The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-07-21
I III E DI PA TC H.
8 :, :, -
WEDNESDAY aokNfN1.. LY a.. isss


Msjor General John A. Quitman.
The death OF Msj Gen. John Anthony Qaitman
has created Asensation tkroughout the eonasry.
aud ELECTED highly wrought enlogiums from the
prees Of all parties sketch Of his eveutful career
is given In the New York Herald, from which. We
extract the fbllowIng. ,f, "a
lie vas the son ofthe Rev. r. Henry oui,mAn.
elereyman Of the Lutheran Reformad church aud
was born At Rhtnetsck. New York, September i.
lsp9 His FIRST studies were prosecuted at the remi
nary IN Corperstown, and he afterwards passed 10
the College at Mount Airy, near philadeIpAia
where he was occupied with the double purpose Of
hling rresassorship and studying for the Minis.
try, for which profession lie was designed by his
iaaher. he cold conyentionaities of the church
nsa lew cearmsfor. his ardent mind, and instead
ofstudying divinity, he paid more attention. TO the
reading Of law. f4a8
About the close ofthe year 1890 be left Mount Airy
with bis pack on HIS back and gun in hand, and.
trssers'ug the ronntains on foot to Pittsburs he
there took fis boat down the Ohio riyer . He
stopped at Cbiiiico,he in the state of Ohio whore
ne became the clerk OF Mr.. P,att Bush wbo x..
,hsn receiver Tor Delaware county lilo contiuued
the Study OF the law, aad In 1921 was admitted 70
the bar. Having obtained his object, he deierm;n.
ed to seek a new ecene Of life. and embarked s,.;
upon lat boat to descend the Missis I'M handing
st Nstchez, which then one of ,he x;,,aas, =,
the frontier tow be commenced the nrac,;ea ~ 49,;
profession, and shortly after entered into nar,nar
ship with William B. Gr'. .fiih, Eco. an euinon,
lawyer Of that place. !"
Ia 1894 he married Miss Eliza Turner the ont,
daughter of Henry Turner, ESQ Of Viryin;a ara
niece OF Chancellor Turner, Of Mississjppj MI.
Quitman sill survives bin, with an interestiue
family consisting OF one son and five daughters
Mr. Quitnan commenced his political career i'm
lo2I, when he was elected Democr ratic renre santa
tive to the Legislature Of the State and became AZ
once a loading member of the Judiciary Colimit,ee
of that body. His eminent abilities Commended
him to the regard of his feIlow-citizens; and the
succeeding year though only twenty mine Years OF
age, be was appointed by the Governor, Chancellor
nf State At the next meeting of the Legislature
he was unanimously elected to the same Office by
that body; and when the Office became an electiy.
one by the people, the adoption of the new con
stitution, he was a third time chosen. lie contiu.
ued to fill this office for six years, and 10 1885 was
| elected To 'he State Senate. ~
| The office of Governor having become vacant
during the year by the death of the incumbent the
! Senate was convened and elected Judge Quitfnan
! President of that body, an Acting Governor. His
message to the Legislature in 1886 is admitted even
at the present day TO be enc of the abest States
| rights documents in existence.
| La 1886 the excitement OF the Texas revolution
ran like wdire through the South and West. and
| n body of volunteers raised In NatcheZ to 90
| to the assistance of the Texans Judge Quitman
| was unanimously called upon to take command of
this force. His position presidento of the Senate
! made the situssion an embarrassing one. but the
! position OF the Texans was desperate in the ex.
| trems. General Houston, the Texan commander
retreatDg beore the victorious forces Of Santa
! Anna, and il was supposed that he would not be
atle 10 step until he reached the Red River liue-
| In view of this emergency, Quitman determined to
obey the cali, and he started at once with hi
baud to march by land to the relief of the Texans
/ After thbty days OF a toiisome journey through
| the wilderness they reached the eucsmpmeuts
/ o. the Texans three days after the battle OF San
/ Jacinte. Finding Santa Anna a prisoner aud
| the danger passed. Judge Quitman resigned his
! command and returned to the scene OF his civic
/ duties.
i In ba E,~
/ fairs OF the Mississippi railroad COMPANY On his
/ return be was appointed by the Governor of the
state Judge of the High Court Of Errors and An.
peals but having become somewhat embarrassed
| 10 his circumstances from endorsements he dc.
