The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-19


Major General David Hunter is native of the District
of Columbia, and appointed to the army from that
District sixty years OF age and entered the
Military Academy as cadet in September, 1878 He
graduated in 1922 standing No. rs in class OF forty,
in which we find the names Of Generals j. r. f. Mans
field George A. Mccall 7. Morris, J. j. Abercrombe and
others On the LIST Of July, 1922, no was promoted to
the second lieutenancy Of the Fifth United States
infantry, and in June, 1928, was further pro-
NOTED to the first lieutenancy He became
captain Of the First dragons in March, 1883, and ro
signed the service the 4th of July, 1886. On the
last day Of November, 1s41, no was appointed tenn
porary paymaster of the army and the l4h Of May,
1872 he obtained the position of full paymaster The
appointments debtcd to the State Of Illinois In
this latter capacity he held the rank major OF
the active military SERVICE and in the Army Register for
1861 his name stands second the list of paymasters
with that rank. On the 14th Of May, 1881, he ap
pointed Colonel Of the regiment OF cavalry numer
cay designated tho Sixth regiment OF United States
cavalry and with this rank held the command Of tho
second division of McDowes army at the battle OF Bull
For his gallaEtry that occasion he was on the
18th of the following August made by Congress- macr
general Of volunteers. 1t will be remembered that no
ordered to report to General Fremont in Missouri
and he took charge Of certain troops organizing at the
depot at Roa and when General Fremont left ST. Louis
to attack Price Lexington General Hunter to join
him by cross route General Fremonts incapacity pre-
vented the RELIEF OF the forces at Lexington and General
Hunter was ordered to organize his division at
Warsaw. This he accomplished, and when Fro-
mont had given Price time to escape from Lex
iugton tho pursuit ordered, and General Hunter
was invested with command Of the First division,
although by the arrangements made by the Commanding
General the two divisions commanded respectively by
Generals Pope and Hunter the last to leave Warsaw
Tor Springfield Tho want Of in overtaking Price
Jed to the removal Of Fremont, and the I'd of No.
vcmber General Hunter assumed command of tho Depart
ment OF The West, by orders from Washington. When
General Halieck was appointed to that department
new department created entitled he Department OF
Kansas, and Major General Hunter appointed the
chief command. During his administration some little
trouble occurred between Senator Tor Brgader Genera
Lane and the commander, which perhaps than any
Thing led to the breaking up Of tho department
which is Incorporated in that Of the Mississippi
and General Hunter proceeded to Washington. Ho
appointed to supcrcede General Sherman at Port
Royal take command of the Department Of the
South, which embraces the States of South Carolina
Georgia and Florida.
He reported being intimate personal friend OF
the President and he travelled with him during his
from Illinois to Washington previous TO the inauguration
With regard to his personal appearance, he is thus
spoken of by editor Of Kansas paper who visited
him during his stay Fort Leavenworth-
Asyou enter you will be pleasantly but very calmly
greeted and tho first leisure moment will DO afforded you
for your business You will find yourself conversiug
with OF some sixty years. above average height
hair sprinllcd with grey, form slightly STOPPING, and
whose circumference denotes high intelligence
strong resolution, and above ALL settled, placid calm
which convinces that right is the basis tho
conviction it shadows and robs you Of every desire
combat them. He sits there, the Major General. aud
twrng his golden bowed glasses, the legacy toll and
fleeing years. listens to your words aud makes brief
sentences his part in the conversation. Occasionally
when allusion is made to tmid, haltipg policy Or
twaddling message" the eyes, rooted with heavy
brows, burn with light. and strong words tell his clear
disgust of IL all The stars his shoulder his
is the army blue and you know hts history you will
recoect that he, too is man OF West Point but
leave his presence feeling that you have boon
snubbed, and that the quiet dignity of gea. man has
established again in your mis the old respect our
regular army. Such Is Major General Hunter. Black
Dave, = us he is sometimes called.
AS of the incidents OF his life, it will be remem
bered that during the Kansas troubles, General Hunter
who then held the rank Of Major undcr Colonel now
Gencral) Sumner, at Fort Icavcnworth, recommended
that guns of the fort should be upon the Mis-
sonrans, who, he said crossing the river com.
nit outrage the ballot box Of tho state Of Kansas