, 1862-01-20
Gen. James HI. Laue-A Skctc,, oe ss,
career and SerEIcex

substantially according 10 his OWL judgmcn
). Though Brigadier only, lie has the com1nu1
OF Major General; and, with but COMING
: appreciation Of the character and qualities
1hc nan, 1t may be reasonably presumed til
[ the results of the campaign may be of crc
Importance in national point of view, IN
raise the commander himself into prom
hence hitherto unattained. In yiew Of VII;
Isl very likely to occur, it may not be unintc
csflng to tic general reader 10 obtain a mo,
accurate and particular view of the man tha
nus jet been afforded; aud the purpose Of I'll
WRITER Is, to endcayor, in some degree. to r,
move unjust notions and prejudices yhic
prevail concerning him, without inluleina i
contrary cStragaganccs, and 10 portray Il,
character and qualities of the man us he III
pears 10 IN Impartial observer. To do thj
satisfactorily, 4 statement Of his oricin. dc
mcstlc surroundings, tile character and stand
ing OF Ills near relatives, and the auspices III
/! der which he was reared, ought to be clcarl
! and correctly stated.
Amos Lane, the father Of james, WAS origin
! ally of New England Puritan stock. He cmi
! s1"ted more than half century ago from Nc7
York, and settled in Lawrencebnrg, Indiana
There he reared his family, consisting Of thre
| sons and three daughters. He was 1ons
known as Il distinguished lawyer of his atoptet
| State, and was member Of Congress durint
tie administration Of Gen. Jackson. A mar
| OF marked ability, he possessed the SAM
strong passions and rcsolutc purposes thai
have distinguished his more eminent son.
The Tnnt1,nr IF EavarA,1 T ,.4..
Hon Samuel A. Foote, Il lawyer of unusual
reputation in New York, Of whicl, State hc
was once Attorney General. She was q well
educated, refined, and. truly noble woman.
esteemed and beloved by all her acquaintance.
hc Older class Of readers will readily call to
mind IN occurrence with which she was eop.
nected in Jackson's time. Soon after Gen.
JACKSON became President, IN attack was
made upon him bya Mrs. Barney, of Balti-
more over her own signature, on account of
alleged political injustice done to her hus-
baud. 1t was written with ability and spirit
anu created decided sensation. The we'll
remembered and equally able reply vas made
bS Mrs Lane, also over her own Signature
she was tender mother, and her children
were carefully and aftectionately reared. It
would seem strange that a son, trained nm
under the watclfnl care Of such motbcr
could become bad man. And it really does
not often occur.
Johh +. Lane, the eldest brother Of james.
was a graduate of West Point, and died in the
service, IN Florida, after brief career. at the
age Of 26. EARLY as he fell, however. he Ind
already achieved distinction, and Gen. Jcsun
frequently declared him to be 4 man of rpore
promise than any other in the army. II Is
saao that Gen Scott expressed the same opin-
ION. He was gallant soldier, man Of great
abilities, and m accomplished gentleman. IF
&c were living, his friends believe, with the
abilities and character he possessed, and the
experience he would have gained, Ae would
now be at the head Of our armies.
George Lane, the second son, is quiet and
unamb1tious citizen Of one Of the Ohio river
towns, filing with respect and honor the
sphere Of life which he has chosen,
The eldest sister married Arthur St, Clair. 4
grandson Of Arthur St. Clair Of Revolutionary
lame The next married Mr. Buell., a SUCCESS
tul merchant Of Lawrenceburs, and uncle of
Brlgadier-Gencral Buell., now command;nr onr
army IN Kentucky. The youngest yas the
hzst wife Of Hon. E. 81. Huntington, now and
Tor many years the United States District
Judge for Indiana These sisters of Gen.
