New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-14
MAJOR-GEN. BELKNAP.

Maior-Gen. William NJ Belknap, the new
Secretary Of War, is native Of the City OF Hudson,
N. Y. He Ia ss years OF age, possesses q fine per.
sonal appearance, and constitution that gives evi'
denco of q man who endure the greatest cunt OF
mental and physical labor without fatigue His father
WAS Brig Gen. Belknap who. In the OF 1872. en-.
tered the army as volunteer, and was soon promoted
from the ranks for good conduct He was wounded Sc
verey at the battle Of Fort Erie and was one OF the few
officers created by the exigences OF the war; who was
retained In service after peace was declared After
serving short time West Point Instructor OF In
fantry tactics he expressed desire for active service
and from that time $50 the year of his death Qs5l
he was more constantly duty than probably any
other officer of the Regular Army For good conduct IN
the Florida war; he brevetted Lieutenant Colonel
At the battles Of Palo Alto and Resaca de Ia Palma, on
the sh and 9th OF May 1885, he practically the sec
ond In command under Gen. Taylor and won for himself
the character OF o gallant soldier by his meri'
torious conduct He remained with Gen. Tay
lor, and was brevetted Brigadier-Genera for gal
liant conduct at the battle Of Buena Vista.
The present Secretary Of War possesses many OF the
ouates of his distinguished father He has the same
taste for business and love OF discipline. Dependent
almost entirely through life upon himself his father being
constantly on the frontiers with income the pay
OF an office Of the army young Beknap met his future
with cheerfuness became protector TO his fathers fam
,ly and educated himself without taxing the limited in
that was needed for the support OF those toward
whom he has throughout his life been snguary devoted
On the death OF his father, Gen. Beknap moved from
Hudson with his fathers family and sought homo In
the then very State Of Iowa. With tho resolute
spir OF pioneer dependent upon his own exertons Tor
success he established home and commenced the prac
toe OF law He was very rapidly gaining the respect OF
the community In which he lived and began to be looked
ND to az q future leader In the enterprises ooth
financial and POLITICAL which affected the interests OF Ills
adopted State II was then, while circumstances were
preparing brilliant future. that the Rebellion broke
ont. The firing on Fort Sumter summoned him to
the field and like Grant, Rawns and other heroes OF
the West he promptly abandoned bis civil pursuits
and early entered tho Army as MAJOR OF the ioh
Iova Volunteers He commanded the regiment In the
battle of Shiloh and for gallanty In that engagement
wa. promoted TO Colonel, and made Provost
Marahal of the Fifteenth Army Corps. He afterward
e,oned his re Qment a. Colonel and took part In the
a,aok ON ycksburg After the fall Of that stronghold
hs was breyeted Brgader General, aud led the Iowa
Brigade in the Atlantic campaign He took part In the
hattie of the 77d OF July, when Gen. Mcpherson was
killed and was afterward made O full Brigadier'
General for gailantry in action. He marched to
,be sss with Gen. Sherman, and when the
army reached Savannah he was breyetted
Ma,or. General He commanded division In the
P,fteenth Army Corps In tho campaign through tho
Carol,nas and fought his last hght Ut Bentonve when
the war ended he offered the position OF Brgadier'
General In the Regular Army, but refused, and IN 1896
made Collector Of Internal Revenue Tor the First
iowa District As Collector of the Revenue he tustued
rsfoms IN his district on account OF which he received
tho highest Communications Of the department. He was
to deliver the annual address at the last reunion
~ the Army Of the where he acquitted hmsen
verv erod,taby In his speech he spoke In the most
glowing and AudAtOry terms Of the Pgssdens ana