<p style="text-align:center"><strong>EDWARD POTTER CRESSEY</strong></p><p style="text-align:center"><strong>No. 1816 · Class of 1858</strong></p><p style="text-align:center"><strong>Died June 21, 1899, at Altruria, Cal., aged 63 years.</strong></p><p>Edward Potter Cressey was born at Delhi, Delaware County, New York, May 19, 1836.</p><p>He entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., July 1, 1854, and was graduated and appointed Brevet Second Lieutenant in the regiment of Mounted Rifles, July 1, 1858; was promoted First Lieutenant May 14, 1861; commissioned First Lieutenant Third U.S. Cavalry, August 3, 1861, and Captain July 17, 1862.</p><p>From 1858 to 1861 he served with his regiment in New Mexico, and participated in skirmishes with Indians at Canon del Muerto, February 8, 1860, and action with rebels at Mesilla, July 25, 1861; being taken prisoner at St. Augustine Springs, N.M., July 27, 1861; he was on garrison duty at Fort Wayne, Michigan, until exchanged, August 27, 1862. Rejoining his regiment in July 1863, at Memphis, he marched with it to Huntsville, Ala., and participated in the Battle of Cherokee Station, October 21, 1863. In the spring of 1864 he was ordered to St. Louis with his regiment; was sick in hospital during the winter of 1864 and '65, and upon his recovery was placed on mustering and disbursing duty until the close of the war.</p><p>For faithful and meritorious services during the war he received brevets as Major and Lieutenant Colonel, to date March 13, 1865.</p><p>After the close of the war he continued on frontier duty until he was honorably mustered out of service, January 1, 1871.</p><p>For several years after he left the army Colonel Cressey was engaged in business in China, Japan and among the South Sea Islands, and in 1874 he entered the service of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, with which he continued until his death, when he was occupying a very responsible and important position in the office of the company in San Francisco.</p><p>He was a prominent Mason and Knight Templar, a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was elected a Companion of the First Class (No. 968), Commandery of California, Military Order of the Loyal Legion, U.S., March 30, 1892- Insignia No. 9405.</p><p>He was a splendid specimen of manhood, and up to a few months ago seemed to be in perfect health, but the insidious disease had already made such inroads that when his health began to fail his life ebbed rapidly away.</p><p>He was an educated and efficient soldier, a genial and honorable gentleman and a true friend, respected by all who knew him.</p><p>His Companions mourn his death; to his children they tender sympathy.</p><p style="text-align:right">� W. R. Smedberg, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army, Recorder, The Commandery of the State of California</p><p style="text-align:center"><a href="https://usmalibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/aogreunion/id/12535">Annual Report, June 12, 1900, p. 29 · U.S. Military Academy Library</a></p>