The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-13
o B 7 U A r Y.

o BTU A Y.
Brevct Brigadier General william Wal
ton Morris, United states Army.
NORRIS AT Fort McHenry. Baltimore, Md. on Mon
day, December IL, Brcvet Brigad;er General WILLIAM
WALTON MORRIS United States Army, in tho 6ath ycar Of
his age
Notes Of his funeral will be gvon hereafter
few days ago. in recording the death of the old
ran Engineer officer, Colonel Rene De Russy, had
casion, In audng to the aged representatives of the
American army remark that ''Colones David Hunter
and W. Norris grad rates Of the class OF 1890
be beginning to feel that their ways Of life rapidly
falling into the sore and yellow leaf though they need
not look with fear and trembling, Macbeth did
old age, unaccompanied by
Honor, love, obedience, troops Of friends &"
Since these lines were written, will be seen by the
above notice. General Morris has passed away dying
had often expressed anxious wish do at his post
surrounded by friends and honored by the whole
General Morris the distinguished representative of
a family which IL older than the nation, and which has
had distinguished representatives in every of the
countrys existence and event OF It's history. His grand
father, Lewis Morris who is considered the fountain
head Of the family born the Morris estate, 10.
Gated in Westminster county, and known Nor.
risana He graduated at Yale College, but declined TO
enter professional life for which he had been fitted
and succeeded his father farmer at Morrsania. He
and his half.brothcr Gouverneur Morris (who had
studied for the law and who had pracsed only short
time to abandon the professional for the indepent
ent life Of the farmer), engaged In culivatng the
Morrisania property In 1714, when crazy King Georges
Parliament ordered lcvies to be made the p,opc of
the province Of New York; for supplies for the British
| troops garrisoning the city OF New York When this
decree announced the younger BROTHER Gouverneur
Norris published some strong arguments to show why
the people ought not to obey the decree, while Lewis
not less stoutly but In different way, resisted the
usurpaton and by his example In resisting the officers
urged the people not to obey the order. He was
among the first TO refuse 10 pay the tribute and
resist the collection OF the supplies The firm stand
taken by the two brothers brought them prom
nenty before tho country, and thoy were
elected 70 the hrst Continental Congress, Lewis
being Of the signers of the Declaration or Indepen
| dcnce. They were both actively employed during the
whole , Of the Revolution Lewis Morris was member
means f9r carrying on tho war and supplying the colo
| MES with arms and ammunition. In IT'S he wen, to
nssna Ps em I ssssnse Il
driven with his family from home and his sacked
however he abored on cause and now bears the
reputation Of being one OF the very bodcst Of the pro-
moters offthe Revolution Gouyerncur Morris succeeded
his half brother representative in Congress in l777
and joined that body At York, Pennsylvania The fol-
lowing winter he spent at Valley Forge and during the
civil capacities After the war he became Assistant su
perintendcnt Of Finance; delegate TO the United
States Constitutional Convention Of 1887 and according
James Madison, gave the present constitution
many Of Its graces Of style and arrangement
recalled in 7s4 the request Of the French
for, believe his action in endcavoring to effect the
relcasc Of Lafayette from prison. He WINS subsequently,
. member OF the Senate and filed other positions Of
Importance. He was one OF the earliest promoters Of
the Erie Canal project II is the figure Of Gouvcrncur
Morris which In given that Of Washington In all the
statues OF the Father OF his Country now in existence
Gouverneur Norris 50 strongly resembled General
Washington IN ngqre that he stood AZ model for the
| Lewis Morris had one son--william w. Norris who
having boon sold IN i1ss by Lewis 70 his brother Gouver
neur Morris William w. Morris was the father OF the
late General and the presen. head Of The family Lou
tenant Colonel Gouverneur Morris The father lived at
1 Morrisana, but had q summer residence nj Baston
Springs whore the late General born in tho autumn
OF 4S0l He entered West Point at the close OF the
second War Of Independence In 1916 and graduated In
1890, being tho two hundred and sixty nrst graduate
from that honored institution In those days breyet
I promotions were not given TO cadets, and young
Morris II once found himself on his graduation July I,
1890 full second lieutenant Of the Sixth infantry.
Tho nrst engagement in which lieutenant Morris ever
participated was tight with the Arickaree Indians in
tho far West near the site Of Council Bu Missouri II
took place on August 10 and H. 1921 and embraced
dred Indian WARRIOR Ths attacking consisted Of
strong, eighty santa Fe traders under General Ashley
Of Missouri, and about six hundred friendly Sioux In
Lcavenworh. Although the battle lasted three days i
was mot very sanguinary affair nor does history account
a. niRnly important We have lew other details OF u
than In result and tho list Of the casualties Il was
victory for the assaung force which lost two wounded
while the hostile Indians lost nfty killed and great
many wounded Among the few other details mentioned
s that among those who distinguished themselves were
Lieutenant Colonel Lcavcnworth and Lieutenant w. W.
Norris and the records OF tho War once tell that the
former brsvetted brgadier general and the latter
promoted 70 first lieutenant for gallant conduct this
occasion.
In the following ycar--ls24-Lieutensnt Morris rc-
celved another promotion though not generally under
stood A. such outside OF the army He transferred
from the infantry the artillery OF the service and
became first Lieutenant OF the Fourth regiment The
tery grade the service considered superior
OF the infantry; and among regular officers transfer
from one branch Of tho service TO higher branch con
| sdOrcd equivalent " promotion. II IN more
certain assurance Of oiccrs mort than promotion
since tho latter may and frequently result from The
casualties incident 10 but Is very seldom that in.
OF Incompetent officers being transferred
from the Inferior 10 the superior branches OF the service
The promotion from FIRST lieutenant 10 captain did not
como Lieutenant Morris until thirteen years after his
first battle and not then until he had again by hs
/ distinguished gallnniry. When the with the Semi.
mole Indians In Florida began General Thomas Jesup
who had assumed command Of the army in the Greek
Nation now Alabana) organized battalion Of mounted
Creek volunteers for service against the Scminoles
and gave the command to Lieutenant Morris with
/ the volunteer rank Of major Az the head OF
this forcc Major Morris formed the advance
OF General Jesup's command marching into
FLORIDA TO the assistance OF Governor H. n tal and
Colonel zachary Taylor and arrived In time to take part
In the great Indian battle Of Wahoo swamp on NO
vember 81 1885, This battle was total defeat Tor the
Indians. They driven across the Wthlacoochee
with loss OF nifty killed While our los was only eight
| killed and nineteen wounded For hs conduct on this
occasion Major Morris was promoted TO captancy IN
the Fourth arucry the promotion daiing December IL,
| is.0
Indians the mos, icant Of which wcre The battles OF