The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-07-13
?a ella IN e o uu s.
DEATH OF GEN. MACoMB.

MAJOR GENERAL ALEXANDER MAcoMB, COM
mander of tho Army of the United States,
died in the city of Washington, on the Gath
day of juno, at 2 o'clock, p. nj. of apopexy. He
was in the Goth year of his age.
| Gen. Macomb was born in the city of Detroit,
whore his father was for many years engaged IN
the Indian trade; in April, 1852 while he yet
a child, however, his family removed TO Now York,
and he.was, when eight years old, placed in a
school at Newark. New Jersey, under the care of
the Rev. DR.. Ogden.
! In 1885, we learn from sketch OF of Gen. Ma
combs history published several years since, he
was elected into select company, called 'The
| New York Rangers, in the city of New York.
The name taken from that Spartan band, Sc
ected from the prov meals, who from 1855 tol763
were the elite of every British commander on Lake
George and the borders of Canada. At the time
he entered the corps Of the New York Rangers
Congress had passed law Cor the receiving OF vol
unteers for the defence of the country, invasion
bv French army was soon expected. This band
volunteered their services to the Government,
which were accepted, bat Maccmb soon left the
corps, obtained coronetcy at the close OF the year
| 1898, and commissioned in January, 1899
Gen. North, then adjutant general of the northern
army, the merits of the young soldier, and
took him into his staff, as deputy adjuiant general
Under this master he made great progress in his
profession, and in the affections Of the army. The
young officer that Hamilton noticed, and North in
structed, could not fail to be ambitious of distnc.
,ion. He visited Montreal, in order TO observe
the discipline Of the veteran corps kept at that mill
tary post, and did not neglect his opportunities.
The cloud that hung tho country, passed a
way; great part of the troops were disbanded,and
most OF the officers and men returned TO private
| life; a few only were retained; among whom was
| Macomb who was then commissioned as a second
lieutenant OF Dragons, aud sent forthwith on the
recruiting service. He was stationed in Philadel-
phia, ard had fine opportunities to associate with
the best informed men in the city; he also found
easy access to the franklin and other extensive Ii
braries Of which advantages he did not fail to a.
vail himself.
| When his body of recruits formed, he march
ed with it to the Western frontiers, to join Gener
al Wilkinson, revolutionary veteran who contin-
ued in the sci vice. With him he went into the
Cherokee country to aid IN making treaty with
that nation. He was on the mission nearly year
and kept journal of every thing he observed.
| This was a good school for one whose duty it
might hereafter be to fight the aborignes. The
| corps to which he belonged was dlsbanded and one
of engineers formed; to this he attached as LIST
lieutenr:. He was sent to West Point,
where he was by the code there esabl shed pu-
pill as well as an officer. Being examined, declar-
ed competent, he appointed an dlutant of the
corps at that post, and discharged his duty with
SO much ability, that when the first court martial,
after his examination, was convened he was APP
pointed Judge advocates. This court was ordered
for the trial Of distinguished officer for disobey-
ing an arbitrary order for cutting off the hair lie
ter the Great could carry such an order into ex
ecution but republican government did; and the
| veteran Col .Buter,was reprmanded for not throw
ing his white locks to the wind, when ordered by
| "A superior. The talented arguments exhibited by
Macomb, as Judge advocate on this court marital
brought him into very great notice as man OF IN
tellect as we'll as a fine soldier He was now cal.
led upon to compile treatise upon martial law,
and the practice ofcourts martial, which in iu'
ture day Of leisure he effected, and his book is now
the standard work upon courts martial, Tor the ar
nv of the United States. In 1905, Macomb was
promoted TO the rank of captain in the corps OF en-
gineers, and sent to the board to snpernteno
the Notifications which had been ordered by an ac'
of Congress- BY this service he became known 10
the first men in the nation and his merits were du
} Iy appreci from New Hampshire to the fior'-
das