Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-07
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DEATH OF GENERAL TOTEM.
wan DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERAL'I OFFIGE,
WAsHIEoToF, April 70, 1854.
General Orders, No. I79.
Another and among the last OF the heroes Of our
" Second War Of Indspsndenoe,n is zone. Brevet
Major General Joseph Gilbert Totten, Chief OF
Engineers Of the United States Army, departed
this life the 27d instant, In this city, in his
seventy-sixth year. #..
General Totten wSs born August a. 1888, in
New Haven, Connecticut, and graduated At the
Military Academy Ia 1905, from which he was pro-
noted to the Corps Of Engineers, and, with brief
interval, from 1906 TO 1903, continued In that arm
OF service, passing honorably through every grade
till ho became in 1885, Chief Engineer Of the Army
The Senate, before his death, unanimsusly con-
nrmed his nomination by the President, to be
"MJor General by breyet, for long, faithful, and
eminent services"
General Totten's military career, OF more than
half a century, has been one OF continued useful
ness and distinguished services. In 1912 he was
ealleI to the neld to assume the arduous and 70.
sponsIble position Of Chief Engineer OF the Army
on the Niagara frontier, where he took Aoonspieu-
Gus part in the attack on Queenstown Heightsi
and the following year In the capture OF Fort
George, Upper Canals, and repulss OF the Brit
ish notilla on Lake oatsrie. In 1871 he be-
came Chief Engineer OF the forces, GueeesBivCly
commanded by Generals Wilkinson, lizard, and
MAoombi was in the attack on La Cole Mil
Lower CanAdA, and the battle OF PlattsburE. In
this brief war General TOttOn won the respect
and admiration Of his brother oflcers, and the
marked appreciation OF the Government, which
conferred upon him two breVetG for his merito-
riouS and distinguished services. On the return
OF peace his high professional abilities were called
into activity on the board OF engineers which
projected our extended line OF lake defeness and
Ieacoast fortiaeAtions. These works, most Of
which were planned by himself are the enduring
monuments 10 his memory In the war with Mex.
leo, General Scott summoned his early com anion-
in. rms to aid him in the siege OF Vera Cruz,
where, for his gallant and meritorious conduct"
General Totten was breveted a briEadier general
For the past twenty-six years he has been at the
head Of tho Engineer Department, administering
| with untiring devotion, Gpotless integrity, and
signal ability the varied duties, the financial re-
Bponsibilies, and the professional lahors OF that
arm OF service SO essential to our national de-
fence.
Ia addition TO General TottenI multiplied mill
tary avocAtionB, he was an active member Of the
Lighthouse Board from It's organization In 1882;
a Regent Of the Smithsonian Institution from Its
establishment by Congress In 1886 corporator Of
the National Academy Of Sciences, created IN 1868;
one OF the Harbor CommHsioners for the cities Of
New York and Boston, and q member OF many
| scientific associations.
Distinguished for urbanity OF manner, genial
sosiA quslItles, and that great moral sXoellene0
which AdornS the Christian soldier and EentlomAr
he has left behind al exalted reputation worthy
the emulation OF his brother Officers, and which
his surviving children may well regard as price.
| less legAcy.
As a tt. butte to his memory, the Ulcers Of the
| Corps of Engineers and military Academy will
wear the prescribed badge Of mourning for thirty
days. and the day after the reception OF this order
at the Military Academy, hAlEhour guns will be
fred there rom sunrise to sunset, and the national
dag be displayed At half mast.
by order Of the Secretary Of War:
Z. d. TOWNSEND,
my6 Assistant AdjutAnt General.