Actions
Civil War While hauling supplies to the Union troops on the Pennsylvania Railroad in1861, Palmer became inspired to join the war. He took action forming a troop of cavalry called the Anderson Men. In 1862 with the commission of Governor Curtiss Palmer formed another regiment of cavalry, going beyond the call of duty by recruiting 1,200 men in 10 days, 800 more than the 400 that the Governor requested. This regiment was called the 15th cavalry of Pennsylvania and was sent into battle in Maryland that autumn. Later, with less than 100 men, Palmer attacked an enemy base with more than twice as many men and defeated them, taking 100 prisoners, and not losing a single man. This feat won General Palmer the medal of honor. |  |
Railroads
General Palmer’s life has been entwined with railroads from the very start. When he was 17, Palmer made the choice to join the Hempfield engineering corps and permanently solidify his career in the railway business. Palmer quickly moved up to become the secretary of J. Thompson and although he wasn’t making any earth shattering decisions, he was taking control of his career and surrounding himself with people of stature in the world of railroads. After the Civil War was over, Palmer’s career took another leap as he became treasurer of the Kansas Pacific Railway company. Now controlling all of the Kansas Pacific’s finances and later charting out the route it would take, Palmer was wielding more power than ever before and taking action for the good of the railroad. When the railroad was finally completed, Palmer made a drastic decision to quit his job and pursue his dream of owning his own railroad; the Denver and Rio Grande is born. Palmer put everything at stake to build it, and the pay off for building a track through the mountains was huge. After the success of the D&RG, Palmer resigned from it and made a new charter for a new railroad, the D&RG western. Around these two railroads, he took more action and built cities near and around them, such as Colorado Springs, making the railroads ever more popular. Palmer also spent time building railroads in Mexico which he later sold to the country, and eventually became the National Railways of Mexico.
Map of Colorado with railroads.
