, 1873-01-12
WASHINGTON.
A Timely Word from Belknap,
Honor to Tho Remains Of James Nilki1.
sen, General.in.Chief Of The j..
United States Arny, -
Forty.seyen Years Forgotten..Who
Was He 2
Account of All Our Genera1s-in-
Chief,

Account of All Our Genera1s.in-
Chief.
From Our 0tc,1 Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1873.
Amongst the generous and thoughtful acts Of
the present sec7eta.y Of War, none will give
him more character with students in our poiti-
cal history and the army profession than the
following
COMMUNICATION.
which he sent to the Senate, Of his own motion,
on tho 5th OF December last:
WAn DEPARTMENT, Dec. 2, 1872.
Tho Secretary Of War has the honor to invite the At
teut,on Of the United States Senate AMI uouKe Of Rep
eesentatives to the fact tlat the remains Of NJ Gen
eral James Wilkinson, veteran Of the American War
Of Independence, who III 1793 Commanders IN
Chief Of the Army Of the United States, aud WAS at
Mss=ss;ppi and Louiaiana now lie in corner Of the
Church Of San Aguel, IN tho City Of Mexico, which
has lo.g since been closed, without monument or In
sc1iptiou to 1nork lis tomb
He has, therefore. the honor to recommend thAt
Congress authorize the e1humatiou Of the remains Of
this gallant md ueEtorious American soliier, and
dssIn:crmctt to bo betrayed from the general aprro
fioual Cetneserics. Nd. ". BELKHAP,
Secretary Of War
THE FORGOTTEN ONE,
General james Wilkinson, whose body has
Lin eo long unnoticed in the old church-eorner
OF foreign capital, VAS one OF the dozen or
more successive Chief OF the
Amy Of the United States and, more than any
other Commander Of that Army, excepting
Washington, and possibly excepting Vim
field Scott, hia civil as well as
his military life was variable, adyentu1ous, and
suggestive His abilities in his primo we're
never disputed, though his motives and charac-
ter have been. It wns his misfortune, with
tiary nature, TO cross the orbits Of many pol
iticians and politico-genernls, and sheee, and
their literary servitora in tho present generation,
have fallen into the habit OF setting Wilkinson
down as q plotter and trader, as if that had got
be:ond all question. I believe it to be probR-
bio thing to show Wilkinson to have been, as
Niles Register said at the news OF his death,
"more sinned against than SHINING"
MS CHARACTER.
He had all the qualities by which I'll geniuses
are distinguished, and, therefore, from the for
tility of his nature and the extent Of his genius,
he invaded every weak mans province at the
game time. As writer, ho Was tho first elegant
one which the West ever lnew; and, while the
infant Territory Of Kentucky WAS struggling
with destiny rs mere appendage Of Virginia,
Wilkinson's letters on the subject, dictated from
Kentucky, where lie was private citizen, gave
purpose to the pioneer spirit; for b great popu-
lar purpose can seldom take organization till q
good writer comes on the spot and puts it in
form. -
RKMS1scEScE.
1t 20 years Of ago this man was the Adjutant
General Of Gates venturous army, and he bore
to Congress the official report OF the surrender,
as be had taken to Gates from the British lines
thu articles of capitu1ation. His temerity and
abundance at that early time made him the un-
conscious vehicle OF tho exposure Of the caba1
between Conway, Loe, and Gates to oycrturn
Washington. II he could get into difficulty
With promptnesf, lie could get out Of it as read
ny, and he kept the friendship Of Washington,
whilo he challenged Gates. His precocity was
his bane, but that alno was one OF the accidents
Of his genius.
As prompt in trade and diplomacy as in war,
he founded the commerce between the Ohio and
Spanish New Orleans, while it was yet scarcely
matter Of inquiry by the Government. In the
Presidency Of Washington, Wien the Indians
and British were threatening to rarage Ill the
frontier Of Pennsylv and Virginia, and hold
the West for q wilderness reserve, Wilkinson
sent mnp Of his own makiug to Washington,
who replied that it was "by far tho best he had
syer seen Of the country" II some had looked
upon him as young upstart for his SUCCESS in
the Revolution, they must have repented to SEQ
him leading tho main wing Of Waynes army at
Tie Battle Of tho Miami and at tue egs
employment, ho became General-in-C Chief of
the United States army: With an Interrupt
tion OF two yearB, helield that position. virtually
for sixteen years, received New Orleans and
Louisiana from the Spanish, overthrew Burra
conspiracy, and, although twice court-martialed,
he came out gal1antly every time, and had to be
got rid of by disbaudment at last.
HES ERRORS AND HIS FoRTUSES-
It was his misfortune to be precipltated into
evil times and OCCASIONS and to hare the knack
things successfully, some other thing, where I'D
must needs and also principally be, could not
held but 60 wrong. I am not preperod to say
that he waa cafe man, but it Is to be doubted
whether any American Of his period, General
Jackson excepted, had his general yigor, decision,
and understanding.
HIS MEMOIRS.
After leaving tho army, he did 3 wise act: to
write his memoirs, at the age OF So. This ex-
traordinnry book, which s collect Of his genius
in Philadelphia, in three volumes, at three dol
lars volume. 1t reads like LiVy and Napoleon
compounded into one man of letters and action.
OLD AGE AND DEATH.
When this book had been published, Wilkin-
ION betook himself, old and unBhrinking, to tho
City Of Mexico, to beg grant Of land in Texas
Flerenpon he should plant colony. The State
u MARYLAND voted him, before he went, a full
pension as Colonel Of Dragoons for life. He
stained his object, and had chosen for the
pot Of his colony q tract on
he River Trinity, 40 miles from Galveston, or
On tho Sabine, 90 miles from Nachitoches. Had
he lived to consummate his project, James VII.
kinaon, and not Moses Austin, might have been
the social founder Of Texas. But, on tho 28th day
ot December, 1925, at tho ripe age Of s., he
ceased his wonderful career; and the intelli-
gence was brought to New Orleans in letter
from Mexico City, dated two days afterward.
he Was followed to the grave, says his letter, By
the most distinguished military officers, and by
81 the respectable foreigners IN Mexico. Tho
cody wEs taken from our Minister'S house
(Joel D. Poinsettl, in the afternoon, and
every effort wns nads with the Gov.
ern1nent to let it be inferred with military hon
ors- These were denied, on the ground that
they were not permitted eyen to citizens Of the
country. Old Wilkinson probably turned in his
grave If ha knew that fact for lA had 1iyAi fnr