Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-12-23

Lieutenant ID, ugIass :. Irr;,.

u The many gallant spirits that fell at Monterey. there
waspcrhuPs not one whose unimely fate may better call
iorth the lamentations Of friends and OF country than that
Of the subject Of this notice, or whose career II, more v,,.
thy OF being ehronicled for an example TO those who sur
yiye him.
That career was brief indeed-be wbo fulfilled II b,y,r,
seen but t~woniy-siT yeSrs-but IL was brilliant. "FeV, OIL
GERS OF his grade Ito employ the words Of an officer ofhiph
rank who furnished the materials for this ske,cb) s,o7,J
more desorVodly high in the army than Lieut.. lawn; and
though young IN service, he had already won n reputation
Tor eailanuy and soldiershiF, which will long survive him,
and be iondIy cherished ia his regiment"
Lieut. Irwin graduated ut West Point, in July. IsiO.-
scarce 20 years Of nge-and was Immediately after order
cd into service at Fort Monroe aud In September Of tho
same year, left that pos, for the Florida War. In which he
soon distinguished himself by one Of the most brilliant "a.
PLOTS OF that difficult aud veHstous contest.
boIng oy accident M charge Of a small post, and roceiy-
ing iniOTmaion that a band Of Indians had, on the ptece-
ding evening, burned the dwellings and murdered the In.
habitants OF a ncighbOrng district, and carried off la,ge
amount OF plumber, he conceived he bold project Of cutting
mem OIL IN Their retreat and mounting his mon fouly Gy,
IN numbeD pursued and overlook the enemy tnumbrtlug
between twenty and thirty in a hammock on the banks OF
a nyer-dismoanted and engaged him, and after n severe
battle OF several hours duration, drove him across the RI
OIL. '"'"H
For this gallant affair he was highly compiimenred by
COL worth. by whom, rs also by Gen. Scott, he was re-
commended Tor promotion, IN pursuance OF which recon-.
monduuOns no was finally bfeyetted by tho President and
Congress, for Especial guHanry and good conduct IN the
lace OF the enemy ia the war against tho Florida Indians
Tho hrst Second Lieutenant, 1t Is believed, ever 80 pro-
NOTED In our army.
IN "hat esIinauon this conduct OF the youthful officer
was held by he higher ofhcors, may bo.seon from the fol-
lowing extract from an official despatch of Moi Cooper
lAsst AdJt GonetoD to the General IN Chief Of the Army.
Nov ~, l5ll.
"Ho (Col WORTH also Desired mo 10 say. that any De, a.
honorary promotions, would be faulty which did not include
the names Of lst Lieut.. Alburtis. Of the 2nd Infantry, and
End Lieut. Irwin, Of the 81. From the report Of The case
in respect to tho former, a knowledge Of tho circumst,r
Gee, and personal examination Of tho ground. and the st.t..
ment Of Indians subsequently In our presence. the C,l,,.1
~ OF opinion that the scion conducted by that officer. b.
moi auruacaud- Al ruunlrI an r.W.atw.
BY any other affair during this contest; and that lie equal AN
spirit, courage and conduct, perhaps can only boz fund IN
tue ahair OF the latter Oficor. a public notice by the y,
V5rnmont Of each ct the above num-d officers woulJ be -.
oei'cd and highly priced, by the entire corps 10 which they
te,,Pocuyey belong, and L may be added with equal roth.
NINo aceepinb.c 10 tho service IN general. Tho Colonel
earncsily bcRs tho active intcrposihon If your influence ID,
having accorded to these officers thor well earned no.
ward"
On the termination Of Tho Florida war. his Regimen,
was ordered 10 Jefferson Banacks, Missouri, where he no
camo acquaintcd with and married, Miss SARsu Br.ry,,r
a daughter Of Dr. William Beaumont, formerly Of the ar
my.
A year more, md no wss summoned away from he .ic.
and child 10 Join tho Army Of Occupation in T,v.s IL.
bs military accomplishments soon pointed him ont fo, len,
poftant and responsible service, having becp ,,,,,,,,5
Corpus Chrsu 10 the Adiutancv Of bs RrgiIe,, I"
cumstsnco strongly indicating The high rputo in yybicb b,
military talents were held, and most nauerioo Il, NJ, ~,
young IN Tho service and in years.
Following the Army 10 the Rio Grande. he a II, Oh.
5siles Q = fslo Alto and Rosacs do ia Palma, in which he
ga good service. and continued with Inc invsJin, a.,
unul the attack upon Monterey, whore. sustainio. ali -,
eaHy ronown, with many a brave e0mrede I'm -. cn
IN tho batlo's front, IN the first and thiokss, N H. 49, IVY"
gfsppiing bis countys foo. and sealing with bs ill.,, NJ
his devotion 10 her service. "'
We might here end th. brieC biby,, ,,..n
' '"d noble spirit with q tear for bis sady doom boI wa