The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-05
From the N. o. Commercial Bulletin.
OBITUARY.

Died, in this city, the oath inst, Capt. ALEXANDER
SWIFT OF the corps OF engineers, u s. A., aged thirty
The deceased the of General JOSEPH G. swIrr,
of New York, who served with distinction in the last war
and time, the engineer the United States
army.
in year 1926 the early age of SIXTEEN and grad
uated in 1890, having maintained, throughout the term oil
studies that institution the first place Of honor in his
class while his elevated character and eproachabe
duct acquired for him the and respect only of
his elowcades but of his teachers and superior officers
The writer well recolecs him this period of his career.
the from whom (while acting assistant professor
in mathematcs) he received his first lessons, upon his
Captain Swift was appointed second euenan. Of en-
being contemplated ' By the War Department to raise
company Of engineer soldiers he was selected visit
schools Of practice, practical information TO the organiza
ton and exercises this us novel description Troops
70 his country in ls4I Il was not, however. until the
breaking out OF the Mexican war in May isas that Com
gess finally passed law authorizing the raising OF COM
Captain Swirl was Immediately appointed to the
mand Of it, and speaks highly of his zeal and energy in
the discharge OF the duties assigned him. that the company
thus authorized in May, shipboard for the seat of
war, in September.
This indeed, would be nothing extraordinary the rails
ing OF company OF infantry Or cavalry but the peculiar
species OF troops thus raised by Captain Swift entirely
in service besides the usual exercises of infantry
soldiers these soldiers (most of whom required be
accustomed to some mechanical ade had to be exercised
in the difficult operations OF sapping mining, the manage
ment Of pontoon bridges and all the various and compIi-
Gated operations required OF engineer troops in the field
in war OF sieges.
With all his intelligence, Capt Swirl unable to reach
the army in time for the assault of Monterey (where tho
of this company would have been Of the utmost
imporance and the operations Of the winter afforded
other occasion for its services Unfortunately for him. he
this period attacked with the disease which has
been fatal to so many OF our troops on the Rio Grandethc
dysentery.
He bad however, nearly recovered when the Vera Cruz
expedition offered him opportunity for displaying the
peculiar qualities OF his company, which he could not
ist He landed with the army, before Vera Cruz, and
persevering he in his efforts accomplish tho duties of
his staon that finally became necessary him
from the ground in litter, he having sunk down his post
utterly exhausted From the effects of this in1prudcnt cxc
on he recovered relapse of his disease
the consequence. He arrived here from Vera Cruz
the 9th inst chershing the hope that and change
climate would again him. But disease had already
lone work from the Mt Of his arrival here, his
epgth rapidly failed him, his terminated even
before those ofhis friends who conscious OF his
precarous condition, prepared for sudden
'ult.
Thus by the insidous hand Of disease has fallen one
smneny gifted with all the elevated qualities of the
soldier and the gentleman Had he fallen in the battlefield
the brilliant discharge of those duties for which he had
pcn his life in preparing himself the event would have
less deporable. His fate peculiarly hard; his
campaign Of six months in Mexico but continued
trugge with disease, terminated only by death.
Au acquaintance of Is years duration (darng portion
(which, infinitely associated by professional dute-)
would enable the writer testify the high qualities Of
he deceased, exhibited in social Interview the dis
barge Of public duties. To those who knew him.
testimony would be unnecessaryto Others will be
ufcient to add, that, him. the corps Of engineers Of
which he member, has lost OF its brightest
| nents-,he army Jealous and accomplished officer.
ir ]. G.. b.