The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-08-04
Sketch of Major General McPher-

sketch of Gen. Mcpherson that we have
seen In print, clipped from the New York
Herald. IL lie historical and will repay
pcrusol;
Msior General Jumes u. Mcpherson,
United States Volunteers, and Brigadicr
General Of tho regular army Of the Uni
ted States, was born in Sandusky, Ohio,
during the month Of November, 1878, aud
was consc qucntly IN his thirty. sixth
wear of his age when he was killed. He
entered the United States MilitDry Acad.
emy al West Point as n cadet from Ohiu
during the ycnr l549, aud even from his
first examination gained high position
IN that institute. Hesecond in the fourth
class OF 1850, first in the third class OF
1851, and first in the second class Ul
1859. He graduated al the head Of his
class on June 30, 1858, and entered the
regular army on July l, with brcyei
rank Of second lieutenant Of engineers.
fle was AT once appointed an assistant
Instructor of prsclical engineering at the
Military Academy, apd retained tho posi-
ton until September 1904. u was not
the usuul practice in that institution tu
give this position to so young graduate; (;
but the skill and the education of Lieu
tenant McPherson was considered Of
sufficient importance " warrant his
appointment.
During September, 1854, Lieutenant
McP was employed as an assistant,
engineer on the deiences Of New York
harbor. While thus engngcd-Dec, M
Der, l854-he was promoted to the full
rank OF second lieutenant. lie retained
hia connection with the forces empluyed
in this work and in the impr,v mcnt ul
the navigation Of the Hudson river until
tho end of December, 1866, aud was II, xi
January, 1887, ,--placcd in charge o
the construction Of Fort Delaware, on
Pea Patch Island, Delaware river. liz
remained in charge until July, 1887
when he was ordered 10 the Pnc fic.
Fort Delewuro has become somewhat
noted during the present war ns rebel
prison.
During December, 1867, Lieutenant
Mcpherson assumed the charge of the
construction corps engaged upon the fort
ifcatiuns on Alcalras Island, San Fran.
cisco Bay :. California, and of the survc,
purity on that past ol the Pacific coasi
On the 18th OF December. 1858, while
employed in this duty, he was promoted
to the rank of first utcnant, aud was
the youngest on the list. He was en-.
} gagged on the Pacific coast Ms chief Of Z, n
ginccrs until August, 1861, when he wns
ordered Eust TO take chnrge oi the lortifi
cations Of Boston hurbor.
During the extra session Of Congress
Of 1861 Lieutenant Mcpherson was pro
noted To the junior captnincy ol his corps
in the place Of Iphn Newton, promoted
10 Major. His commission was dated
/, from August 6, 1861. lilo retained his
position ut Boston harbor until the ap'
! pointmcnt of General Haileck to The
} Department of the West, IN November
1861, when he wns selected by that cffi
Ger as an sid.dc-camp, with the rank o
Der II He was then chi, fly employed
on engineer duty in Missouri, until thu
advance Of the forces under Gen. Gran,
iuto and Trough Kentucky to the Ten.
ncssee border. He was then assigned Il
that office as chief engineer Of tho cxpe
dition engaged against Forts lIcury at,
Donclson, aud for the services there rcnd
cred was nominated tor brcvct OF mai
of engineers, to date from February 10
1852. lie remained with General Grant
utter the reduction of those works, durlno
the operations up the Tennessee river
and until aler the battle OF Shiloh, April
1869, when, Gen. HSlleck assumed The
commsnd Of the troops in the field. For
the services he rendered at Sh lol, he
was nominated for brevet Of licutenan,
colonel of engineers. to date from April
IA, 1851.
On the lst Of May. lSaa, he VIVA Pm
NOTED To- the rank oi colonel on the stuff
and wns again assigned To Gen. Hmllecl
? as an aid He had the principal chorc,
, or,he engineering works during the scig,
: OF Corintb, which ended in the fpia
, evacuation Of that defensive post by tn,
: rebels. 1t will be remembered that III,
works constructed by the Union troop,
during that campaign were,vcry elaborat,
and of an exceedingly strong character
and Colonel Mcpherson was highly dis.
.inguished for the part he took in thch
construction,
Col, Mcpherson wac on the May Is
1862, promoted 10 the rank OF hrigsdici
general OF volunteers, aud was in Jun,
! of that year appointed general superin
tendant of all United States ,niiiar,
, railroads In the Department of Yves
. Tennessee, which had been place,
I under the direct charge of NJ iiur Con
0 Grant. He rcorganiEod the railroad sys
! ten in that part of the State of Terncs
= see aud Mississippi where he operated
. and speedily brought order out of chaos.
AT the battle Of luka, September, 1856.
Gen. Mcpherson held position on th,
= staff of Gen, Grant; but at the battle O
= Corlnth he had far better opportunit
s OF displaying his skill no, only as an en-
d gineer, but as a soldier in the field. II,
. succeeded in carrying Endorsements I,
$ the besieged garrison on October 4, 1869
!, when the enemy was between him an,
4 the point to be reached, and the next da,
:. at the head Of division, he pursued viz
b orously the flying columns Of The foe
Q In this pursuit he Inflicted severe dam
$ ago on tae Iebels, aud for his services O
9 thls and other occasions he was promote
% the rank Of major general of voluu
: teers, to date IRON October 8, 1861. IL
. was then assigned 10 the command {
. the United States forces at bolivar Tel
+, nessee.
Major Gen. Mcpherson commando
o the column directed upon Lagrange dur
j. Ing the advance OF Gen. Grants army
}. the winter of 1861, aud 10 which plac
j Gen, Nrant removed his headquarters o
a the 4th OF November, 1869. The occ,
!. patton Of Lagrange completely outaenel
d aled the rbels, who had been coneel
d uatag their forces further east, at Ripple,
p 10 prevent an advance by that line. d
a the Sh pf November, 1862, Gen. NJ,
b Pherson was placed in command cC a
b expedition ordescd upon a special rereo
's no'ssanee south, iR,O the State Of Missi
y slpP', aud ushed on as far as Lama
10 while the cavalry Went ahead us far
ID Jacksonville. The object of the NOV
returned To I.a0ranca