Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-09-17

HE PERSONAL HISTORY asD MILITARY SERVICES.
Major General Alfred T. A. Torbert- tue Repub-
iican candidate for Congress, i native Of this
State. born in 1853. 10 Georgetown, Sussex Co.,
where bis father. .ey. Jonathan Torber,, lived
aud died His ancestors came originally from
Greas Britain and their descendants have been ci-
izens Of this State for many years.
The General graduated at the L S ssIlaary
Academy 5. West Point July !. 1855. and Wa
sppointss I'd Lieutenant by brevet and served on
frontier duty, IN garrison and scouting against
the Indians 10 ls5... In ISIS he was promoted 10
ID Lieutenant 5th lniautry. and continued service
gu frontier cu,y in New Mexico and Texas ls5Js-
engaged 10 bos;ii.ties against Seminole Indians
il Florida, and o. Ulah Expedition under Gen.
Johnston j7-tS. February. lssl promoted 10 1si
Lieut., and commenoed lis service against rctel-
len N mastering 10 New Jersey Volunteers. nps
vita the 1t Regimen, " Jersey Blues he match
% 70 Tue dsfsbee Of Washington. 10 sept u b
Sac made Colonel Of ihis ,4tDuns reayiInent and
Wiz il he fought over ite HiFgiBL- Pebin- !sf
caulaign with tue Army d the Potomac. He
Va engaged II ihs siege Of fpfktosn, action a
Nest Pvlnl. baiiles Gaipes' Mil and Charles Civ
Crues k0sos: eOmtnanded Brigade Of the BIZ
Corp IRON aug -, isSz. ID The Northern NItsi-
LA cAnpsigu- 5sd a The bait 6 Of M2n4ss4s
Aug. Zs-st. lssz. He gsiialuy led his brigsce
through ibe Aarsisrd catDpAign, At the bstue q
south AeVntgiu- where tie va wounded. bot not
50 MUCH disabled 70 keep Tim oat OF the great
eDlIiet AZ Antlstain. nlfse days later. sace.sss-
liz I'll. vietQrr u lhe Lu!DH iofc-s followed Tue
uafeh y Falmouth. Va. 10 pur.uii Of the keo=
a. To, . Nc-el-sr would ls Ibeu, and the b y
pzAabnock c4Mt4lgn, IN I'll u which b. is
eoatt5Lu: IL lls tsy1 81 TIE bead 81 lis big
serving lis country IL tie uiekss o. lbs 1 NJ
spY = -: pfolnp1d % Brig. Gen. &. $. Nti-
1uit-f. les5 e3t.tHance1 SANG brigade il Tie
Fentisyisanis tan lsigr. I'D fought thrJogf. tie
decisive tzuls u i,iy.Darg July rs. Of thai -
memorable ye4f.
jay A. i,s5. Ii. dsy ihai al loyal leas Y
NfV4gao1I The ustyn isfDbDed AIi,4 iqiL3li : ~
~. foG tie great Yet9fy u TIE El.ior .o.cs.4 :
10 Tux Regular lFny. for gslI4n; sp9 uIe-ivyriS.s
ssr.less ~ tie tgikse 81 tyeiiyItury He iEt.
eotnlnsn1sd ts- hrig.de cgriiDuogsiy down u
. Apr- ls6i. Participating 10 ibe kspidAn cato
psign; beipg Engaged II the cc1L1at ~ kzppa-
( Lsrnock si4iiyn sud Nine k-G. Apfli. Ies,s IL
va. PLACED 10 command .. tie Firsi Digi-iyn III
cavalry. Army II the PoiotDse aud rBoyec wilh
u % HE grand advance. Ia May he was as.igrs,1
70 the coInuand u III The cavalry ltsyut . y /,
with th5i army, Genera Sheridan telng u Ne
Rlchinoud roao with the e0I,s pfOEef He c0us-
tnanded a, tie cavalry ignl i Milford SiAli0n
and On tue Sortn anus. My n q, aud 10 tne
engagement At HsnoyeTtpsu, and u HsHs ehop
On tie 2llh and zctE. Eur gallant md merit :
nous services al hsNE shop he sas brvrets3
Lieut. Cal., L. {. A., aud Ms, 5ytn CONN su1 d.
