Henry C. Newcomer

Henry C. Newcomer
Newcomer as a lieutenant colonel in 1915. From 1992's The Ohio River Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Born	(1861-04-03)April 3, 1861 Upton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	December 3, 1952(1952-12-03) (aged 91) Washington, District of Columbia, U.S.
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Service	United States Army
Years of service	1996–1925
Rank	Brigadier General
Service number	0–125
Unit	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Commands held	Department of Engineering, United States Military Academy 3rd Engineer District Surface Transportation Division, Engineer Commissioner of Washington, D.C. Company E, 2nd Engineer Battalion Nashville Engineer District Chattanooga Engineer District Pittsburgh Engineer District 3rd Engineer Regiment Gulf Engineer Division Second New York Engineer District Puerto Rico Engineer District
Wars	World War I
Alma mater	Mount Morris College United States Military Academy
Spouse(s)	Rebecca Kosier ​ (m. 1886⁠–⁠1913)​ Lily Armour ​ (m. 1915⁠–⁠1947)​
Other work	Director, Union Trust Company Member, Board of Trustees, Columbia Institution for the Deaf

Henry C. Newcomer (April 3, 1861 – December 3, 1952) was a career officer in the United States Army. A member of the Corps of Engineers, he served from 1886 until 1925, and specialized in rivers and harbors construction. A veteran of World War I, he attained the rank of brigadier general. During his career, Newcomer commanded Company E, 2nd Engineer Battalion and the 3rd Engineer Battalion., in addition to serving as assistant director of the Chemical Warfare Service during the First World War.

A native of Upton, Pennsylvania, Newcomer was raised in Upton, Martinsburg, West Virginia, and Mount Morris, Illinois. After attending Mount Morris College, in 1882, he was appointed to the United States Military Academy (West Point). He graduated in 1886 ranked first in his class, and was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers. Newcomer's initial assignments included improvement to the harbor defenses of San Francisco Bay and assistant professor of engineering at West Point. From 1896 to 1900, he planned and oversaw execution of improvements to navigation and flood control on the Mississippi River. From 1900 to 1903, he was assistant to the engineering commissioner for Washington, D.C.'s city government, and from 1903 to 1904, he commanded Company E, 2nd Engineer Battalion.

Newcomer's later postings included chief engineer of the Corps of Engineers' Central Division, which was based in Pittsburgh. From 1916 to 1918, Newcomer served in the office of the Chief of Engineers. From August 1918 to January 1919, he performed World War I service as assistant director of the Chemical Warfare Service. After the war, Newcomer was assigned as chief engineer of the Hawaiian Engineer District and commander of the 3rd Engineer Battalion. Newcomer retired in 1925. He died in Washington, D.C. on December 3, 1952. Newcomer was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.