The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-14
Adjournment of the Legislature.

Held OF Sacramento
Adjournment of the Legislature.
The Legislature of this State adjourned at half
past eleven o'clock yesterday morning. W.
give, on the outside of this days Herald, the
letters from our special correspondent, including
list of all the acts passed during the session.
We also give our teegraphic report to the latest
moment. Our readers will find the business of
the session posted up" to the time Of adjourn.
ment.
MAJOR WILLIAM WALLACE SMITH Bliss, the
Assistant Adjutant General of the Army of Occu-
patton, under General Taylor, is native of the
State of New York, and was born at Whitehall.
in the year 1916. His father was captain in the
army during the late war with Great Britain and
sometime after its term nation, died in the civil
service.
For many years Major Bliss mother has re-
sided at Lebanon, New Hampshire, at which
place he received his early education. In the
year 1929 he entered the Military Academy at
West Point and although he was the youngest
member Of his class, he very soon evinced extra,
ordinary talent for mathematics, and for ,herac-
QUESTION Of knowledge generally. During the,
whole four years. Of his academic career in the
difficult branches Of mathematics, natural philo-
sophy and the science of war, he stood among
the distinguished of hrs class; and the develop
ment of his mind and taste since his graduation,
have indicated that in the study of the modern
languages and history he would have been even
more conspicuous. He was graduated with dis
tinction in 1888, and shortly afterwards ordered
10 join his regiment, then stationed on the bor-
ders of Georgia and Alabama, where there exist
ed considerable difficulty among the Indians.
Having served in the field about year, he was,
in 1884, selected and ordered to West Point, as
Assistant Professor of Mathematics in the Mill
tary Academy, which station, although he was
only nineteen years of age, he filled with marked
ability, and entire satisfaction to the Academic
Board, TILL in the year 1910, his promotion sepa-
rated him from that institution. .r T..
While occupying this position, he embraced
the opportunity which the facilities around him
afforded, to crafty his taste for the modern Ian
guages, and the study of military history. Be-
sides perfecting his knowledge of the French
language, so as to enable him to speak it fluent
", he made himself thoroughly acquainted with
the German language, and German literature
At the same time he obtained fair knowledge
of the Spanish and Italian languages, and studied
most critically the campo gins of Napoleon and
Wellington. His acquaintance with Spanish has
been highly useful in the present war, as he has
been able to translate all the dispatches received
from the enemy. His appointment to the Office Of
Assistant Adjutant General, with the brevet rank
of Captain, in 1889, caused him to be relieved
from duty at the Academy early in the year 1910,
and ordered to Washington. He remained but
a short time on duty there, and was thence Or
dered to report to General Armistead, then COM
manding in Florida, as the Assistant Adutant
General of the forces prosecuting the Seminole
war. The efficient and valuable services which
he rendered in this war, chief of General Ar
mistead's staff, caused him to be noticed and
mentioned by the head Of the War Department,
as man possessing military genius, and high
professional atainments.
In the beginning of 1871, he joined General
Taylor, on the frontier of Arkansas, and has re-
NAMED with him ever since as the chief of his
staff. He has been in every battle fought by
General Taylor in the Mexican war; and for his
good conduct at Palo Alto and Resaca de la
Palma, he was promoted to his present rank of
Major Although Major Bliss has not had the
good fortune to perform deeds so dazzling as that
of leading charge, or commanding battery,
yet he has invariably bean found in the thick
est of the fight. AT Palo Alto his horse was
killed under him; and in each of the succee ding
battles his horse was either killed or wounded
Major Bliss is a man Of great modesty, and SIM
picity Of character, perfectly free from ostenta-
tion, and gifted with mind which discovers
truth at a glance. The rapidity Of his mind is
such, that he seems not to reach his conclusions
by the, ordinary process of reasoning, but to
seize them at once. Endowed with an under
standing as enlarged and sagacous as it is ra-
pid and acute, he is firm and decided in his
opinions, and clear and concise in expressing
them and what is most of all requisite in a
soldier, he holds sacred the duty of obedience to
orders. Major Bliss, it is believed, has never
applied to the government for any office, but has
always held himself ready 10 60 wherever order
ed TITS hoped that government will not over
look the. merits Of an officer who has shown
that he possesses the ability and professional
knowledge necessary to command an army, and
who is so zealously and efficiently serving his
country, .e- -...., .... ... .-.
lie IL tho nonly child Of a widowed mother.
whopihe hast seen since ls4O. When this
sacrifice duty and affection upon the altar Of
his country is considered, in connection with
his interchangeable exertions to aid the gallant
Taylorto prosecute the war to glorious peace.
will II be said that such gallantry and patriotism
shall go unrewarded
IHE Day Dock AT THE NAVY YARp.-Wc are
gratihed TO learn that the corner stone of the
United States Dry Dock, at Brooklyn, was laid
yesterday by Commodore Smith, Chief of the
Bureau Of Yards and Docks. The Commodore
arrived at the Navy Yard at IL o'clock, NJ, and
the stone was laid without ceremony at quar-
,er before2P. NJ, in the presence of the officers
of iheysrd and dock, elicitingnne hearty cheers
of satisfaction from the workmen employed.
The stone bears only the plain inscription Of the
present year, (1s47)
MILITARY MovEMENTs.-A detachment of two