The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-03-25
Death of Elaj.-Gen. sumner.

day morning, March Il, of congestion OF
the lungs. His illness was but of few
days' duration, and although he haa
reached au advanced period Of life, being
10 his sixty.seventh year at the time OF
his death, his vigorous frame and active
habits indicated much longer date to hlS
efficient military services.
General Sumner was born in Boston IN
1896, and at an early age exhibited de-
cided taste for the profession OF arms
Unlike fhe most prominent othcers IN the
regular army of his standing, ne ala not
receive his military education at the west
Point Academy; but after pursuing the
usual studies in the best schools OF Dos
ton and its vicinity, he received the aP-
pointment of Second Lieutenant In the
I'd Regiment of U. S. Infantry, in 1919.
He became a member Of the staff OF Ma
ior. General Brown, and remained IN that
regiment until 1888, showing dIstlnglsh'
ed conduct and gallantry IN the cam
,aigps against Black Hawk. lie con-
iinued in service on the Indian frontier,
with the exception of limited PERIOD
during which he commanded the school
Of cavalry practice in Carlisle. Penn, un-
nj the outbreak of the Mexican war, nav
ing 10 the mean time received the com
mission of Captain in the I'd Regiment OF
Dragons raised by Gen. Jackson In
june, 1916, he was promoted to the rank
of Major, and placed by Gen. Scott IN
command of the mounted rifles. At the
battle of Cerro Gordo, April Is, 1871, he
led a decisive cavalry charge, plunSing
into the thickest of the fight, and escap-
inc with a severe wound. For his dis
t;nguished services on this occasion, he
received the breyet of Lieutenant Colonel.
lie commanded the corps de reserve at
the battles of COntreras and Churubusco,
aud the cavalry at Molino del Rey. ID
which he held 10 check large force oI
Mexican lancers who threatened the lett
flank Of the American army. His cour-
agv and ability in this battle gained for
him the brevet of Colonel, and in July,
1916. lie was commissioned as Lleuten-
ant Colonel of the lst Regimant of ORA
goons. At the expiration Of the war with
.Iexico, from which he broug BIT sue
session of the most brilliant honors that
coald crafty the pride of soldier, he
was placed in the command of the De-
partment of New Mexico, where, on the
withdrawal of Gov. Calhoun in 1851, he
was the only representative Of the United
States Government. In 1854 he visited
Europe on important official business, and
the following year was promoted to be
Colonel of the Ist Regiment of Cavalry.
While in command at Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas, in 1856 his conduct in the dis
iurbances between the Pro Slavery men
and the Free Soilers, brought upon him
the displeasure of Jefferson Davis, then
Secretary Of War, who, true to his IN
stiacts in hostility to freedom, summarIly
removed him from the post. In July,
1857, he commanded an expidition for
7he'puuishmeut of the Cheyenne Indians,
and defeated them in an engagement on
a branch of the Kansas River. The fol-
lowing year he was appointed to the COM
maud Of the Department ef the West,
He was selected by Gen. Scott to accom-
pnDy President Lincoln from his home IN
Springfield to Washington, previous to
his inauguration in 1861, and on March
l6 vas appointed Brigadier General in
the regular army, in place of the traitor
Gen. Twiggs. lie was then ordered to
the command Of the Department OF the
Pacific, but, owing to his urgent desire to
rake part in the operations in the field,
',c was recalled from the position, and IN
March, 1862, was appointed commander
OF the First Army Corps in the Army OF
the Potomac. He commanded the left
wing at the siege of YORKTOWN, aud was
conspicuous for his energy aud zeal in the
Chickahominy campaign. during which
be was twice wounded His gallant ser.
vices before Richmond were rewarded
with the appointment of Major General
Of Volunteers, dating from July 4, and
Brevet Major General in the regular army
dating from May . l.. On the reorganlz
ntion Of the army in Virginia, he was ap'
pointed to the command Of the Second
Corps, in which capacity be received a
wound in the battle of Antietam. He
was subsequently transferred to the com,
mand of the right division of the Army
of the Potomac, and after the battle OF
Fredericksburg, Dec. l3, 1862, on the ac'
cession of Gen. Hooker as General-in
Chief, he was appointed to the Depart
ment of the South West, and was abou
TO assume the command when he was at
tackled by the illness which termlpateC
his life.
Gen. Sumner was a soldier by nature
brave almost to rashness, with less strate
gy than enterprise aud resolution, favor
itc with his men, ardently devoted to th'