The native American., 1838-04-14
GENERAL RIPLEY.

We announced yesterday the death of Gen.
Ripley, member of Congress from Louisiana,
and at the same time gave short sketch of his
life. We propose to-day to give a more minute
account of his character and public career, in as
much as he has done the State some service.
Eleazer Wheelock Ripley was born at Hano-
yer, N. H., April Is, 1882. lie was the grand
son of DR.. Wheelock, the founder of Dartmouth
College, and son of the Rev. Sylvanus Ripley,
first professor of Divinity in that Institution.
In the year 1900, and at the age of eighteen,
he was graduated from Dartmouth with the first
honors Of the University. He then applied him
self to the study of the law, and was admitted
to practice in the county of Kennebeck, in the
District of the State of Massachusetts. At the
bar he manifested talents which ranked him
among the higher order Of barrsters, and intro
duced him to. seat in the Legislature of Mas
sachusetts,. from the town Wnslow. Mr.. Rip
ley was from the commencement of his political
career firm and consistent republican, and soon
became leading member of the House of Rep
resentatves.
In January, 1912, he was elected speaker in
the place of Joseph Story, who had just been
elevated to seat OIL the bench of the Supreme
Court of the United States. AT this time he had
scarcely attained his 3Oth year.
The next year having removed to Portland, he
was elected Senator from the District Of Cum
berland and Oxford, and took his seat accordingly
in the Senate of Massachusetts, but the March fol-
lowing he disappointed the fond anticipations of
his friends in regard to his rising greatness, by
accepting Lieutenant ColoneIs commission in
the United States Army. The relations then ex-
isting between the United States and Great Bri-
tain, it was supposed would result in an open
rupture, and Mr.. Ripley had determined to avenge
his coantry's wrongs by drawing his sword in
her service.
On the declaration of war, he was entrusted by
Gen. Dearborn with tie command of the forts
and harbors on the extreme Eastern coast of the
Union; and on this station he manifested great
activity and skill in disciplining his men and
Strengthening his Notifications.
In September, 1912, he marched from Port
land to Plattsburg, and joined the Northern army
under Gen. Bloomfield.
On the 18th of March, 1913, Lieutenant Colo
nels Ripley, Scott and Gaines, were promoted to
the rank Of Colonels. The first battle in which
Colonel Ripley was present was the attack on
York, in which the gallant Pike was mortally
wounded and died in the arms Of victory. Colo
mel Ripley was also slightly wounded.
On the 18th Of April he was promoted to the
rank of Brigadier General, and in the celebrated
battle of Niagara, fought amid the thunder of the
cataract, covering himself and his brigade with
eternal renown.
In the battle of Lundy's Lane, Fort Erie, End
other important actions, General Ripley was pre-
sent; foremost as ever in the vanguard of victory
and excelled by none in the discipline of his
troops or fiery rapidity of his charges. On the
declaration of peace, he returned to Albany by
slow stages, having received severe wound in q
sore from Fort Erie on the 18th of September,
1914 On the reduction Of the army, the voice
of the public was SO loud in his favor, that he
was continued on the peace establishment. The
State of Georgia passed him vote of thanks
New York, vote of thanks and a sword, and
the Congress of the United States a vote OF
thanks and gold medal, recognition Of
his services.
| Having recovered from the effects of his wound
he removed to Louisiana, where, as elsewhere, he
rapidly acquired the confidence Of his fellow cit
zens, and was by them elected to seat in the
House of Representatives of the U. States.
His health, however, had become SO much
impaired, that it precuded the possibility of his
taking an active part in the conduct of public
affairs, and after holding his seat for one year
was unable to attend for the remainder of the
term He died in New Orleans on the 29th o
March, 1888, having nearly completed the 56tl
year of his age. In his person, says Wilson, h'
was tall and well formed. His features are strong
Ily marked, and his countenance open---his dis
| position mild. His versatile talents had ganet
him celebrity alike in the forum, the field, ant
the cabinet, and he died as he had lived, the I'm
compromising advocate of republican freedom
and the stern assertor of his country's rights
Boston Eapress.
SrNGuLARITY.-St st. Francis worked hard at banishin