Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-07-21


six hours in the hands of the Carliss,on the north
side of Burgess.
The Late Lord Rag1an-Brief Sketch ofhis Life
His Successor.
The news of the death of Lord Raglan, com
mandcr in chief of the British forces in the Cr.
mea, brought by the Ara 90, scarcely expec-
ted on this side of the At lautie, though the
counts of his illness received by the previous
steamer prevent the intelligence awakening emo.
tons of surprise 1t does not appear by the
London journals that TIL announcement caused
any sensation in Englan d. The public mind
there had been prepared for his resignation, and
his successor WAS already known. His deeea,e
howover,haS called forth all the generous feelings
% the English nation. The Queen and the Par
Lament have paid tribute to his memory, and
the people and the press speak kindly Of the old
general who died in his colnry's service. The
following is brief sketch of his lie:
Lord Raglan, as he was better known for
SO many years, Lord Fitzroy Somerset,
the youngest son the fifth Duke of Beaufort,
and uncle to the present Duke lilo was born in
1883. and consequently in his sixty-cighth
year. The Somersets are of the proudest and
most ancient blood of Britain. To travel back
to the source o. their origin would bo as hopeless
task rs to penetrate to the fountain ofthe Nile.
Two centuries ago" we are told, mo prouder
man was seen in England than the then Duke of
Somerset who had the highways cleared before
him, TINT he might not be loo ked upon by vnlga
eyes, and who r buked his st cnnd wife for tap
ping his shoulder with Il fan, saying. Madam, my
FIRST wife was Percy, and ehe never took such
/ liberty"
Lord FitEroy Sumerset was Cornet in lSOi.a
Captain in ls03 NJ aVr in ISL and Colonel in
1912, accomplishing in eight years what cost Sir
DeLaoy Evans, who say still greater service
I forty years 10 achieve Lord Fitzroy Somerset
present at every one Of the great Pennsular
hatt lps IL ror,l tl,o
recommended him to the Duke of yelling on.
then Sir a. Wellesley, who was but too happy
to attach 90 his interest tn powerful family of the
Beauforts by naming him on his staff, and after
ward raising him to the pos Of Military Secretary
In this capacity he served through the whole war,
exhibiting on every occasion soldier like abilities
combined with fearless cour6 ge. lie was twice
severely wounded, and lost his RICH tarm at the
farm of 'IlHye Sante" or the day of Wa
terloo. When after that great engagement
the curtain fell upon the wars or Europe, Lord
titzroy Somerset was appoint ed In addition to
other honors, Secretary of the IN baSsy at Paris
Thence he attended the Duke of Wellington to
Vienna and Verona in 1922, and in 1896 proceed
ed to St. Petersburg, whittier he sent to con-
gratulate the late Emperor Ncho las ON his Access
siun TO the throne
In 1919 he appointed secretary of the Duke
of Wellington. Master General of the Ordnance
until l527, and in 1899 was made military secre
]
which office he performed during the re ign of the
several commanders In chief down to he death
! of the Duke of Wellington. On tn e death
OF the Duke, the Commandern-C hi e was
much to the disappointment of Lord Fitzroy
Somerset, conferred Lord Hardin &c, and
! Lord Fizroy being unwilling to rye un-
! der an officer of similar standing to himself,
was appointed Master General of the Ord
! nance, with Peeragc, which he assured under
! the title of Lord Raglan, the name of castle
! which Edward Somerset, of his ancestors,
held against Cromwe ell as the last of the liobes.
! During the long reign of Lord Hill, and the
subsequent one of the Duke of Wellington mt the
! Horse Guards, Lord L. Somerset owing 20 the
age of these veterans and confidence reIo scd in
! him, though acting as Military Secreta y, was
virtually Commander in chief, and in an office
where SO much tact and delicacy were equired
contryed during that long period, with a trong
class prejudice, to win and retain the respect and
regard of the army. He never for one mo ment
forgot e" his order" abandoned the faith in the
divine right of arstocracy which he inherited by
/ birth and education. But he concealed his pre-
possessions and bgotry with such graceful art
and such silycred verbiage to make tho I ctuS-
ed Commoners who left his levee more blessed in
the fascinating refusal thnn in u rude compliance
with their request.
! Without any military genius, Lord lia clan pos
sessed sound Judgment, fearless courage and in
flexible sense ofjustice. Devoted to dr ii, duttul
! to death and daring to destruction, Just and
! generous gentleman of honor, courage and deep
sense of duty, he possessed every quality for II
second in command, but was wholly ulfted to
govern an army. He hnd not the preset encc to
nresee, the genius to direct, the strength of mind
10 control or the energy to repair, (which would be
! long 10 great general. Lord Raglan was just
, that character of man which the English system
in its bcst form bcgets Trained in every step
to refer to memory instead of exercising mind as
long as things 90 on hv the pres cribPd regulation