Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-08-03
The Late Lord Raglan--Brief Sketch OF His Life

slde or the ACanuc. lnouGn Inc accounts vi HIS III
ness received by the evious steamer, prevent tht
intelligence awakening emotion of surprise. 1t does
not appear by the London journals that the announce
ment caused any sensation in England. The public
mind there had been prepared for his resignation and
his successor was already known His decease, how.
ever has called forth all the generous feelings of the
English nation The Queen and the Parliament
have paid tribute to his memory, and the people and
the press speak kindly of the old general who died IN
his countrys service. The following is brief sketch
OF his life
Lord Raglan, or as he was better known for so
many years, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, the young.
est son of the fifth Duke. He was born in 1888, and
was consequently in his 68th year The Somersets
are OF the proudest and most ancient blood OF Britain
travel back to the OF their origin would be
as hopeless task as to penetrate to the fountain OF
the Nile. Two centuries ago. we are told, " no
prouder man seen in England than the then Duke
of Somerset, who had the highways cleared before
hlm that he might not be looked upon by the vulgar
eyes, and who rebuked his second wife for tapping
ms shoulder with fan, saying, Madam, my hrst
"lle was Percy, and she took such liberty.
Lord titzroy Somerset was Cornet in 1SO4, a
captain IN 1903, Major in 1911, and Colonel in
1872, accomplishing in eight years what cost Sir De
Lacy Evans, who still greater service, forty years
to achieve. Lord Fitzroy Somerset was present at
cry one of the great Peninsular battles. His rank
as is ever the case, at recommended him to the
Duke OF Wellington, then Sir A. Wellesley who was
but too happy to attach to his interest the powerful
family of the Beauforts by naming him on his staff
ana afterwards raising him to the post OF Military
Secretary. In this capacity he served through the
Whole war, exhibiting every occasion soder-Iike
abilities combined with fearless courage. He was
twice severely wounded, and lost his right arm al
the farm Of Hayne Sante,' on the day of Water
100 When, after that great agement, the curtain
tell upon the wars of Europe Lord Fitzroy Somerset
was appointed in addition 10 other honors, Secretary
OF the Embassy at Paris. Thence he attended the
Duke OF Wellington to Vienna and Verona in 1922,
and in 1926 preceding to St. Petersburg, whittier he
was sent to congratulate the late Nicholas Oh his
cession to the throne
In 1919 he appointed Secretary to the Duke of
wellington, Master General Of the Ordnance until
1877, and IN 1929 was made Military Secretary to
the Commander Chief the funtions of which Office
ne performed during the reign of the several COM
manders-in- chief down to the death of the Duke of
wellington. On the death OF the Duke, the Com
mander-ln-Chlef was much 10 the disappointment of
Lord tltzroy Somerset conferred on Lord Hardinge,
and Ford Fitzroy being unwilling TO serve under an
othcer OF similar standing to himself, appointed
Easter General OF the Ordnance, with Peerage,
which he assumed under the title of Lord Raglan the
name OF a castle which Edward Somerset, one of his
ancestors, held against Cromwell as the last of the
mobiles.
During the reign of Lord Hill, and the subsequent
one OF the Duke of Wellington at the Horse Guards,
Lord r Somerset owing to the age of these veterans,
ana the confidence reposed in him, though acting
Mllltary Secretary, virtually COmmander-in-
Chief, and in an office where much tact and deli
cacy required oon.rivod during that long reri
od with strong class judice, 10 win and retain
the respect and regard of the army. He never for
one moment forgot " his order,' or abandoned that
faith In the divine right of arstocracy which he ill.,
herlted by birth and education But he concealed
his pre-possessions and bigotv with such graceful
art and such slvered verbage, make the refused
Commoners who left his levee more blessed in the
tacnatIng refusal than in rude compliance with
their request
Without any military genius, Lord Raglan pos
sessed sound judgment, fearless courage and in
flexible sense Of Justice. Devoted TO drill dutiful to
death, and daring to destruction, Just and generous
gentleman OF honor, courage and deep sense of duty
he possessed every quality for second command,
but he was wholly untitled to govern an army. He
had not The preSCienCe TO foresee the genius direct
the strength OF mind TO CONTROL or the energy to re-
pair, which should belong to great general. Lord
Raglan was just that character of a which the
English system in its best form begets. Trained in
every step to refer TO memory instead of exercising
mind, as long as things go on by the prescribed regu
latlon, all is welt But when unruly master like
Sebastopol stands the path, and will not be
| trodden down to order, the country cries and the
press thunders for head, preterring the rude
Pelssler before Lord Raglan.
The Morning Post says Of Gen. Simpson, Lord
gans successor:
General Simpson has seen considerable service and
enjoys high professional reputation During the
PenlnSular war he was present at the defence of
CadJ, and the attack Seville He served, and was
wounded at Quatre Bras in 1915; was aged in
l845, as second in command to the late Sir Charles
Napier IN Scnde. Sir c. Napier considered him his
best officer, and he believed that Ellenborough when
Governor-General, had the highest opinion of him,
and IN the event of any accident happening to
Charles, would have charged Gen. Simpson with the
conduct of the war. The high official position Gen
Simpson has filled since the present Government sent
! him TO the Crmea, had necessarily placed him in
constant communication with the French commander
with whom are confident he will maintain the
cordial relations that have existed without intermis
sion between the chiefs of the expedtonary forces
[From the Carolinian.l
HARRIsoN's CREEK, n. c., July Is
/ Mr.. EDITOR i wish to trouble your column
with few lines in response 10 report in circulation
in different parts of this District. | observed not,
copied from the Journal, written by my cousin, w
A. Melvin of Bladen, in answer to The report tha
ever y man of the Melvin name was a member of tn
know nothing faction. This will inform the pub
and the rest of mankind" that it is utterly untrue
There is undoubtedly, sir some Of the name member