The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-06-13
GENERAnl.s'W WORTH.

wv 0rGn mas Deen compared, anu not
Gniustly, to Murat. His handsome
person and his dashing courage forcibly
recalled to mind, during the war with
Mckee, the Roland of Napoleon's
army. Few American officers partici-
pated In as many battles as Worth,
none, perhaps, in such brilliant and nu-
merous victories. Prominently distin-
guislled in the war of 1912, then in that
Of Florida, then under Taylor at Mon
terey, and finally in the campaign
against the city Of Mexico, he ran ca
reer alike fortunate and brilliant, and
one in which glory and promotion fol.
lowed hand in hand. But alas Just
when the war is over, and the time has
come for him to repose on his laurels,
he is cut off by an ignoble disease, in q
paltly frontier town. Such is human
life. Such is human life. Suchis the
end of earthly glory.
Worth claims descent from one of the
earliest Puritan settlers. He was born
In 1894, received plain but substan.
tial education, and began life as trad
er's clerk in Hudson, New York. When
the war of 1872 broke out he entered
the army as q private, but did not re-
main long in the ranks. A fellow
clerk, who had enlisted with him, hav-
ing been placed under arrest for some
indiscretion, applied to Worth for ad-
wise, who undertook to write petition
for the delinquent, to the Colonel of the
regiment. This officer happened 10 be
Scott. Struck by the style and pen
manship of the petition, he inquired the
name of the writer, and in the inter-
view that followed, was so pleased with
Worth's manners, and soldierly and
handsome person, that he appointed
him his private secretary. Scott did
not stop here. He procured for Worth
commission az Lieutenant in the
twenty third regiment; and the merits
of the young subaltern, joined to some
good fortune, did the rest for his ad.
yancement. Worth rose rapidly, in
deed, during tho war Of 1912. At
Chippewa he distinguished himself so
highly that he was brevcted Captain;
at Lundy's Lane he won the rank Of
Major, and if peace had not been de.
clared Immediately afterward, he would
doubtless have advanced still further.
After the peace Worth was, for some
time, superintendent of the West Point
Military Academy. In 1921, after
the retirement of General Armistead,
Worth succeeded to the chief command
in Florida, where he had been serving,
as second in rank, for about a wear.
Ambitious of distinction, he sought eve
ry opportunity to bring the Indians to
action, and though often disappointed,
finally succeeded. In recompense for
his gallantry ON this occasion, Worth
was brevetted brigadier general.
When q war with Mexico became
probable, he was detached to Corpus
Christi, to join Gen. Taylor: and re-
manned with the general until just be-
fore the battles Of Palo Alto and Resa-
CO de la Palma. The cause of his
leaving camp, as is we'll known, was a
difference between him and Twiggs,
growing out of his brevet rank. lie
hastened to Washington, intending to
resign; but the war altered his decision,
and cancelling his resignation, he hurri,
cd back to the army.
Taylor, sympathizing with the feel
ings of Worth, who could not forgive
himself for having missed the battles of
the 9th and 9th of May, assigned to
him. at Monterey, tho task of carrying
tho heights of Saltillo road, with one o
division of the ARMY, while, with the
other, the commander in chief advanced
against the town from the Serralyo road
This was, in fact, giving Worth nm indie
pendent cofnmand--for, after once sep
arating, it was found impossible to keen
up the communications between the two
divisions of the army.
Worth Carried, in succession, the va
rious forts commanding the Saltillo road
'--stormed the Bishops palace which
overlooked the town..-and pushing for
ward through the suburbs, entered the
streets, throwing shot and shells and
carrying terror and dismay before him.
He was within a short distance of the
great square when the town capitulatcd
to Taylor, penetrating to the plaza from
the other side. For his exploits at
Monterey Worth was brcveted Major
General.
His next great exploit was at Molino
del Key, where he carried the almost
1nliarn h 10 ,.,o.lre e ~