Elwell Stephen Otis

Born in Frederick, Maryland, March 25, 1838

Graduated from the University of Rochester in 1858

Graduated from Harvard Law School in 1861

Commissioned as a Caption in Union Army in 1862

Appointed to Lieutenant Colonel in December 1863 and later promoted to full Colonel.

Wounded and muster out due to incapacity in January 1865.

Brevetted Brigadier General, United States Volunteers, in March 1865 in recognition of his Civil War service.

In 1898, was appointed Major of volunteers and was sent to the the newly acquired Philippines as reinforcement for General Merritt. On arrival in the Philippines, Otis assumed command of the VIII. Eventually General Otis was appointed Military Governor of the Philippine Islands.

During his time in the Philippines, Otis was responsible for American activities at the start of the Philippine-American war, which was essentially a failed attempt for independence. US troops reportedly practiced some draconian methods to which Otis commented.

"The conduct of the Washington Volunteers has been the subject of special investigations for some time. They deny wanton burning or cruelties. And still there are strong indications that they practised these infractions to some extent."

Otis was relieved of command in 1900 and replaced with General Arthur MacArthur.

Died in Rochester, New York, October 21, 1909, buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

• General Otis was known to his men as "granny".
• General Arthur MacArthur had gained fame as an teen aged officer that led the successful charge up Lookout Mountain of Chattanooga. Arthur won the Congressional Medal of Honor 27 years after this historic feat. He was also the father of Douglas MacArthur, who won the Congressional Medal of Honor, became a 5 Star General serving in WW1, WW2 and Korea.