Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-11-15
The Death of Gen. Mitchell,
From the Cincinnati Gazette. 5th. /


: From the Cincinnati Gazette. 5th.1
The country has suffered no common
loss in the death Of Major General Mitchell,
of which an arrival at New York, from
Hilton Head. apprises us,
Orm>b, mcknight Mitchell was bora In
Union county, Kentucky, on the 2S.h of
August. 1910 Al the age of twelve, hav-
ing previously acquired god school edu-
cation, and some knowledge of LATIN and
Greek, he became a clerk in u store at
Miam., Ohio, and afterwards, removed to
Lebanon. where be had been educated.
While st Lebanon, he received cadets
warrant, and entered West Point, with
knapsack on his back, aud twenty five
cents IN his pocket, in June, 1925 On his
graduation in 1929, he obtained the ap-
pointment OF acting assistant professor of
mathematics, holding it for two years.
From 1882 TO 1884 he practsed lew in
this city, and for The next ten years was
professor of m"the mates aud the kindred
sciences in the Cincinnati College. Daring
this period-in 1867 he was chief en-
gineer on the Little Miami railroad, and in
lS4l was one of the board of visitors to
Wet Point.
lures on astronomy, he proposed to our
citizens the establishment of an Ooservs-
tory. How successful his exertlons in
behalf OF this important institution re.
suited, our readers generally know. In
the fourteen years OF bis superintendent,
tine Cincinnati Observatory was known
most Iavorably to the scientific world
Few observers were more interchangeable or
correct than Professor Mitchell. His dis
coverles were numerous and important,
while his lectures on his tavorite theme,
remarkable tor the happy manner in which
they pOpularlZed the most 3 pstruse themes
of astronomy, and tor the zeal with which
they enforced the moral lessons derived
from the study OF creation, attracted ad-
miring audiences in all parts of the Union.
In 1859 Prot. Mitchell took charge of the
Dudley Observatory at Albany, a magnifi.
Gently endowed insri utlon, which only
needed head. Under it's new director it
was fast being brought into working Or
der, when the crisis ID the affairs OF his
country drew Prot. Mitchell from the calm
walks of science into .he turmoil OF mill
tary life.
Having beer appointed brigadier gene
raj, he was Tor time connected with the
army of the Potomac, and saw, we believe,
no active service. He was next appoint
ed TO command embracing this city and
the adjacent country both sides of the
river. He did not remain here long, but
soon conducted one of the columns before
whose advance the rebels were driven
toward the Gulf. His ex llent' and troly
practical management during the early
part OF this year on the line dividing ren-
nessee from Alabama, won for him the
highest praise, and demonstrated that the
lessons learned at West Point thirty years
before had not been forgotten. Though
his design OF liberatlng Tennessee could
not be fulfilled his career at the South
was the theme OF universal praise, and his
promotion To the rank of major general
was regarded as one of the most iudicious
appointments Of the present war. Not
mauy weeks since the Conduct of affairs
in South Carolina was intrusted to him.
Tho2gh the force at his command was
small, warm hopes We're entertained shat
the lethargy which had so long prevailed
in this department would be at once dis
PEELED A few days ago the details of a
reconnaissance to Pocotaligo, which was
at best but partial success, reached US. q
Gen. Mitchell was not present, and whether
his directions were implicitly followed we
are rot Informed. Next we were told that
both he and his two sons, who had posi-
ton, On his staff, were dangerously i'll of
the malarious fever OF the country, dis
ease of the same tipe OF yellow fever
Our dispatches to night state that Gen.
Mitchell has died of yellow fever. We do
not propose to indulge in useless regrets,
but it is impossible TO conceal our sorrow
al the sudden removal of a man who to
the gallantry of true soldier and the
scieuttic knowledge of the accomplished
officer, added the comprehensive attain
rnents OF the philosopher, and the humility
of the christian. America will enroll in
the record of her patriots few more de-
serving names than that OF Major General
MitchaI