Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-06-22

GrGen. EDMUND P. GAINES is no more His
died Of the prevailing epidemic in New-Orleans
on the 9th inst. In him our army lost one OF
its Oldest. veterans. He was born in Cupeper Co.
Virginia, March 90, l777, and named after his
great uncle Edmund Pendlelon, long presiding
Judge of the Virginia, Court Of Appeals. His
father served temporarily in the Revolutionary
War, and toward its close removed to The north
west corner Of Norlh Carolina, and afIerward 10
East Tennessee, where the son was early en-
gagged in Indian warfare, being chosen a ieutcn-
ant at The age Of eighteen.
His educational advantages were very mode
rate, and he was engaged in the study of law
when in 1899 he Obtained an ensgn's commits
sion in the Army, In 1904 he was appointed a
Military Collector for the District of Mobile,
then mainly in possession of the Spaniards, and
in 1906 he was actively engaged in The Govern
ment measures of resistance 10 Aaron Burr's
projects, personally commanding at Burrs ar.
rest. About this time he was made Captain,
and soon after-seeng no remaining prospect
Of active service-oblained furlough and com.
menced the practice of law in Mississippi Ter
rilory, now Alabama. Just as he was getting
into practice, the war of 1919 was declared, and
ne promptly resumed his position in the Army.
He was in Wilknson's laundering expedition Of
1918, and commanded the 25th infantry at the
battle of Chrysler's Fields, Nov. lth, won dis
tincIion in the fight, and covered the retreat of
our Army with "a gaIIantry and success which
eliciled general admiration. He was made a
BrIgadler.G General, March 8, 1914, and com.
manded at Sackeu's Harbor Until August, reach
ing Fort Erie and taking command there on the
9th. The gallant and successful defense Of
Gen. Gaines Of that post forms one Of the most
brilliant chapters in our Military annals. At
length, having been severely wounded BY she'll,
he resigned the command 10 Gen. Ripley and
crossed to Buffalo.
He did not recover in time 10 engage in the
(arlhar prosecution of the War, which closed
the next Spring, but he received the thanks Of
Congress, with medal and the brevet rank of
Major General for his brilliant defense. He
was soon after transferred 10 the South. and en-
gagged under Jackson in the Creek war of 1919.
He afterward commanded in the Southern Mil.
itary District until the reduction Of the Army in
1891, when he was retained as Brgadier and
The Western Division assigned him. He was
candidate for Major General in 1898, but Mr..
Adams decided that Gen. Macomb's claim was
stronger.
Gen. Gaines was the senior officer during
what is vulgarIy known as the Sauk fuss in
1873, and was for time engaged in the Sem
mole War of 1886. When the Mexican War
broke out, he called out liberal allowance of
Southwestern Militia without awaiting orders
from Washington, n,-involving heavy expense
with no adequate result. He was CourI. Mar
tailed for this, but not censured. He was soon
after transferred to the Eastern Division, with
his headquarters in this CIy, and only returned
to the South during last winter. Though sew.
enty.lwo years old, he seemed in good general
health, and we did not think, on bidding him
adieu at Washington, that he was so near TO his
long home. He was a man of extreme sim
pliciIy of character and the most unquesIioned
integrity.