The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-27
o y I r q Ar =.
Colonel Rene DO Russy, or tho Engiaeer
COrps.


Corps.
Rene e De fsussy. 6rs colonel in the line Of promo
ton Of the Engineer corps and Brgader General Of the
regular army BY brevet reported under the Of
'Prince De Russy" to have died San Francisco Cal,
on the 2sd inst He had lived nearly three quarters OF
very remarkable century 1.-THE latter quarter perhaps the
most remarkable era OF all time, though do not FUZZY
comprehend that it is SO ut this time yet he has died
without having left great behind him. His fate
has been the fate OF vaectorans though not himself
valedictonan Of his class West Ponai least is not
known that he at the date OF his graduation
class rank was then established He was too much Of
the student He lacked practicablity. He too well
educated Tor the infantry and the artillery OF
me service and hence hc put into the Corps OF En-
eneers-tha branch OF the service whose importance
not appreciated by the multtude-and hence his skill
ana ability are known only 70 the service on which he
member.
The DE Russy family history is romance interest.
we wish we had space TO more than outline IT, a. we
shall have to do at this time The De Russy family OF
,nis state have taken 70 the army naturally as the
washington family or Virginia dad. There are now,
however, only one Or two representatives Of it living
Gustsvus De Russy at this time in be regular army
with an important position and high rank is the eldest
con Of Rene De Russy there is one Isaac Russy
IN the First infantry, who believe. belongs to the
family Another son, John Do Russy, was in the ser
wee bus Is now dead. What has become Of the family
OF Lewis we do not know
The parents Of Rene and Lewis werc French nobility
france and when II had but u furnished Josephine to
the mother country an Empress They possessed
suddenly destroyed or al least fearfuy
when the French Assembly on May l6 l79l passed the
decree giving tho free negroes the right Of citizenship
but denying II to the slaves This decree the fruit
fu parent Of the many evils resulting from the seven
years war which followed it brought about the liberia
ton Of all the negroes both black and mulatoes, tho
establishment OF the republic OF Hayt and gave oppor
tunity to Wendell Phillips idol that greatcr than WASH
ngton in the mind Of Mr Phlips-the negro Toussaint
Ia mi IN Ourn mr.
pose forced the De Russy family emgae to this city,
where soon after Rene and Lewis were born
Rene de Russy entered West Point in 1907 and grad
uated June 1912, very high in merit but next to last
In the line Of promotion. He was the eighty eighth
single one OF his predecessors cadets alive and
he was perhaps at the time Of his death the oldest living
graduate OF the institution Joseph 9. Swift, the first
vaedctorian and Joseph G. Totem the tenth graduate
have both proceed d HIM but year On gradual
ing DC Russy was promoted second lieutenant OF en-
glnecrs and the 9th OF July following advanced
to first leutenancy. In September, 1874 he
brcvetted captain for gallant conduct at the battle or
pIat,sburg, New York" More than this, General Ma
comb, then commanding the army operating on the
Canada frontier promoted him TO be his chief engineer
and he participated in that capacity at the age Of about
February o. 1915 he received his full promotion Of cap
TAIN II was nine after before he received another
major for ten years faithful service in the grade
He was made full major 1890 December 22l His bre
vet as lieutenant colonel won. as his majority had
been by ten years faithful service His term Of
vice Superintendent Of the Military Academy began
in 1888 and continued for five In December 1885,
he made lieutenant colonel OF engineers and from
that time until the breaking out Of the late rebellion he
was member Of the Board Of Engneersn charge Of the
construction Of our coast deences He was in charge
for long time Of the deences Of the harbOr OF this
city, and became widely known, and was held in high
estimation here. When the war broke out he in
charge Of Fortress Monroe and the construction Of tho
works on the Rip Raps in Hampton Roads. While still
engaged in this work he was promoted Colonel March 3,
so ana ordered 70 inc command o. Inc OF
as stated, on the 23d inst Many of our citizens well
remember him as "a gentleman of the old school, and
there are many who will have not forgotten his
hospitality and dignifed but cordial and genial
and demeanor. His two sons, Gustavus and John, both
graduated at West Point. The latter died 1850, at
captain Of the Fourth regular artillery snce August IT,
1850, and brgadier general OF volunteers hs Is at
present commanding at Mobile. The brother Lewis,
who was s'the black Sheep Of the family died about
tho time the rebellion did, in louisiana He graduated
ut West Point in 1914 served through the remainder OF
the of 1885, retained the reorganization OF
the army In May 1885, first lieutenant OF artillery be
came captain in 1928 and paymaster IN 1926 and was
to render his accounts" He then went TO Louisiana.