| ciined the appointment and returned TO the nrac
| uce Of his profession, He went into partpershin
with Mr. j. I. McMurran, and his success was such
/ might have been Anticipated from his hioI
standing. He sooa paid off all his debts and laid
the firm foundations of the large fortune which he
I has left 10 his children
Notwithstanding his legal attainmeuts, Judge
| Quitman had always exhibited the strongest mar
tiality for military affairs Soon after taking mn
| bis residence in Natchez, he found that the prsc-
tce of the law afforded little prospect of advance
ment, as the country was overru1 by thieves and
vagabonds to such degree, that the execution of
writ or an order for arrest, was almost an impos
sibiiiiy. To remedy this state of things yeupr
/ Qutman organized volunteer military company
eatied the Natcnez Fencib!es. After two or three
4 conflicts with the desperadoes they finally suc.
cuEIbed. and order prevailed throughout the re-
gion. 1t was this same CORPS which subseaiently
| under the command of Gen. Felix Hueston, routed
the vagabonds frem Natchez "under the hill" in
4 1886 For many years Quitmnn continued in cam.
/ msnd of this company, aud in 1898 he WAS an
pointed major of the second division of Mssssjppi
i militia. He AZ reformed the military code OF
the State, and gave new life to its military organ
/ ization -e. h.-..s...-... 49,
/ In 1916 war declared between the United
/ States and Mexico. Major Quitman rendered his
services 10 the government and was appointed one
of the six Brigadier Generals TO command the vol
] unteer force. He at once placed himself en- route
| aud in a short time Joined General Taylor, who
] was then advancing npon Monterey. BY forced
marches and leaving behind a large portion of his
baggage, General Quitman succeeded in joining
| the army with his division while the orders were
being given for the attack OF that city; General
Tay ior assigned him at once position. and on the
| following morning Quitman was the first to enter
that city, under very heavy fire Of the enemy
| On the death of General Hsrmer and the retire
ment OF Gs'. Butler to recover from his wounds.
| the whole volunteer force fell Gnder the command
OF Gen. Quitman; and the severe labor of drill
| prosecuted with an nntiring patience and zeal
never surpassed in any service.
| The scene OF active operations having now pass
ed to what is called the lower line of Mexico Gen
| Qultman was transferred to the command of Gen.
scott lie was at the taking of Vera Cruz, and
continued in active service throughout the whole OF
| that memorable campaign. While on the road .
| advancibg with his command in support of Gener-
al W orth, who was about attacking the city of
| froia tue President as Major General OF the army
| lie now outranked Gen. Worth, hut he pushed on
to support him, and when that gallant general en-
| tered the e.ty. Qutman. on arriving there declin.
ed to exhibit his commission or to supersede in
any way the captor OF Puebla.
During the subsequent operations before the
| city OF Mexico he continued high in the confidence
| of Gen. Scott aud was appointed by him 10 posts
of distinction on several occasions, At Chapute
pee he led in person the assault the batteries on
the south side, at the foot of the hill and after.
ward continued his victorious course along the
| Tacubaya eanseway to the city In this gallant
enterprise there was generous emulation between
| his division and that OF General Worth, which
| was aiso advancing upeu the city along the San
Cospe causeway. During the early part of the
| night the advance continued, the head of boti
columns sending their flashes of suiphurous light
| scross the plain. One hour and twenty minutes
past midnight the Garita of Beea was gained -
Qnitnan immediately monutcd upon portion of
tbe WALL and waving rihe with o handkerchief
attached to il as flag, called upon those around
him to mark the hour and to note the position OF
the head of Worths colunn. which was still some
hundreds of yards from the Garita Of San Cosme.
Here the battle luFfed for time, while the ex
liausted troops were ordered to lis down on their
arms for few heurs reporc Seudins an aid u
report 10 General Scott his position, Quitman, In
company with Major Beauregard, of the Engi
aeers. proceeded 10 seiecs positions and throw NJ
batteries against The citadel, which wes fmnledi
ately in front of them After some time, the aid
de camv returned, and Quitman anxlcnsIy enqnir-
ed, "What news from headquartersi
Every ono says that yen will not be able to
hold the positions" replied the aid-de-camp, ''and
that you will have 10 fall back"
"But what did Gen. scott sayf" hastily demand
ed Quitman. did he send me any ordsreg"
Gen. Scott said, sir, that he Yonld not embar.
rass you with orders
II thank Gen. Scott for fhis. Then, gentlemen,
We will hold tho position" said Gen. QutInan.
.and go TO the National Palace And be did hold
It, aud at o'clock of that morning, be hoisted the
American flag on the National Palace In the city.
He was thas the first 10 enter the capital, as be
had been the first in Monterey.
Gen. Scott appointed him Governor OF the city,
and after lew weeks be received orders from
washington to come home. The government bad