5) 
Symmes, all of whom are now dead. His tastes, however, 
led him back to the army (from which he had resigned 
shortly after his promotion), and, February 23, 1808, he 
.Was reappointed a Second Lieutenant of Engineers, his com- 
mission bearing the same date as that of his subsequent 
friend, brother engineer officer, and professional associate, 
Sylvanus Thayer, of national fame as for so many years 
Superintendent of the Military Academy, and as the officer 
to whom is mainly due its present high grade among the 
military and scientific institutions of the world. Lieutenant 
Totten commenced his career as a military engineer un- 
der Colonel Jonathan Williams, the first chief of the corps, 
and was engaged on the construction of Castles Williams 
and Clinton, ‘New York harbor. : 
At the commencement of the war with England Lieutenan 
Totten was assigned to duty as Chief Engineer of the army 
under Brigadier-General Van Rensselaer, in the campaign of — 
1812, on the N iagara frontier, and in that capacity took a 
Conspicuous part. in the battle of Queenstown. He was sub- 
sequently Chief Engineer of the army under the command 
of Major-General Dearborn, in the campaign of 1813, and 
of the army under Major-General Izard and Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Macomb, in the campaign of 1814, on Lake Champlain. 
Having been promoted to a Captaincy in 1812, he was in 
June, 1813, brevetted Major, for “meritorious services,” 
and September .11, 1814, Lieutenant-Colonel, for “ gallant 
conduct at the battle of Plattsburg”; his efficient services as 
an engineer in the defensive arrangements of that field 
having contributed powerfully to the successful issue. 
The termination of the war may be considered as the 
Close of one period in the life and services of General” 
Totten, and the commencement of another; or rather it 
may be said, that the events of which we have traced a 