Lane are all now in their graves. But they
Will be long remembered by those amonr
"hom they moved, for they wercaceouplished
and elegant women, truly cultivated in every
good and noble sense.
haSe not spoken this III detail OF his fifth
efs household because wish to establish for
General Lane i reputation on the character of
otlcrs, but simply to show, as have truly.
tne circle among whom he was reared. and
1l'at 1hc influences that surrounded his early |
years were not calculated to imp,ant bad prin-
ciplcs, or to stimulate the growth of them
out tha1, on the contrary, so far as they 90
anu nome influences are always admitted to |
go far-they were calculated to insnire oood
ANS and to cultivate good thoughts and feel
lDgs.
james Henry Lane was the youngest Of the
EamAy. As would he inferred from g-ltat has |
been stated above, Lis scholastic education
~as What would be called in the country eood
'1e fsao not collegiate education, it is true; |
5ut more attention vas bestowed upon him In
hat regard than is common with those who
lave not enjoyed college course. He tool
safly TO public affairs, and in the Stat., !,
Which he was born he became q member of
lc Legislature, Presidential Elector, Lieutcn-
mt Governor, and member of Con.rress
Aansas having made him Emitted statcs Sen
'.or, TIC las thus achieved the highest 1esisla.
I've honors that arc possible,
when tho Mexican war broke out, lie raiscf1
regiment, Of which he vas elected Colonel
nd made the campaign with Gen. Taylor, He
vas ut the battle OF Bunca Vista, where he
distinguished himself, ~:s.he did in the CAM
'algn generally, as brave and skillful soldier
IT Ills career since, it is scarcely necessary IN
peak: Justice might require that interior in
nences should be dwclt upon in explanation
special acts and general course of con-
nct, concerning which, III their external as
ccts, Lie public arc generally well informed.
at the time for that has not arrived. One
alug Is clear, however and that is, that this
experience in KANSAS, added tn that
hcii lie gained in the Mexican war, gives him
sum total oi practical experience scarcely in.
nor to that Of any officer in the army. As
US oeen appropriately said, she is no cnrnct
gastronom1c knight" tleorizing mucl, and
oing nothing, but he has gained his Snow1. tI
dgc and proved his qualities amidst dance,
no pr1xatlon, with rough and hardy soldiers
osaged IN earnest work, seeking for immcli,
e and practical results.
~ common idea concerning the general
eaflDg, disposition and tone OF charSrttr ~
cneF1 Lane is very wide of ttc truth. Whiie
M le credit is given for his great practical tai
II and tenaclfy Of purpose, it seems ncneraj-
10 pc understood that he is coarse. Hitter
c 1font1crsnsnn-brozen, selfish. r,1tI,icse ! !
lnl:anly, 10 ut least an unusual degree. There
~ .., necn adequate reasons why such an idea
aonla prevail. What they are it is not nv :
~ 1RoSI LOW 10 inqnlre nor 10 enter upon thc
and singularly untrue it is. It is trns e' ti,at
hen msultcd, he is quick to take of1cncc. :
nen Wfongcd and pursued by enemies. he i
otent and terrible in retaliation: wLan | '
s s passions are thus aroused, they are :
'4can1c and overwhelming. But hc :;
:, not very. apt to take offence !
alcss an insult is deliberately intended: and .
lone one can forgive an enemy more readily, on =
:Genl '1 reeompense, and bury forever ont Of q
sn' ,nie ine most Srlerous wrongs. That he is =
~ ',,atin', auteiats, ilie "eu,lmproyed means Of
sufficient 10 prove. His speeches in = =
e e senate may be quoted upon tlis =
int Though they arc not as Or. y :,
te and carefully studied rs somc -
g arc yet excellent in style aud manner +,
rse, pointed and practical, Commanding ns :. =,
aeh attention from his associates and the =
untIy ea as Inose OF almost any other member, n
y sho" mat ne is not unread and illitcratc' -,
.ose VINO haye had but slight opportunities 8
ooserTing him personally, will readily ad- ~ ~
t that he is not q man of rn,,ea +ho.sist ~ q