, 1863-03-11

Major General E. Y. Sumner
This veteran officer now on his way to as
su1nc the duties of his new command, has
record that admirably well fits him for the
place he is to hold. His department will cm-
brace Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Col
orado, and Nebraska, with headquarters at
st. Louis. His past sterling services in this
very field and against the two very evils he
is now again to contend with, Slavery and
Hostile Indians, are the best guarantees as to
his fitness for the post
Major General Edwin Y. Sumner is over
seventy years Of age, and is 4 native of fMassa-
chusctts. He Was, however, appointed to the
regular army from the State Of New York,
entered the United States service as Second
Lieutenant Of the Second United States In
fantry On the Sd Of March 1919, and In ..Ju}y,
1928, was promoted to q first licutenantcy,
He WAS taken from the. line and appointed
Commfssary Of subsistence In June, 1927.
H. was next transferred to The cavalry SER
vice, and placed in command Of squadron
Of Dragons, with the rank Of Captain, dating
from March, 1898. On the 30th Of juno, 1916,
lie wcs appointed Major Of the Second rcgi-
mcnt Of Dragons, and seryed in Colonel Har-
ney's regiment; under Gen. Scott, in Mexico.
He was greatly distinguished in Col. Harney'
affair at Medclin, on the 25th of March, 1917.
On the 18th Of April, 1s47, he was brcyetted
Lieutenant Colonel for gallant and meritori-
ous conduct in the battle of Cerro Gordo,
where, on the 18th Of that month, he com,
ma1Idcd the Mounted Rifle regiment, and was
wounded. On the sth Of September, 1917, he
was again breyetted Colonel for the same con.
duet in the battle Of El Molino del Rev. Botl
these breyets were awarded III July, 1913, ant
on the 18th Of that month be was made full
Lieutenant Colonel, and appointed to ths
First Regiment Of United States Dragons
After the war, he was appointed to the com
mand Of the Department of New Mexico. OF
the Sd Of March, 1856, lie was promoted II
the Colonclcy Of the First cavalry, one Of tht
new regular regiments, and served in tn,
West against the Indians. He commanded
the expedition against, and became distin
guished In, defeating band of 800 Cheyenne
warriors, posted for the battle on Solomon
Fork, Of Kansas, on the Goth Of July, 1857
Some rivalry existed between Harney AMI
Sumner, the former Colonel of the Secont
Dragons, and the latter Colonel Of the FRS
Cavalry, relative to the respective capacitie
Of each individual command, and Harne,
tried 10 injnre Summers reputation for conr
age. Iii this, however, hcsignally filled, ant
the former had to take refuge under the pro
tecting wing of ex-Secrctary Of war ant
doublc-distilcd traitor Floyd. Colonel Sum
ner's humane disposition and kindness duriu:
the Kansas troubles, arc well known and re
membered by the people Of that State.
The Border Ruffans found in his f1r1nucs
and energy an unsurmountaolc obstacle t,
their plans.
When President Lincoln WAS c,t rou.s fror
Illinois 10 Washington he was accompauie
by Colonel Sumner and other army of11cer
and it was remarked at the time that t*lis fiji
ure WAS as erect as ever, and his faculties
physical and mental, appeared to be total
! unimpaired-the result Of an active, tempe
atc lne." In the Army Register for 1861, b
stood at the head of the LIST Of cavalry officer
On the 10th of March, 1861, he WAS promote
to the rank Of Brigadier General ofthc Unite
States army, with tue command Of a diyisio
} In this capacity he was engaged during Il
t | organization Of the army Of the Potomac. {
G tue 18th Of March, 1862, when that army #
I divided into different corps d'armee, Gencr
!, Sumner was appointed the commander Of t!
= Second corps, consisting Of the divisions
Generals Richardson, Blcnkcr and Scdgwic
He was transferred with only portion of l
: command to the peninsula, and parts Of
wcre engaged at West Point, Fair Oaks,
a skirmish on June Is, the scTcn days &C
# test, and in other affairs. Gen. Sumner n
d made Major General Of volunteers by t
d President, in General Order, July q, IS
"a Hc is rcputed to be a good officer, and !
:, two SONS in the United States cavalry setvi
=, Hc also served during the last few days
q Pope's campaign in Virginia, and afterva1
T. under Mcclellan In Maryland. On the L
le Of November, 1862, he was appointed to
cf command Of the right grand division Of G
is Furnishes army, and operated directly bcf
to | Fredericksburg, Va