Topographic Engineer of General Banks ' s Expedition to the Gulf of Mexico , Nov . 11 , 1862 , to Feb 10 , 1863 ; 13 Served in command of Regiment or Brigade in the Defenses of Washington , Feb . 28 , 1863 , to May 10 , 1864 ; 14 Served as Member of the Board of Engineers to Reorganize our system of Seacoast Fortifications , Jan . 27 to May 31 ; 1864 ; 15 Served in Organizing Siege Train for the Armies operating against Richmond , Apr . 20 to May 10 , 1864 ; 16 Served in command of the Siege Artillery of the Army of the James , May 13 to June 23 , 1864 . 17 Served in command of the Siege Artillery of the Armies operating against Richmond , June 23 , 1864 to Jan . 5 , 1865 ; 18 Served as Chief of Artillery of the Expedition to Fort . Fisher , NC , Jan . 5 - 22 , 1865 ; 19 Served in command of the Siege Artillery of the Armies operating against Richmond , VA Jan . 22 to July 13 , 1865 , being engaged in the Siege of Petersburg , VA till April 2 , 1865 , including the Mine Assault , July 30 , 1864 , - Battle of Fort . Steadman , Mar . 25 , and Assault of the Rebel Entrenchments , Apr . 2 , 1865 ; 20 As Chief of Artillery of the Department of Virginia , May 10 to July 13 , 1865 . 21 In command of Brigade in the Defenses of Washington , DC , July 15 to Sep . 25 , 1865 ; 22 Mustered out of Volunteer Service , resumed Regular Army Active Duty September 25 , 1865 . 23 Awaiting orders , Oct . 4 to Nov . 23 , 1865 . 24 Served in command of the Engineer Battalion at Willet ' s Point , NY , and as Superintending - Engineer of the construction of Ft . Schuyler , NY , Nov . 25 to Dec . 12 , 1865 ; 25 Served as Assistant Engineer in examination of the Mississippi Levees , Dec . 12 , 1865 , to May 29 , 1866 ; 26 Served in command of the Engineer Battalion and Engineer School of Application , June 1 , 1866 , 27 Served in command of the Post and Engineer Depot at Willet ' s Point , NY , June 12 , 1868 , to Mar . 15 , 1886 ; 28 Served as Superintending Engineer of the construction of Ft . Schuyler , NY , June 1 , 1866 , - and fort at Willet ' s Point , NY , June 12 , 1868 , to May 24 , 1886 ; 29 Served as Member of Board of Engineers to conduct Experiments in the use of Iron in Permanent Defenses , Sep . 11 , 1866 , to May 18 , 1867 ; 30 Served on detached service , under the orders of the Secretary of the Treasury , to observe Solar Eclipse at the Island of Sicily , Oct . 7 , 1870 , to Jan . 20 , 1871 ; 31 Served on professional duty in Europe to make contracts for Torpedo Cable , and to examine systems of Torpedo Defense adopted by Great Britain , Germany , Austria , and France , July 2 to Oct . 13 , 1873 ; 32 Served as Member of Board of Engineers to re - organize the Ponton Equipage for the U . S . Army , Dec . 19 , 1868 , to Nov . " " 15 , 1869 . 33 Served on Improvement of Wallabout Channel , New York Navy Yard , June , 1869 , of the Board of Engineers for Fortifications ( and its Executive Officer ) in matters relating to Torpedo Defense , May 5 , 1869 , to . Sep . 2 , 1879 , 34 Served of Commissioners to devise a permanent plan for reclaiming the Alluvial Basin of the Mississippi , July 2 , 1874 , to Jan . 18 , 1875 , 35 Served on proposed Railroad from Austin , Tex . , to Topolobampo , West Coast of Mexico , Feb . , 1875 . 36 Served to examine the contracts between the United States and the Moline Water Power Company , Apr . 5 to June 13 , 1877 . 37 Served on the Board of Engineers for Fortifications and River and Harbor Improvements , since Sep . 2 , 1879 , 38 Served on the Gun Foundry Board , Apr . 3 , 1883 , to Dec . 20 , 1884 . 39 Served in charge of Torpedo experiments , since Apr . 10 , 1886 , 40 Served on site of new bridge across Arthur Kill , Jan . 7 - 26 , 1888 , Served on the Board of Ordnance and Fortification , since Oct . 