The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-01
THE STAFF or GENERAL G. B. MCCLELLAN.

Barry, Major Seth Williams, Major
Jonathan G. Barnard, Captain stewart
Van vliet and Captain Henry Francis
Clarke.
Inc new commander Of the Union forces the Potomac,
Major General George d. Mcclellan, having been called
from the field where his dontabe energy and thorough
military capacity have for him the praises millions
OF Union loving men, and having Of the
army and Department OF Virginia, his first rally
around him STAFF Of officers upon whom ho could place
the utmost reliance. portion of the officers thus ap
pointed who to be in his immediate surrounding arc
as follows
Major William F. Barry, Chief Of Artillery.
Major Seth Williams, Assistant Adjutant General.
Major Jonathan G. Barnard, Chief Engineer.
Captain Stewart Van vet, Assistant Quarcgmasto
General
Captain Henry Francis Clarke, Assistant Comm'ssaYy
General
AS all of these officers occupy prominent positions and
as tho public expect great achievements Of GcneralMic
Ian IL is than proper that biographical sketcb
of those composing his stan should be published for the
information Of readers.
MAJOR WILLIAM rARouuAR BARRY, cnpT OF AR
TILLERY,
On General McClolans stan, n native Of the city OF
New York and is present about forty years age Tie
entered cadet at West Point In September, 1894 and
graduated with honors 1855 the of July OF the
same year he breveted Second Lieutenant in the
Fourth artillery, transferred to tho Second rtlcry and
in the year and month appointed Assistant Comms
sary OF Subsistence. In August 1872 he appointed
First Lieutenant and Captain in July, 1852.
At tho breaking Of the Mexican Major Barry
First Lieutenant and attached to the famous Rnggod bat
terry doing such effective that campaign When
found that recruits for the artillery needed
Lieutenant Barry at sent TO this city TO recruits
and this officer being strict his views as regards
discipline and qualification, he only accepted rate
of about five per cent Of hoae who offered while egu
lar infantry service accepted forty per cent rbu
Lieutenant Barry missed nearly one half Of the
When he returned TO Mexico General Worth, Of New
York. appointed Lieutenant Barry his STAFF which posi-
tion he held until victorious army returned IN.
United States.
After the war Lieutenant Barry stationed al
different posts, Fort Hamilton among the rest where
received his commission captain When the troubles
in Kansas broke ont he ut sent to Fort eaven
worth, where he placed himself under the command Of
General Harvey, and remained there for several years
On the evacuation Of Fort Sumter more and efficient
artillery needed at Fort Pickens and tho most
liable man the government could select Captain
Barry, who instantly despac he'd to that post until il
reinforced by the energy Of Colonel f. D. Reyes On
9Th Of July Barry and his battery left Fort pckeps
in the steamer Cahawba; arrived at New York on sum
day the 14th left that evening by special train
Washington; made a requston for extra horses while
there and joined tho grand army Of General Mcdowell
| WV
hours after our troops had taken possession of Fairfax
Court House and Fairfax Junction. Major Barry
signed to the Fifth Division, commanded by Colonel
Dixon Miles,, and proceeding in that column to Centre
yile
Mcdowell and acted chief Of artillery during the
campment at and about Cenrevie and the day Of the
Captain j. c. Tdbali, kept as reserve, with Colonel
Miles column, between Centreve and the extreme left,
enemy to prevent General McDowcns troops from being
attacked in the rear.
lar service. stern disciplnarian when duty he is
atabc and scciablc when released from cnmand and
conversation lac Is terse and pleasing Mcj Barry
ried lady named Miss Williams, OF Buffalo who was
time distinguished most excellent singer hid
new capacity this efficient officer will prove most invau-
able TO Major General Mcclellan and his presence will
fuse great spirit and animation into the artillery branch Of
the Union army
MAJOR SETH VII LfAxs, ASSISTANT ADJUrANp
GENERAL,
native Of Maine, was about the year 1890 He
entered the Acadcmyat West Point N 1885 graduated
with honors in 1912, and breveed Second Lieutenant
in the Second artillery In July 1912. In August 1874 he
was transferred TO the First artillery which at this pre-
sent moment stands Al in the service from the
at Fort Sumter.
