This is what I have heard and found so far folks. Please keep in mind that information on them is very hard to find or authenticate.

He was assigned to surveying duty. Between 1850 and 1860 Ocoee District East Tenn. was surveyed by Capt. O. M. Poe.

At the outbreak of the Rebellion 1861 he was a 1st Lt. on McClellan's staff were he organised the defences of Washington.

In September 1861 he became the Col. of 2nd Michigan. He led the Regiment during the Peninsula campaign. He was put in commanded 3rd Bde/1st Divn/III Corps at Second Bull Run. In November 1862 he was appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers. This promotion was not confirmed by the Senate.

Between August 16th and September 2nd 1862 at the battle of Second Bull Run O.M. Poe commanded Third (3) Brigade, First (1) Division, Ninth (9) Corps.

In 1862 he commanded First (1) Brigade, First (1) Division, Ninth (9) Corps at Fredericksburg.

He commanded the 2nd Michigan Infantry at the battle of Williamsburg.

After the army was taken away from Gen. McClelan. He returned to the Regular rank of Captain in the Engineers. He became chief engineer of the Army of the Ohio, chief engineer of the Military Division of the Mississippi, Atlanta campaign, March to the Sea, and Carolinas campaign.

On October 10, 1863 Captain Orlando M. Poe, the Chief Engineer, performed a reconnaissance to identify the best location for making an infantry attack at Blue Springs Tennessee.

Around November 14th 1864 under Sherman's orders Capt. O. M. Poe "thoroughly destroyed Atlanta, save its mere dwelling-houses and churches." The destruction was by fire purposely applied to buildings, and permitted to spread, as was expected, from house to house until the defenseless city was almost entirely reduced to ashes.

After the war he remained with the army as an aide to Sherman doing engineering duty.

The Grosse Point Light (Photo on Left) was constructed in 1880. It was designed by O.M. Poe. It was constructed as the leading navigational aid into port of Chicago.

In 1883 U. S. Army Colonel Orlando M. Poe is made Superintending Engineer of the Soo Canal.

In response to an advertisement and after the submission of proposals for work at the mouth of the Detroit river, a contract in writing was entered into December 31, 1892, by O. M. Poe, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, and appellees, by which the latter agreed to excavate a ship channel 20 and 21 feet deep, located in section 8 of the Detroit river, in accordance with specifications attached to the contract and made a part thereof. They were to receive in full compensation for their work the sum of 18 cents per cubic yard of excavation, scow measure.

In 1896 The State Lock on the Soo are replaced by the Poe Lock, named in his honor. In 1968 The Soo Canal's Poe Lock are replaced by the New Poe Lock.

Orlando M. Poe had post No. 433 of the G.A.R. in Detroit named in his honor. This G.A.R. was incorporated in 1903. The inscription on a monument to this G.A.R. is below.

Marker on a granite base, near Picnic Way, Belle Isle, Detroit. It was erected on September 27, 1923. The inscription reads:

1923. This tablet is dedicated to Gen. O. M. Poe Post No. 433, Grand Army of the Republic, by its auxiliary, Gen. Poe Woman's Relief Corps No. 8. "Not for selfish gain or applause, but for honor and the glory of the cause they did that which will never be forgotten."

Orlando M. Poe died in Detroit Michigan on October 2 1895. He now layes in Arlington National Cemetary in Arlington Virginia.

Page Oct. 27,2005

1836 East Tenn. Ocoee Distict Surveyed by O.M. Poe
O.M. Poe Report on Defence of Knoxville
Capt. O. M. Poe, Blue Springs Tenn. Oct. 10th 1863
O.M. Poe burns down Atlanta

Grand Army of the Republic

O.M. Poe GAR article
Inscription on Monument to O.M. Poe GAR

Post War Engineer Work

O.M. Poe Lighthouse (GROSSE POINT LIGHT)
O.M. Poe Locks Legal Case
Page on the Poe Locks