The Biographical Dictionary of America/Babbitt, Lawrence Sprague

BABBITT, Lawrence Sprague, soldier, was born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 18, 1839, son of Edwin B. Babbitt, and grandson of Lawrence Sprague. He was graduated from the military academy at West Point in June, 1861, with the rank of 2d lieutenant of artillery, and was with his class ordered immediately to Washington, D. C., to assist in drilling volunteers. He participated in the action at Blackburn's Ford, July 18, 1861, and in the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, for his conduct in the latter being brevetted 1st lieutenant. He was promoted to the full rank, March 3, 1863, in March, 1865, was brevetted captain, and in November was assigned to the command of the Vancouver arsenal in Washington territory. He was promoted captain Dec. 22, 1866, and in April, 1871, was made commanding officer in the St. Louis arsenal. He acted as chief ordnance officer, department of the Columbia, in the spring of 1877, and participated in the Indian campaigns of 1877 and 1878. He was promoted major May 10, 1878, and commanded Fort Monroe, Va., arsenal from 1880 to 1888. From 1888 to 1891 he commanded the San Antonio, Texas, arsenal, being promoted lieutenant-colonel Sept. 15, 1890, and in 1891 he was transferred to the Benicia arsenal in California.