Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-18
sketoh Of General Hitoho ook.

Gen. Ethan Allen Hitchcock is the son Of
Judge Samuel Hitchcock Of Burlington, Vermont
and who was considered one of the abl0st and
most accomplished men that State ever produced,
and his mother was the daughter Of Ethan Allen.
Judge Henry Hitchcock, of Vermont, were
brothers of the General, who was also native
of Vermont, from which State he was appointed
as II cadet to the Military Academy at West Point
in the year 1874. lie graduated in 1917, aud
was ON the 18th of July appointed third lieu
tenant in the corps of artillery. On the 18th of
the following February he was promoted to the
second leutenancy of the Eighth infantry, and
on tue 3lst Of October, in the same year, he was
further promoted to be first lieutenant. lie
was appointed the regimental adjutant from 1919
to 1874 aud during the reorganization of
the army, on the 1st of June, 1921, he was
retained, with the rank of first lieutenant but
was transferred to the First infantry. At the end
of 1924 he was promoted to n captaincy. lie was
the Assistant Instructor Of Infantry Tactics Mt
the Military Academy from the lst of February,
1924, to the Goth of April, 1927. He was after
wards chosen the chief instructor in the same
branch Of the service, and mas made the COM
mandant of the cadets in the Military Academy
from March 8, 1929, to June "a, 1888. He was
promoted to be major in the Eighth Infantry
on the 9TH of July, 1888, and on the 3fst of
January, 1872, he was further promoted lieu-
tennnt colOnecy, aud transferred to the Third
Regiment of Infantry. He was colonel of the
Second Regiment United States Infantry at Cor.
pus Christi, under General Taylor, and just
previous to the first movement on the Neuces
Col Hitchcock was prostrated by cruel sickness,
and when able to be carried was removed to St.
Louis, where he remained six months stretched
upon a sick bed, and thus he lost the opportunity
to participate in the glorious campaign of Geu.
Taylor. When Gen. Scott was ordered to Mexico,
Colonel Hitchcock found himself partially res
tored to health at Vera Cruz, and his regiment
reduced to fifty men. Gen. Scott appointed him
to be Inspector General Of the army, and thence
FORTH from Vera Cruz to the city Of Mexico, the
genius and skill of Colonel Hitchcock were in
constant requistion.
1t was during this time that he was breyeted
colonel for gallant and meritorous conduct in
the battles of Gontreras and Churuhusco, his
breyet being awarded in March, 1S4S, and dating
from August 20, 1S47. He was further brevetel
as brigadier general for gallant conduct at FL
Molino del Rey, dating from September g. lS47,
this brevet being awarded in March, 1851. On
the 18th Of April 1857 he was made Il full colonel
of the Second infantry, which rank he held du-
ring the greater part of the Pierce adminisira-
ton On the 18th of October, 1856, he resigned
his position in the army, under circumstances oil
n very peculiar nature Itappears that General
Hitchcock had received leave of absence from
General Scott, the then Commander in Chief OF
the United States Army, which jeff Davis, then
Secretary of War, refused to confirm, and order
ed the subject of this sketch back again to his
post. This action of jeff Davis led to n contro-
yersy between General Scott and the Secretary
of War Scott contending that MS Commander il
Chief he had the right to grant the aforesaid leave
of absence. This JEFF Davis denied, in bis usua
overbearng manner, and, doubtless, remarks
were therein made by him Insulting to Genera
Hitchcock. Suffice it is to say, that in conse-
guence Of this matter Gen. Hitchcock resigned
and during the interval between his resignation
and the breaking out of the rebellion he ha
been living in retired manner in st, Louis
he being possessed of an independent tortuuc