AT the breaking ont Of the Mexican war Major Williams
was Aid deCamp to Major Gen Patterson, in AZ and AS In
May IS47 MaorW liams gazetted First Lieutenant and
the 18th Of April, 1s47 for gallant and mertorous
conduct at the battle Of Ccrro Gordoo as the general
order reads he was broveed Captain. In March, ls49
he appointed Post Adutant to the Military Academy
at West Point, where he has been until the breaking out
Of this war; when he called upon to assist General
Mcclellan with his extensive knowledge and military
experience ne Adjutant General.
MAJOR JONATHAN @. BARNARD, CHIEF ENGINEER
CORPS,
Also attached General NcCleans s,af is native O,
Massachusetts, and entered the Military Academy at West
Point in 1929 On the LIST Of July 1885, he breveted
Second Lieutenant Of Engineers, and promoted to
Captaucy in July 1888 On the 3Oth Of Nav l848 he
was brcveed Major for meritorous conduct while serv-
ing in the enemys country"
heservce we except Colonel Joseph Gilbert Totem hay
ing been engaged in public service for number Of years
He planned and superintendent the stupendous Notifications
our harbor known as Forts TompSns Richmond and
surveyed the Tehuantepec route His and greatest
achievement is the construction Of the fortcatons
Arlington Heights, made famous by the Sixty ninth reg
ment New York State Militia as Fort Corcoran
Fort Runyon, on the Virginia side Of the Long Bridge
was also planned and superintendent by Major Barnard
When General Mcdowell ordered to advance on Ma
nassas, Major Barnard member Of his STAFF and wse
present at the battle Of Bull run.
Since the present excitement his advice regarding
forcations has been freely solicited, great por-
lent officer. Major Barnard Is in the prime of fe and in
his present position hc is the valuable acquisition
Gen. Mcclellan could have made to his staff
CAPTAIN STEWART VAN vLTET, ASSISTANT QUARTER
| MASTER GENERAL,
Is native OF New York. and about forty two veors NJ
age He entered the West Point Academy as cadet in
1885, graduated lS40 and breveted Second Leute.
nan in the Third artillery, July l. 1910. In November
ls4S he was promoted to First Leuenancy, and acted
as Professor OF Mathematics at the Military Acadomv
until November, 1s47. In February 1s47 he WIS
appointed Reginental Quartermastcr aud subseauent
~ Assistant Quartermaster June 4, 1s47 lieutenant
| Van vet promoted to a Captaincv' Inv, s.n,
acting as Qrarcrmaser. Under the administrator ~
PRESIDENT buchanan during the disturbances at Utah
saptahi van wet was sent q special commissioner
Therc being no regular conveyances the can,oin ras
oospeied TO ride on horseback all the way alone and I'm
a.en1ea. lie accomplished his journey Great Salt
Lake CITY IN an uncommon short time and his famous
roe was inc subject of comment with everybody In pre-
sdent Buchanans message to Congress the subject
winch took Captain Van Vlie to the Mormon ter tSrv
,e Commissioner honogably mentioned as " Mao,
Van yet." ''"Jo1
On his from Utah he appointed Assistant Omar
ernsster General at Lcavenworth which position no
held until called upon by Gen. Mcclellan to act in tho
same capacity on his staff From the proyio,s na
of Capt Van Vet the brightest antcatous Of the
future may be made aud it safe assert that the Omar
tcrmastcr Department could hardly have been entrusted
IN better hands, and speaks volumes for the wise seec
ton Of the popular oung commander Of the Deparmen,
of Virginia. ''"en'
CAPTAIN HESHf FRANCIS CLARK, ASSISTANT CON-