Weekly national intelligencer., 1864-04-28
THE LATE GENERAL TOTTEN.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
GeneraL's Office,
WASHINGTON, ApTii %. lS6


No. 179. Adjuam Generals Office,
Washington, Apra 23. 1864.
Another and among the last of The heroes of Sc
cond War Of Independence, is gone Brevet Msjor
General JOSEPH GILBERT ToTTEN, Chief of Engineers
of the u s. Army departed this life the 22d instant
this city in his seventy sixth year.
Gen. ToTTEN was born August 23j, 1888, in New Ha
ven, Connecticut and graduated at the Military Academy
in 1906 from which he promoted to the Corps of En-
gineers and with brief interval from 1906 to 1S0S
tnued that of service passing honoraby through
every grade until he became in 1898, Chief Engineer of
| the Army The Senate, before his death, unanimously
confirmed his nomination by the President to be Major
General by brevet, for long, faithful, and eminent
vices"
Gen Tottens military career Of than half
tury has been of continued usefulness and distinguish
ed services. In 1872 he called to the field to
the arduous and responsible position of Chief Engi
Of the Army, the Niagara frontier where he to-
conspicuous part in the attack Queenstown Heights,
and the following year in the capture of Fort George,
Upper Canada and repuse Of the British otla on Lake
Ontario In 1894 he became Chief Engineer of the
forces succsssvely commanded by Generals Wilkinson.
lizard, and Mscomb; in the attack on La Cole Mill,
Lower Canada, aud the battle Of Pattsburg. In this
brief Gen Totten the respect aud admiration of
his brother officers, and the marked appreciation of the
Government, which conferred upon him two brevets for
his mertorious aud distinguished services On the return
of peace his high professional abilities called into
activity thu Board Of Engineers which projected
extended line Of lake defences and Notifications
These works most Of which planned by himself are
the enduring monuments to bis memory In the with
Mexico Gen Scott summoned bis early comp
aid in the siege of Vera Cruz, where, for his gall
liant and mertorious conduct Gen. Totten breveted
Brigader General For The past twentysx years he
has BEEN the head Of the Engineer Department, ad
mnsterng with untirng devotion, spoess integrity, and
signal ability the varied duties, the financial responsible
ties and the professional abors Of that Of service
essential TO national defence.
In addition to Gen. Tottens multiplied military
tons he active member Of the Light House Board
from its organization in 1852 Regent Of the Smith
sauan Institution from it's establishment by Congress
1876; Corporator Of the National Academy of Sciences
or -ated 1868 Of the HarbOr for the
cities Of New York and Boston, and member of many
| scientific associations
Distinguished for urbanty of manner, genial social
qualities and that great moral excellence which adorns
the chris.n soldier and gentleman he has left behind
exalted reputation worthy the emulation of his brother
officers and which his surviving children may well regard
as a priceless legacy.
t,bute to his memory, the officers OF the Corps Of
Engineers aud Military Academy will the prescribed
badge Of mourning for thirty days aud the day after the
reception OF this order at the Military Academy half hour
guns will be fred there from to sunset aud the
nationa flag be displayed at hali-ma"t.
| BY order Of the Secretary Of War;
T. d. TOWNSEND,
| Assistant Adj jutant General