Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-07-04
GIN. John sanEhead nagrud n.


Sinia when quite young man, and IS yet remembered
"a. veuk,ovn LAWYER at the Caroline Bar, snd who
prscised At the old ChAueery Court in Fredericksburg,
eosuyorary Of General Minor, Isaac Williams, Carter
Stevenson and their only survivor, 1hs venerable Ia
Jadge John rAylOs LOmAX.
Colonel Masruder takes the name Of BiHthsad i'oai
the maternal line bis mother having been the daughter
of James BAnkhsAd, of Port Royal, and the sister OF
the lase General james BArkheAd Of the United States
Army.
He graduated Al West Point in the year 1880, and
entered the U. 8. Army the same year.
From his entrance at the military academy, he attract
ed the attention Of both officers and cadets By his sol
ery bearing and character and like Napoleon at Bri-
euue he displayed peculiar aptitude for those studies,
especially artillery which looked to comprehensive re-
suits and demanded in their application, rapid eomoiaa-
tons and great boldness and energy in execution. He
attained the soldiers coveted distinction not often
reached By the same person IVES; Point ofhoding The
highest military rank in each OF his classes having been
successfully first corporal rst sergeant and frat cap
tain Of the corps Of cadets Ga bis graduation be ranked
as the head Of the infantry Of his class and was COM
missioned as in that corps but preierring
place in the srtery-alWays his fvorte arm OF sell
viSs-he ssc,ed an exchange with brother officer and
became attached to the lat regiment OF artillery.
His first service was in the Florida war, under Colonel
Bankhead and General Scott he participated in several
0! the fugitive and irregular skirmshes with o,'o0,
T,g,.TaiIS Co. In that harrsssag and fameleSs eaul'
plisn- c-,--.,
Nazrudsr for tho exercise o. those qualities OF personal
.antry and military talent which his friends knew bin
70 possess His career on that theatre did dislP
point their expectations. As lieutenant OF ariery CON-
uaudng h company il the absences Of his captain, he
formed part OF the Artillery Battalion (acting as in
fsptryl under Colonel Chlds, which advanced with
General Taylor UPON the Rio GrAnde. Here they en-
eouatsrsd the enemy and participated in the victorious
oonbats Of Pllo Also aud Rsssacl ds Ia Pd'EG. Du-
ring one Of these battles the Arllsry Battalion were
sqhsc.ed to the sevsTest Of courage and discipline
by which solder Is ever tried Il was, to stand STIR
and receive iA9ai rs:,rHiRg ~ the 6ro Of the enc
my. batteries hurting sho. aud shells, grape and cam
Mister into their solid ranks aud ye. forbidden, by the
s,ora duty Of discipline high military neeessity-to
g;gs vent 70 their psntu2 energy and indignation by
striking bAek IN rcsurnA species Of passive obedience
and uOnressaa,e which only the discipline OF Veterans
attain.
/. would occupy more space than our limits afford %
loIos this officer in his career in Mexico. The i;ury
hissor7 OF the eampaga has made bis familiar TO
tas' eonpt-s Of the mos. prompt, viSlaut bold
daring, skiliri and successful soldiers that
Ia the progress OF the var, Captain Nsg5uier com
msaded battery Of Lgh. Artillrry-so vel known 20
the army and tis enemy "Hsyrisrs Battery" which
shared largely in ;he praise the country has bestowed
that flvoFe equipment Of the Artillery arm, rendering
historical with his or the OF Riuggold, Rdsely,
Bragg. Duncan aud Sherman.
