The Portland daily press., 1878-07-25

On the occupation of New Orleans ne wa
made military commandant of that CITY, Ii
this arduous and responsible place, he so ad
ministered affairs, as to win the respect ant
affections of the conquered and embttered in
habtants, and to secure the confidence and
approval of those above him. His duties
were both civil and military, and in both h
manifested prudence, energy and ability
which were repeatedly commended, and oi
the third day of June 1862, were honerabl.
recognized by his appointment by President
Lincoln upon the recommendation OF the
Secretary of War as Military Governor OF TN
State of Louisiana, with full powers, including
the power to establish all necessary office
and tribunals and suspend the writ OF hdoeo
corpus - July Goth he was appointed
Brigadier General to rank from July 10, loo2
AS Military Governor of Louisiana he fully
sustained the high reputation he had establish
ed as commandant of the city.
Upon the Inauguration of civil governor h'
was, at his own request, relieved by the Presi'
dent and ordered to report again to the AdJu
tant General of the army for service in the fielt
When he left New Orleans, leading and inf1u
entail citizens testified their appreciation of hi
administration by an address commencing al
follows:
"We, citizens of New Orleans, avail ourselves
of the opportunity afforded US by the close Oi
your official career among us, to give expires.
sion to the sentiments of regard and esteem
with which your character and conduct have
inspired us. For nearly two years you have
performed the delicate and arduous duties Of
military governor of Louisiana in a manner be-
y0nd all praise, winning in your official ca.
pacty the respect of the whole community, and
by your social virtues converting all who have
enjoyed the pleasure Of your acquaintance into
warm personal friends.
Upon being relieved in Louisiana he was or.
dsred to report for duty in the department Of
Virginia and North Carolina, and was placed
in command of the military district of Eastern
Virginia. This district included Fortress Mon
roe, Newport News, Yorktown, Williamsburg,
Norfolk and Portsmouth, with the line of de.
fence known as Getty's line, the eastern shore
of Virginia, and that portion of North Carolina
north of Albemarle Sound. He again took the
field as chief of staff to Major General Welt.
eel, acting in that capacity, and for short
time, during the absence of Gen. Weitzel, COM
manding the 25th army corps. He continued
with the Army of the James to the end If the
campaign, entering Richmond with Gen. Welt
zel's command-which were the first troops to
enter that city after its fall-and was appointed
the first Military Governor of that city. At
the close of the war he resigned his commits
sion, July /, 1865.
10 the early part of his military career he
was rendered nomi nation for Congress by the
Democrats of this district, but declined in a
letter in " hich he said his highest ambition
was to see his country at peace and prosperous
again, and to be himself at liberty to return to
the practice of his profession.
In November 1865, he was appointed an As
sociate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court
of this state, but declined the position.
The events of ths war and his own expert
riences led to change of his political relations
and he became identified with the Republican
party, by whom he was elected Representative
to the State Legislature in 1866, in which he
served with marked ability.
Shortly after the close of the session he re-
sumed the practice of law, having formed a CO.
partnership with A. A. Strout, Esq. under the
style of Shepley & Strout. But he was not
long permitted to remain in private station.
When, in 1869, the judicial system of the
United States was amended by an act provid-
ing for the appointment of Circuit judges, he
was, without seeking on his part, selected for
the appointment in the irst circuit. His COM
mission was issued December %, 1869, and he
at once entered upor the discharge of the la
borious and responsible duties of that high iu-
dicial Office.
In the years of his judicial life he was con-
stantly called upon to sit in difficnlt and i'm
portant cases, and by his knowledge, his acumen
and his impartiality, fully proved the wisdom
of his selection for the judgeship. q matters
of patent law his work has been especially se-
we're, and those best qualified to estimate how
he has performed that work are unanimous in
his praise and in according to him the highest
rank as judge in that branch Of the law.
Nor has he failed in any respect to meet the
high anticipations of the public at the time of
his appointment, but rather he has command
ed the confidence and gained the applause of
the best and soundest lawyers throughout his
circuit and the country.
His mental faculties. originally of high
oroer, were strengthened and disciplined by
constant study. The range of bis attainments
was wide. His taste in literature and art was
cultivated and refined. His emnence was fit
tingly recognized only few weeks ago by the
honorary degree of LID, conferred on him
by his Alma Mater.
Judge Shepley, as was well known to those
intimate with him and enjoying his confidence,
was ever full and strong believer in the Holy
Scriptures, but did Tot until recently publicly
unite with any religious society. A little more
than year ago he joi2ed the Episcopal church
and connected himself with the St. Luke
Society of this city. That he was a firm and
devout believer in the truths of Christianity,
there IS abundant evidence. and in that faith
he daily grew stronger and found increasing
joy. His religious life was deep and sincere,
without ostentation or dogmatism.
By nature he was kindly and considerate to
all men. His sympathies were quick and his
affection strong and enduring. Only those
who have been permitted to see him in his own
home, and surrounded by those whom be loved
and trusted can imagine how sweet his dis
position was, and how he brought happiness to
those around him.
While living in Bangor he married Miss
Lucy Hayes, by whom lie had four children,
one son and three daughters She died in 1859
Two of the daughters--Mrs. Selfridge, wife of
Commander T. o. Selfridge, U. S. N, and
Mrs. Tiffany, wife Of prominent lawyer of
st. Louis-survive their father In 1872 Judge
Shepley married Miss Helen Merrill, daughter
of the late Eliphalet Merrill, who survives him.
If the falness of life is 20 be reckoned by the
amount of work we'll done, we cannot feel that
our honored fellow citizen has been premature
ly cut off, but as we remember how full of
strength he seemed and what capacity for USE
fulness yet remained to him, aud what all men
hoped from him. we bow in sorrow at the sud-
den extnguishing of his light. ).
HI e FUNERAL.