Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-10-22
The New Secretary Of War.

The President has appointed to the va
cant place in the cabinet, q citizen Of Iowa,
Gen. W. W. Belknap, of Keokuk. The
appointment like most Of the Presidents,
was the one least expected, and excites
general surprise, and not little comment.
Much of the comment, as might have been
been expected, is not favorable. Gen.
Bclknap is soldier of honorable record,
aud possesses the ability to properly per-
form the duties of the Office, but it is sug-
gested, with what truth we cannot as vet
determine, that he is politically unsound !;
in fact that he was a Johnsouite, and that
his appointment is not calculated to give
satisfaction to the party which carried Iowa
for Gen. Grant by 10000 majority. These
are the objections raised against Gen. Bel
kuap's appointment by the State Register
and some other prominent Republican
Journals. Other papers, among which is
the Davenport Journal, youch for the
soundness Of the new Secretary, and warm
IL commend his qualifications for the place.
This very difference of opinion is proof
that his Johnsonis,n, if it existed at all,
was not of a very pronounced character.
The following sketch OF Gen. Delknap )
life and services is from the keokuk Gate
tI1y
General William Worth 3 lknap, whom
the President has called to his Cabinet as
Secretary of War, comes OF military fam
lily.
His father, General VIM. G. BelkEap,
WAS for many years distinguished and
useful officer of the regular army. lie
entered the service in lol3, as Sd Lieu
tenant of the I'D regiment OF Infantry, and
died in 1851 as Lieut.. Colonel of the 9th
Infantry.
He served with marked galantry through
the Florida and Mexican wars, for which
he received frequent brevets. lie was the
Intimate friend OF Scott, Taylor and Worth,
tor the latter of whom he named his first
pon, the subject OF this sketch, and who WAS
born a, Newburg, !. Y, OH the ga Of Sep
embcr, ls2?; he is, consequently, just
|turned 49,
lie graduated from the College Of New
Jersey, at Princeton, in the class of 1913.
lie was co,cmporary Of Hester Ctyn
ii PENNSYLVANIA, and of George 81, Robe
son, the Secretary Of the Navy, and WAS a
classmate OF the Rev. ". Il. Cattell, prcsi,
dent of La Fayeue College, and Of Col. c.
w. Tolies. Sheridans Quartermaster.
He studied law with H. Caperton. Esq,
at Georgetown. D. c.. and, as the partner
of the Hon. Ralph p. Lowe, afterwards
Goyernor of this State and Judge Of the
Supreme Court practiced his profession
successfully in keokuk, Iowa, where he 10
Gated in 1851. He was elected to, and
served one term-that of lS57-S--in the
Iowa Legislature, as Democrat, during
which time he made the acquaintance OF
james T. Wilson, then a member OF the
same body. Being unwilling to give
countenance to the Lecompton swindle. he
keparated from the radical wing of his par
: aud was known rs Douglas Democrat
up to the outbreak of the Rebellion.
He entered the army as Major of the
10th Iowa Infantry. commanded by Colonel
afterwards GeneraD Hugh I. Reid; ser
we'd with rising through the various grades
and participating Ill the battle 0! ohlloh,
siege Of Corinth, battle of Corlnth, cam
paign and siege of Vicksburg, campaign
And siege of Atlanta, and battles of Attain
ia July 2lst, 22d, and 18th. After the cap
lure of that place he marched with Sher-
man to the Sea, and finally to Washington !;
laking prominent part in all the actions
bf those brilliant campaigns. He was pro-
uoted to the rank of Brigadier General for
Ipecial galantry in the memorable battle
Il July 22d, near Atlanta, in which his reg
ment fought from both sides Of the same
inc of breastworks.
He was brevetted Maj. Gen. on the 18th
pf March, and at the date of his muster
put, or the 9th of August, 1865, was re-
Earded by Gen. Sherman and his compan-
pms as one of the most accomplished and
promising officers of the army.