Al Contreras Casrubisco, Noliao del Rey, Chepul.s
pee the Gate Of Been and the city Of Mex CO. his bl.
tey was always in position and generally Sin front"
Al Couueras especially, where it Was ordered on tae
"O.orn hops" in froat o: Vaencias converging heavy
batteries 70 invite attack and occupy aud the foe
-ish his ht guns which could do harm against the
opposing fortress) while Smiths and ley'B brgades
were slOay and abOrOusy gaining the of the
my-ae suffered heavy lo-s-his battery being crippled
aud shattered to pieces-hs horses kisd-hs slam
or desperately wounded and the brave and lAmen,ed
Lieut. Preston Johnston, OF Virginia, killed by
shot q, bis sids. Dsfying this irOa ha-sOrn he firmly
held his position until the blazing FIRE OF his gallant CON-
rad,s told tha, they were in the position they sought
aad no longer needed his aid when be drew OF in good
ordsr bis bleeding and mutaied command
During the war in Mexico, Csps M.sruier per-
sonAy engaged in nine battles His escape from serious
injury was 90 wonderful as 20 seem proVidents He
wounded BY a muskst ball in the hand; agaia, hs was
Knocked sensssss from bis horse BY grape shot, which
graEed the back Of bis neck but he recovered aud
moved in the 6ga; and he stood BY hs horse,
holding the bride in bis hand while personally directing
Increment Of bis guns when cannon shot struck
the poor animal and buried itself in the qavering body
o. the brute, leaving himself unhsrmed.
He entered the Mexican L;ss:ena and came out
Of il Lieutenant Colonel BY brevet having sneceedet
By regular seniority TO eap:ancy, and being promoted
Aa1r By bis services at Cerro Gordo aud Lieutenant
Colonel for msritorous conduct a, Chepul:epsc. BIS
gallant aud perOu5 service a. Coutreras
esved any reward from the Government; although Oher
osers less Distinguished received hrss brevei and
Ls was even compelled 10 submit to the NORTH
cation, always CALLING brave soldier Of seeing o
promoted him by special favor who graduated
years aieS him, aud who bad fred shot in the
Too proud complain. he bore the reprOach in
dgni6ed silence but has taken care, when occasion
again offered 20 prove to the eoun,y that be deserved
II be bad not always received, promotion.
Col Asgruder has twice visited Europe, with veW to
extend aad perfeet biz acquaintance With his profession
especially to prO6.by all Improvements and new dis
oOTsrss in the light artillery branch Of the service
ones be leave Of Abseace and his expsnse
and recently be upoa this special duty BY the
late head Of the u s. War Department with irs;rue-
lions devote twelve months thorough inspection
OF light artillery batteries their equipment AMI eTolu
tOas in all the European armies aud for this purpose 20
visit the capitals Of Paris, Berlin, Vienna, ST. Peters
burg and London-and the Austrian and Sirdinln
Camps in Italy. He was charged to make a
report for the use OF the government on this
important subject snbodyng the results of bis examinA
tons with such views and suggestions his own judy
and experience should dictate He directed
SsO translate from the French, for the Of the
U. $. Army, approved manual Of artillery tactics
exhibiting plans for the drill and eyou,ions Of lines OF
battery acting together. With Characteristic prOmp,nsss
he had already entered upon this important service for
which bis genius experience aud professional studies
rendered him peculiarly g. uhen the change Of admin
sFAon Al Washington oecurred-and under TIE inspira
too Of new IDEAS Gen. Scott ordered bis recall from Eu
rope GvOwing when he did 50 the absolute need Of his
services add abilities 10 the critical and threatening posi-
lion Of the public sfairs Of the country. Scott had |
reckoaed confidently his oAIence over his subaltern
lie knew and admired the bold decision Of hs Character
and naturally concluded that could be win him 10 his
own pArreidAl policy Of coercion be would ensure the
cooperation Of formidable ally, and strengthen his
own position. But he reckoned Without kis host Like /
lbreiul COL Aagrudsr to be seduced by Eat
tsry or Ausd By power from The path Of duty He dd
no: fall % dseern in the distance the dark cloud Of dea
prism whie Is wasting ls fury on bis nasiv. stats
kad With hlAl devotion be has promptly and gallantly