where he married. II we remember rightly, Miss
sompeyrac the daughter Of old San Domingo planter
who had been forced To leave the island by Of the
intestinal troubles OF l70s.
AT the breaking out of the Mexican war Lewis G. De
Russy raised volunteer regiment thc first Lousana)
and whilst his way join General Scott before Vera
Cruz wrecked hostile coast, where no landed
with about hundred men, who had lost oil but their
arms. They eighty miles distant from Vera
Cruz, and surrounded by n superior force
was bayonet charge through the Mexican lines
and for consecutive days the little band fought It's
way, till i finally reached the main American army
campcd before Vera Cruz
When the rebellion broke out although nearly sixty
years Of age Lewis De Russy, who had figured cxten
svely in politics and In the Louisiana Senate as a
Southern State rights democrat, elected Colonel
OF the Second regiment Louisiana Volunteers, and
WAS soon afterwards ordered to the Peninsula.
There. by of those sad instances which
render civil war horrible he found his
brother Rene IN command at Fortress Monroe II
attack that stronghold and rather than be exposed
to me- his own brother IN the opposite ranks Lewis De
&c h aps s s own
was assigned chief engineer on the staff Of General
Polk.
He afterwards retired for time from active rebel ser
vice. but when in May, 1853 Western Louisiana in
vaded by General n. r. Banks he again volunteered.
General Dick Taylor placed him in charge of the de-
fences OF Red river and its tributaries and after
wards Fort De Russy Red river erected by him
II this fort which disabled the Queen Of the West In
1853. De Russy eventually abandoned the position
owing, he said To circumstances by which he doubtless
meant Banks army, and retired to Grand Ecore On the
dun a. inls point Stood ms ismy mansion, stately
happiness and the birthplace Of his own children
General Taylor TO spare the building. suggested point
lower down for theerecon OF proposed battery; but
General De Russy replied that the spot on which
stood his home by far the most formidable,
and, making all due preparations TO move his family at
moment notice actually threw up the breastw orks
through his garden and planted his battery in the
very front OF bis own paror The retreat Of General
~. II.
Arkansas saved FOR that time, the Generals mansion
but the following year the destructive hand OF war
nearly levelicd IL 10 the ground.
Tue death Of the two De Rnssys leaves US nearly
without living representatives Of the early days OF West
Point We suppose that Paymaster Thomas j. Leslie,
who graduated March !, 1915 IN now the Oldest living
graduate OF the Academy Mt least the oldest YET In active
service Colonel b. l.. r. bonneville who graduated In
December of the same year has been placed the
tired list and on General Richard Deaneld and Colonel
Hartman Bache graduates Of the class Of 1918, and
Colonel Henry Beaverton Of the class Of 1872 n
nlvtn af amin All nuAd
nifty Of the Academy in Us youthful days Even Colo
nels David Hunter aud W. W. Morris graduates OF the
class Of 1922 must be beginning 10 feel that their ways
Of life rapidly falling into the sear, the yellow ean
though they need not look with fear and trembling
Macbeth did, TO an old age, unarcompaned BY
Honor, love, obedience, troops OF friends.
Death OF the Rev. John r. Booth.
Tho Rev. John r. Booth, pastor Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church OF the Tabernacle expired at hrs
dence in Leonard street. near Mcserole, Greenpolnt At
fosas otcI unafa mnXn he If