New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-07
A Sketch of the Dishonest Secretary.

Sketch of the Dishonest Secretary.
William Worth Belknap, whose official
career and public life came to such an un-
and disgraceful end yesterday,
comes of military family. His father was
William Belknap, q brave and distinguished
officer Of the war of 1872, and of the war
with Mexico. He belonged to the old town
OF Newburg, on the Hudson, where his
family, on both sides, had been engaged
in the wars Of the revolution. The elder
distinguished himself in the
were his services that after the war with
England he was retained in the regular
army. He was 80 systematic in habit that
he was appointed one Of the professors at
West Point. At Resaca de Ia Palma,
during tho war with Mexico, the
father of the Secretary of War distin-
guished himself for Q reckleesness of
courage that ill.comported with his usual
staid and mathematical habits. At the
Taylor's staff. The citizens of his own
State, in honor of his bravery, presented
him with q sword. His portrait now adorns
the old headquarters at Newburg. He be-
came Brigadier General. In 1851 General
w. G. Belknap, while proceeding to his post
in Texas, died of fever. One Of the evil
dences Of the sense Of respect in which he
was held is that he once presided over a
courtmartial which investigated the con-
duct of General Scott.
The particular friend of the elder Bel
KNAPP was General William Worth; the son
was named William Worth Belknap.
Young Belknap was born at Hudson, New
York, September %, 1899. His early life
was passed in his native place, but he was
educated at Princeton College, from which
he was graduated in lS48. Among his
classmates we're George NJ Robes0n, who
has been 80 long associated with him in
General Grants Cabinet, and Heister Cly
mer, of Pennsylvania, before whose COM
mittee the exposures were made which led
to his retirement and downfall. He subse-
quently read law in the office of H. Caper-
ton, at Georgeto xn, District of Columbia,
and then removed to keokuk, Iowa,
where he practiced his profession in oon-
nection with Ralph p. Lowe, afterward
Governor of the State and Judge of the
Supreme Court. He began the practice of
the law in 1851, and pursued his profession
until he entered the army after the break
ing out of the rebellion. During one term,
that of 1878, he was member of the Iowa
Legislature. He was elected as q Demo
crat, but he opposed the measures of the
Lecompton wing of his party. and in the
subse q uent political movements OF the time
he identified himself with the fortunes of
Stephen A. Douglas. His sympathies we're
entirely with the Union, and it was not long
after the beginning of the rebellion until he
gave his services to the county in the war
with the South.
William W. Belknap entered the army
as major Of the Fifteenth Iowa Volunteers.
under Colonel Hugh T. Reid, and served
with his regiment in the Army of the Ten
nessee throughout its various campaigns.
Major Belknap was in the battle of Shiloh,
which will be remembered a. one Of the ear
liest struggles of the war, Grant being driven
back to the river and his army only saved
from destruction by the fortunate arrival
of Buell.. Later on Major Belknap psrtici-
pated in the siege and battle of Corinth
and in the long campaign against Vlcksburg
During these ardu0us campaigns his merits
as q soldier were brought into prominence,
and he rose to be the colonel of his regi-
ment. As such he participated in the siege
and battles of Atlanta in 1864. He was in
all Of the battles of July q, % and %; and in
the remarkable battle Of the twenty second,
when parts of General Blalr's corps were
used on both sides OF the works, he had the
pleasure of capturing a rebel colonel and
four of his men IAN be could get to follow
him of his whole regiment), who had actu-
ally taken position on the other side OF
the work. One of the men had pointed
his gun over the parapet to shoot Colonel
Belknap. but he adroitly pushed it
away, and boldly demanded the surrender
of the whole party. After the capture of
Atlanta, Colonel Belknap, who was pro-
NOTED to Brigadier General for his bravery
in the action of the twenty-second, marched
with Sherman to the SEQ, and then to Wash
ingt0D, participating in all the actions Of
that brilliant campaign. Not only was his
special gallantry in the memorable battle of
Atlanta recognized and rewarded, but he
was breveted Major General March Is, 1865,
for meritorious conduct during the war.
After leaving the army upon the close of
the war General Belknsp returned to KeU-
kuk, where he was appointed by President
johnson collector of internal revenue for
the first district of Iowa.
General Belknap held this insignificant
Office at the time when General Grant was
inaugurated President OF the United States.
In his own mind there was . doubt
whether he would be permitted to hold it
longer, and he made . journey to Washing
ton to endeav0r to secure the place during
the next administration. The result Of
that visit was that he became Secretary
of War. The President recognizing his
merits as q soldier and believing
in his worth a. citizen, first Of
fered him the post OF collector Of customs
at New Orleans, which he was compelled
quently General Grant named him as Sec
retary of War, to succeed General Rswlins.
The appointment was made October IL,
1869, and on the third of November follow
ing the Secretary said, In reply to an ad-
dress trsm citizens of Iowa:
"Honored as have been by the President
with q position conferred upon me without
solicitation, it will be my endeavOr, with
the enforcement of rigid economy, so to
conduct it's affairs as to command the ap-
proval of the country, relying on that pa
triotism which has ever guided the Ameri-
can people, with the great examples OF q
Stanton and Rawlins before me. II the
result should indicate that your kind con-
gratulations have not been misplaced,
shall be satisfied"
For q long time such g result seemed
likely, and the Secretary rose in public con-
sideration and esteem. The literary societies
of his Alma Mater asked him to deliver
their annual address in 1871, and in the
same and the subsequent year he addressed
the graduating classes Of the Military Acad-
emy at West Point. In many ways during
his term of service as Secretary of War he
seemed to merit that approval which he
was 80 anxious to receive in the beginning,
and recently his name was prominently
mentioned in connection with the Iowa
Senatorship. All these bright promises are
now ended, and we'll earned reputation as
soldier is blasted forever. In such case
it is possible only to pity . man whose
career had in it 20 much that was good and
yet ended with such deep disgrace.-New
York Herald.