Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-06-06
.EEo - GEes:ss-.s. ,sscEsEvzs.

\
\ correspondent Of the Baltimore
An3cyIcOe answers this question, row
one Of some interest, substantially III
the following manner:
Ranald $. Mackenzie is :: graduate
OF the United States Military Academy
at West Point, Of the class-of which
he was the head, and most distin-
gl1ished mcmbcr-that left that insti-
tuition il 1862, when the war had been
year in progress. He is = son of
that Commodore Mackenzie, OF our
navy, who thirty years ago now. in the
spring q 1913, hung up at the YARD
arm OF his vessel, the brig Somcrs,
while at sea, the Young milshipman,
Cromwell. and q privat>; seaman, for
mutiny. Young Spencer was Il son Of
John G. Spencer, then Secretary of
War, with John Tyler acting President
The grandfather Of AIldshipman Spen-
ccr was that AMI rose Spencer who was
for many wears CHIEF J;stice of New
York, beingnamCd the Mansfield Of the
Bench" and a man Of distinguished
ability, as was his son John G.. Both
were excessively proud men, aud AFRO
giant to a degree that was proverbial,
and hence the greater excitement over
the remarkable event referred to.
Thu, Young Phillip Spencer came of
proud stock and WIS restless spirit.
Different opinions prevailed iii the pub
lie mind At the time as to the act Of
Commodore Mackenzie, in the summa-
ry trial Of the youth by drlm-head
col1rt- t-iGartial and hanging him at the
yard arm, but few persons, ii any,
doubted rs 20 his guilt of the act with
| which lie stood charged. He and the
cOXswain and seamen had cOnspircl to
seize the SomerS and roam the seas
with her as a pirate.
Some people thought that Mackenzie
| ought to have brought the young con-
! spirator into some American port, and
| hal him tried by regular court-martial.
But, be that as it may, one thing is
| certain, there nave been no multiplying
m:lishipmen IL the navy from that day
| to this So much for an example that
carried terror with it !
The namc of Commo lore Mackenzie
was originally Alexander Slidell:
! changed to Mackenzie at the request
| OF a rclativc-he inhcrit:ng thereby
some property. He was native OF the
! city Of New York, and brother of John
| Slidell, of Louisiana fame, whose
name became familiar to ali the world
in 1862, in consequence Of his being
seized by Commodore Wilkes, on the
British vessel Trent, taken off of her
and carried to Boston, together with
Mason, of Virginia; he and the latter
being the Ministers at the time, of the
Southern Confederacy, to France and
Engiand-and on their way to their
respective points Of destination.
Unlike his uncle John, young Ranald
S. (SlidelD Mackenzie on graduating
| from the West Point Military Academy
l,;oi> ,;p ;lnla ,t.j.ot the Flag Of the
Union, instead OF enlisting under that
of the ''Stars and Bars" at once en-
tering the army. and upon active SER
vice, us Second Lieutenant of Engin-
eers-the arm to which he was assigned
as the . st scholar OF his class. But
that position seemed not to afford the
proper scope for his active spirit. This
he soon found, as volunteer, and rose
rapidly by promotion. Made Brevet
First lieutenant on August %, 1862,
he became Captain on May 3, 1868
Major on July 4, Of the same year
Lieut. Col. on June fS, 1864; Colonel
on the 9th OF October, and on the 18th
of March, 1S65-with the war still il
progress -Brevet Brigadier General
then full Brigadicr, and finally Brevet
Major General of Volunteers; his rank
III the regular army at that time being
only that of Capt. of Engineers.
VIXEN the war had closed and the
army was recognized, reducing the
rank of most OF the officers, Mackenzie
was assigned to the command of the
Forty-frst Regiment of Infantry, col
orcd. He was subsequently appointed
Colonel of the Fourth Cavalry, ant
has given the red devils no rast fo
tic soi6s of their feet ever since, driv
ing them hither and thithor and rccciv
ing, hy-thc-way, last year an arrow
| from The bow of one Of them into hi
: body during one of his gallant charge
; upon the scoundrels, which wa
I..r1. nainfll L11t fnrtuuatelX not fat al