Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-09-18
From the New York Commercial
GRAVE PHIL. KEARNEY."

brilliant General Philip Kesrney fell by
the hands OF the enemy be had often
confronted. and by whom bis heroic
fife had often been sought. The an.
nouncement of his death was made on
Wednesday morning. and a general
feeling OF sorrow was occasioned, for
the people had learned to love one
who held his life so cbeaply, and who
was everywhere the gallant soldier
Before noon, however. we learned d.
reetly from General Kearney's family
that dispatch from a member of his
staff stated that be Was wounded and
a prisoner. This mistake probably
arose from the peculiar manner Of the
Generals disappearance, particulars OF
which may be found in another column.
General Kearney was native Of New
York, and was about forty-eight years
of age. His family have resided in
New Jersey since l7i6, when his great
grandfather settled in Monmouth coun-
ty. His father died about 1849, leaving
but two children, General Kesrney and
Susan Watts, wife Of Major Alexander
Mscomb, late Of the U. 8. army. Mrs.
Macomb died some years since. Gen
eral Kearney's grandfather was the
Hon. John Watts, founder Of the Leke
and Watts orphan house in this city, at
whose instance be entered the profes
sion of the law.
He was appointed in 1897 an officer
Of dragons. In the Mexican war he
was sent abroad to inspect the armies
Of Europe. During the Mexican war
Kearney's cavalry squadron was the
pride OF the service and he became
known for his dashing qualities. as our
"Murat." At the very gates of the
city of Mexico his left arm was carried
away by cannon ball. For his gal
lantry in Mexico, General Kearney re-
ceived the highest commendations.-
After the war Kearney travelled awhile.
and during his stay abroad he took a.
hand in the A gerian war. and was aid
de.camp at Solferino to French Mar
shal. He resigned his commission in
our army in 1851.
When the present war broke ont he
was in France. He returned at once
and offered his services to the country,
which created him Brigadier General
of volunteers, on the 18th OF May,
1861. 1t was soon suggested that he
have a division. but he had no time to
"cool his heels" in the ante-chsmbers
of those in power, and the stars passed
to other shoulders. A few weeks since,
however, he received the commiss ion
Of Major General having fairly won
it on the bloody fields of Williamsburg,
Fair Oaks, White Oak Swamp, Cross
Roads, and Malvern Hill, and having
proved his title to it by his more recent
achievements on the Potomac.
In many Of the celebrated actions Of
this war, Gen. Kearney has been es-
pecially conspicuous and distinguished.
On the peninsula his splendid division
was in almost every fight. and every
where the fighting Phil Kearney, with
his single arm, was a terror to the foe.
He required all of his division to wear
bit OF red flannel in their caps, so
that they might be known and that he
might know them. He always led his
men in person. and never allowed the
front OF the battle to get much ahead
of him. His soldiers have a thousand
stories to tell of his bravery, and of
the incessant efforts of the enemy to
take the ife of one so dreaded as the
single.armed General, whose voice rang
out in the roar Of battle, and who al
ways sought the thickest of the fray.
Rebel prisoners always desired to see
him, for in the roar of battle he had
often passed so swiftly before their as
tonished eyes, and had so often laughed
at the shots of their best men, that he
seemed to combine at once the charac-
ter Of invulnerability and ubiquity.
A splendid officer, fighting general,
brave soldier, patriotic citizen-all
these qualities united in Phillip Kear-
ney. who has thus set the seal of his
life as his attestation of the inestimable
value OF the cause for which he strug-
gled and fell. Thousands Of devoted
men will strive to avsnge his death up