The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-11-22
A MILITARY HERMIT.
Col Martin Burke, the RecluSe Of BedlOe
Island,

Col. Martin Burke, the RecluSe Of BedlOe
| Island.
The most eccentric man in the United
States army is Col. Martin Burke, an of.
ticer on the retired list, who occupies
quarters on Bedloe's Island. "Old Mar.
tin Burke," as he has for many years
been called In the service, is a decrepit
little man, with STOPPING shoulders, q
| round, ruddy face, a grizzly gray beard
a bullet head, whitened with years of
patriotic service. His military record
reaches back nearly to the organization
OF the army. He was promoted from the
ranks 10 a Second Lieutenancy in the
e gh n Infantry in the beginning of the
year 1920, and was transferred the fol-
| lowing year to the First Infantry, and in
1873 to the Third Artillery, in which he
| became First Lieutenant in 1873, and a
, Captain in 1888. He distinguished him
self in the Mexican war, and was spe-
C ally mentioned for his behavior at the
| battles OF Cerro Gordo, Uontreras, Chur-
| ubuscO, and Ell MOlino del Rey, recely-
ing the brevets of Major and Lieutenant
Colonel III 1917. In 1861 he was promot.
ed by seniority to Lieutenant Colonel of
the Third Artll cry, and in 1865 received
| the breYet of Brigadier General in the
regular army.
In 1858, when Fort Lafayette was Sc
lected by the War Department as a mill
tary prison, Col. Burke was assigned to
its command. The duty was exceeding
ly distastful to the old gentleman, but
no better man could have been selected
for the place. He was a strict con-
structionist, embodying his notion of
military efficiency in the one single max
| i'm OF unQuestionlng obedience to SUPER
| ior rank. 1t was known in Washing ton
| that he would infleXibly execute every
| instruction he received, and tnat, what
ever might be his personal liking for any
particular captive under his care, he
would treat him precisely as he was or
dered to-a pofut quite important to
gain at Jlme when SO many prominent
men, including many old army officers,
were falling under the GOVERNMENTS
suspicion.
The Imprisonment at Fort Latay cite
OF the Baltimore Police Commssio ners
marked an important epoch in Col.
Burke'S experience. An effort was
made to release them under writ of
habeas corpus, but the War Department
instructed Col. Burke not to allow the
writ to be served. From that time he
held himself in as close custody as anv
of the prisoners under his charge. His
mind was constantly on the rack lest he
might be entrapped into allowing the
Sheriff to land at the Fort unawares to
serve the writ, and ne neither rested
quietly during the daytime nor slept
soundly at night under the strain. In
the spring OF 1868 he was allowed to take
quarters in Fort Hamilton, still retain.
ing his functions as commandant at
Fort Lafayette.
Having been many years a widower
his habit in garrison were as simple as
when serving IN the field. The 1urni-.
ture Of his apartments consisted of a
camp-cot, coYerless table, and wood
en-seated chair. He always camped out,
whether lodging in or out OF doors.
The bl-monthly mus ler-day was the
season OF his greatest glory. The troops
were generally mustered at A. NJ, but
the doughty old Colonel would be out on
the parade busting about as early as 8
O'Clock, dressed (Ior those occasions
only in his full uniform. This was
chiefly conspicuous for being sur
mounted with dress coat which he
blue cloth of which, under time and ex-
posure, had faded into dingy green
color. On the front of his shoulders, al
most invisible from the side or rear, he
wore pair of equally dilapidated
epaulettes. He was marked character
in every way, and no person who ever
saw it will forget his little bent figure
trotting nimbly along the ramparts as
he cautiously scanned the horizon with
his tield-glass in search of Sheritfs and
Sheriff's officers. He was bit of wag
in those days, and not only relished
joke, but could make one himself.
On one occasion two officers of the
Twelfth Infantry became engaged in a
l, 1fnh i
be appeased without bioodshed on one
side or the other. Col. Burke managed
to have the belligerents call at MS quar-
ters, separately, where he exhibited to
each visitor with great JUNCTION hand
some pair of duellng pistols, which he
asserted never failed 10 kill their man
Laying the weapons down carelessly, |
the Colonel announced his intention of
being absent for the next twenty-four
hours, and did actually establish him |
self in the other fort during that inter. |
val. On his return the pistols had not |
been removed from where he had placed |
themAand the quarrel was in fair way
OF being settled.
sold Mai tin Burke used to declare that |
many good fellow had been ruined in !
life blythe habit Of paying his debtsp'
Colonel Burke continued to reside at |
Fort Hamilton until just after the New |
York riots oil 1863 The garrison was all |
in the city except handful OF volun-
teers, retained for guard duty. One day,
as the only officer on duty at the post |
was passing out of the fort, he encoun-
tered four burly, red-faced men, who
asked to see Colonel Burke. Request
ing them to wait until the Colonel could |
be notified, the officer stepped inside and |
doubled the sentries at all the |
entrances to the fort. The visit
ors found themselves unable to en-.
ter, and one OF the party said he was the ]