The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-06-03
The New secretary of War.

John McAllister Schofeld was born
in Chautauvua county, New. York, Sep
TENDER 20, 1881. at the age of twelve
years he removed with his fathers
family to Illinois. and from that State,
where he received his primary educa-
ton, he was entered us Cadet at the
Military Academy at West Point,
where he was graduated in 1858, receiv-
ing at that time brevet as I'd Lieuten-
ant in the Second Regiment of Artil-
lery. He was stationed for two years
at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, and
subsequently at Fort Cassin, Florida.
Afterwards he was ordered to West
Point as Instructor in Natural Philoso-
ply, and filled that position for five
years. He was in 1860 granted leave
of absence to occupy the chair of Nat
ural Philosophy in Washington Uni
Versity, st. Louis, and was SO engaged
when the late war broke out. BY an
order from the War Department he was
detailed to muster into service the Mis-
souri, troops, and was appointed Major
in the First Missouri Infantry.
His rank in the regular army
was then First Lieutenant, and
in May, 1851, he was appoint.
Bonneville he Joined General Lyon as
Assistant Adjutant General and Chief
of-Staff, and was with him when he fell
at the battle of Wilson's Creek. Major
Sturgis. in his report of that battle to
Major General Fremont, speaks of the
then Major Schofield as follows:
wherever the battle most fercely
ragged, there was General Lyon; and
NHafnH CdI,AffnII l,f
principal staff officer. The GOODNESS
and equanimity with which he moved
from point to point carrying orders,
was a theme of universal conversation.
/ cannot speak to highly of the invaI-
liable services Major Schofield render
ed by the confidence his example in
spired." Major Schofeld was commits
stoned Brigadied General of Volunteers
November 81, 1861, and assigned to the
command OF the militia in Missouri,
authorized to be raised for service du-
ring the war. When Gen. Halleck
went to Pittsburgh Landing about
four-fifths of the State was placed un-
on June 1, 1862, the district of Mis-
souri,, comprising the entire State, was
assigned to him. In October he re-
ceiVed command of the army of the
frontier, comprising the troops of the or
ganiZed forces of the rebels back TO the
valley OF the Arkansas, defeating Hind
man, October %, at Maysviile, near
Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and pursuing
him beyond the Boston Mountains: In
November, 1862, he was commissioned
Major General of Volunteers, and in
1864 Brigadier General in the Regular
Army, and in 1865 Brevet Major Gem
eral, and subsequently was elevated to
the full rank. After the close of the
war, Major General Schofield was sent
to the Southern States, on tour of in
quiry, to ascertain the condition OF
things there, and after a short absence
returned to Washington and reported
the result of his examination. When,
May I'd, 1867, Congress passed the bill
entitled IAN act for the more efficient
government of the States lately in re-
bellion," by which the South was d.
vided into military districts, Major
General Schofeld was appointed to the
command of the First District com
prising the State of Virginia, which
position he still occupies. After Gen.
Grant resigned the dd interim Secreta-
ryship of War, in obedience to the ac-
ton of Congress reinstating Secretary
Stanton, and while the Impeachment
trial was progressing, President john
son nominated Gen. Schofield for the
portfolio OF War, which nomination
has now BEEN confirmed.