The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-09-08
The Late Gen. Croker.


| From ON interesting and valuable work nov
in press entitled g Iowa Colonies and Reei
ments," by Capt. A. A. Stewart, We are en-
abled to collect the following facts in relation
to the personal history and public services Of
the late Brigadier General Marcellus NJ
Crocker of this city. He was q native ol
johnson county, Indiana, born in February
1860. At the age Of ten years he accompani
ed his father family to Illinois, whence, after
residence Of four or FIVE years, he removed
to Jefferson county, Iowa. Through the re.
commentator of Gen. A. C. Dodge, he was
at the age of sixteen appointed a cadet in the
Military Academy at West Point. Poor
health prevented him from completing his
education, and he was compelled to leave the
academy after an attendance of about two
years and half. In lS49 he returned to
Iowa, and commenced the study Of the law
In the Office of Judge Olney, at Fairfield He
was admitted to practice in 1861, and settled
In Lancaster, keokuk county, where he re-
manned until 1856, and then removed to Des
Moines
When the rebellion broke ont in the spring
OF 1851 Gen. Croker WAS husily engaged in
the discharge of the duties Of his profession.
He was an ardent Democrat, having support
ed Mr.. Douglas for the Presidency in 1850,
but he threw away forever all former partisan
preJudices, raised company Of yoluuisA--
was elected Captain, and tie connanv be.
came Co. ID, Of the lows Second Infantry
Al the organization of the regiment at the
rendezvous in keokuk, he was elected Major.
and with that rank enter the field. When
the Lieutenant Colonel. M. Tuttle-was
promoted. he succeeded 10 the Lieutenant
Colonelcy, and shortly afterward was trans
ierred to the Thirteenth Iowa. Infantry. and
commissioned as its Colonel In the winter
OF 1923. for brave and otherwise meritori-
Gus conduct in the field, he was commissioned
Brigadier General While he was at the head
of the Thirteenth Infantry, he took part in
tho battles Of Shiloh and Corinth In the
former, he commanded his regiment, and in
the latter brigade. Immediately after this en-
gagement tho Iowa brigade was organized,
and Gen. Croker placed at its head 1t was
composed of the Eleventh, Thirtieth, Fif
teenth and Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, and be
came one oi The most efficient brigade com
mands in the Army of the Tennessee. He
continued with it until the latter part of April.
1868, when, by order of Gen. Mcpherson. he
succeeded Gen Quimby in the command of
the Seventh Division, Seventeenth Army
Corps-the Division which fought With mark
ed gallantry e. jackson and Champion Hill.
liz June, 1863, Gen. Croker returned to his
home on sick leave. Ii is said by those &C.
qualnted with the facts that the tender OF the
leave of absence at this time was proffered by
General Grant under the following circum-
ugtapces: Crocker's tent being near that Of
Gfant, the attention of the latter was attract
ed by the severe and almost incessant cough.
ing OF the former during the night, and. GU
meeting the next morning, Gen. Grant said
: Gen. CreckeI- Was that you whom heard
coughing so last night ~ Yes replied
Gen. C. - Well, then my dear fellow, said
ten. Grant, +" ou must go straight home,
for you viii die here" Gen. Croker re.
Division command. and made Commandaut
of the District of Naichez. Here La remain
ed until the fall If l6Gs. when he returned To
Nicksburg and joined sherman on the Nerd
ian march. In the following spring he started
With his corps on Sherman great expedition
10 the Atlantic Coast, but on account Of i'll
health. was relieved and offered command
in New Mexico. He accepted Of the com
mand. believing the climate would do him
good, but failing TO realize his hopes in this
respect, he asked to be relieved. ard retained
10 the States at Just sbos,t the period when
Sherman. ttrant and Farragut were putting
the finishing TO the series OF victories which
virtually closed the war, Or his arrival in
nes Moinez, many of his personal friends
throughout the State we're anxious that he
should permit his name togo before the State
Convention as a candidate for Governor but
he declined, for the reason that Gov Stone
had proved faithful and efficient Executive
officer, and that he shoG,d therefore be re-
nominated ana reelected. Gen. Crocker
heartily endorsed the nominations which were
made, and was particularly pleased with the
position assumed by ;h. Convention on the
question Of Negro Suffrage. the fourth reso-
luton being entirely in harmony with his own
views Of public peliey snd OF public duty
He remained amoug his old friends several
weeks, gaining somewhat as he thought, in
physical strength and when an order from
the War Department reached him to report
at Washington for duty, he promptly oheyed
the order. Of his brief sickness there and
of his death. eur citizens have already learn
- the sad details. Gen. Crocker was a young
man, his age at the time of his decease having
been only about thirty FIVE: but his life was
an eventful one, crowded full of patriotic
deeds and his memory will be cherished not
only by every laya, cit,zeu Of the State, hut
by every patriotic American who shall in any
age read the record Of the late Civil War
Des .4otnes Register.