at the fight al NaL4de1ain Lfee4 .Ld also =,
Cold Harbot Sist, He participated also III liz
contest at TreyiIlian sution. june i1lh. suc
Tunstall's Station 2ist. July 5yln be w&s ordered
- embark at City tOint With lie diyi1l0n pro.
coed ~ Washington, and repor u General kltf-
dan, al Harpers Ferry. Reporting August s.h
he was promoted 70 chief oi c4YsIry Of the Mic
die Military Division. gu the stAi VI the Gebers.
| commanding. HIS command consisted IL he
flrst and Third Cavalry Divisions from the Arns
\ Of The Potomac, commanded by Generals Aeffi;,
and Wilson, and the Second Division Of the Argiy
Of the Shenandoah, commanded by General 4 i.
erill. In the fighting in tbat department Tolbert
had conspicuous part, commanding at the bat
tie OF Winchester. August 18th, aud IL Kearney.
vile August 18th. ln the famous baitle at Dt,e-
| quan, September 18Th, he commanded 10 perm
the First and Second Divisions. sharing also per
| sonally in other engagements succeeding thai
victory. 10 the fight at Mount Crawford Oeto.
Der End, aud at Jones River on the 9Th be com.
inanded the First and Third Divisions under
| Merritt and Custer. Ia The general en- SageuIsf,
at Cedar Greek, October 18Th he comin lnded he
| First Second and Third Divisions, and Soyeuis.,
l2th, was present of the engagement Besf Nidce-
town. he then commanded at Liberty Mil. aud
/ at GordOnsfflle. On the 9Th OF September bs
had been promoted 10 brevet Major Genefsl. atc
assigned 10 duty by President Lincoln &c. ,ftlng
TO Ills brevet rank. April 20, 1855. he Wss Il !
Signed 10 the command u the Army u tie hberl.
audOah, headquarters at WinchlxLer the tftn.
cavalry, and six batteries. On the l2,h oi July
| this army was broken up, aud be uuk assiyued
% the command OF the district Of Southeastern
Virginia, headquarters at Norfolk. He wa Ire.
veted Colonel September 18Th, 1864, for ysllau,
services al the baljle Of Winchester Dfssel Brig.
adler General. March 18th LIB for bravery 1,
Cedar Greek; brevet Major Genefsl Msfeh ls.ii.
lsG5, for gallant services during the war
rev Officers were more hiyliy esteemed hy Tie
authorities Of New Jersey than Gsnera! Ioftsft
and during the war he was claimed a. 5 eileen 1i
that State. II was owing In large deyfea H. NJ,
Industry and fidelity TINT The onthori,!.s 81 th.i
State were enabled 70 promptly fill ali N. .tqui.
tltiDfis made upon them for uUote.
AZ solcirf, General forbsft was cJ1fsyefjs,s
figlant and sailliul with exceiIelt natural "a.
Pscillea Tor cnnInaDd, he united much acquired
knowledge az " the high ars ADD rulss of .ay
which made him vastly superior 10 many yta
Ranked hin 10 tue service. As cavalry officer
he displayed peculiarly brilliant qualitis fher,.
Dan, under Whose eye he fought. held hin in The
highest estimation. 10 the battles Of tht -heDau-
doah, during the summer and fall Of ls.ss be WAS
ever foremost IN graphing with tue enemy and
no blows were sharper or more severe than tht,e
which hls divisions inflicted upon Rariy. as he
went "whirlipg down the valley, +" utterly routed
and broken.
This is but the mersst outline Of the hriIiian,
military recotd OF the General II would take q
volume 70 do Justice " oil the scenes and INCIDENT
Of his life service In lhr cause Of biz country,
We present the above hastily complied outIine r.
the people Of Delaware with prize and since the
gallant smith IL no more atiioi get ~ we think
there is none T., dispute that he is fairly entitled
70 the title OF Delawares Fayorite Soldier. Lei
the people unite 10 doing justice to his merits by
returning him as their Representative in The Cor.
gress of the United States, where he will be ne.
ceiyed with Joy as one Of the patriotic and true
defenders OF the country against all It's enemies