25 , 1888 , Served on sites for seaboard fortifications , May 12 , 1885 , to July 27 , 1888 , Served on of Harbor lines of Boston , MA , since Aug . 13 , 1886 , Served on sites of New York , since Oct . 5 , 1888 ; and Division Engineer for the inspection of engineer work in . the Northeastern territory of the United States , since Dec . 3 , 1888 . 41 Stationed in New York City from Jan . 1 , 1890 to Aug . 13 , 1895 , being President of the permanent Board of Engineers ; Division Engineer of northeast division ; President of the Harbor Line Boards of New York and Boston , and of various other boards ; and member of the Board of Ordnance and Fortification . 42 Retired From Active Service , He Being 64 Years Of Age , Aug . 13 , 1895 . Residence , Cambridge , MA . History * 1 . Correspondent of the Imperial Royal Geological Institute of the Austrian Empire , Dec . 17 , 1862 . 2 . Corporator of the National Academy of Sciences , since 1872 . 3 . Degree of LL . D . conferred by Harvard University , MA , 1886 . 4 . Author ( jointly with Capt . A . A . Humphreys ) of " Topographic and Hydrographic Survey of the Delta of the Mississippi , " 1861 and of various Biographical Memoirs , Professional Papers , etc . , 1861 - 90 . 5 . Chairman of Jury of Higher Awards at the Atlanta Exposition , 1895 . 6 . Consulting Engineer of Wisconsin Central Railroad , to prepare plans for interior harbor of Manitowoc , WS , 1895 – 96 7 . President of Board of Consulting Engineers on ship canal projected between Lake Erie and the Ohio River by the Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburg , 1895 - 96 . 8 . Member of Forestry Commission appointed by the President of the National Academy of Sciences on application of the Honorable , The Secretary of the Interior , 1896 - 97 . 9 . Member of the " Comite ' l ' echnique de la Cie . Nouvelle du Canal de Panama , " March 23 , 1897 to – Member of the " Commission Statutaire " of the same company , Feb . , 1898 to Feb . , 1899 . - Residence in Paris . 10 . Consulting Engineer of the same Company to the transfer of the property to the United States in May , 1904 11 . Member Board of Consulting Engineers appointed by the President to prepare plan for the Panama Canal , June , 1905 to February , 1906 . 12 . Professor of Hydraulic Engineering in the Faculty of Graduates ' Studies , George Washington University , May , 1905 to 13 . Author of " Problems of the Panama Canal , " 1907 . * Assignments and Promotions * . 1 . Brevet Second Lieutenant , Topographic Engineers , July 1 , 1854 . 2 . Second Lieutenant , Topographic Engineers , October 2 , 1855 3 . First Lieutenant , Topographic Engineers , July 1 , 1857 4 . Brevet Captain , July 21 , 1861 , for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Battle of Bull Run , VA . 5 . Brevet Major , May 4 , 1862 for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Siege of Yorktown , VA 6 . Captain , Topographic Engineers , June 18 , 1862 7 . Captain , Corps of Engineers , March 3 , 1863 8 . Colonel , 1st Connecticut Artillery Volunteers , January 19 , 1863 9 . Brevet Brigadier General , U . S . Volunteers , August 1 , 1864 For Gallant and Distinguished Services in the Operations before Richmond , and especially in the lines before Petersburg , VA . 10 . Brevet Major General , U . S . Volunteers , March 13 , 1865 For Gallant and Meritorious Service during the Rebellion . 11 . Major , Corps of Engineers , November . 11 , 1865 . 12 . Lieutenant . Colonel , Corps of Engineers , March . 31 , 1880 . 13 . Colonel , Corps of Engineers , Oct . 12 , 1886 . 14 . Colonel , USA , Retired Aug . 13 , 1895 , By Operation Of Law . 15 . Brigadier General , USA , On Retired List , April 23 , 1904 , Act Of