The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-09-11
IN MEMORIAM.

Never, perhaps HIS IL ploiouhoei y III
pathy been awakened i'll this community
than on Saturday last, when the news OF
the loss of the Inflated steamer Vera
Cruz was supplemented by the unwcl-
come Intelligence that Gen. Alfred 7. n.
Torbert was one of her ill-starred vic
tins. Although the detailed account OF
the vessels wreck left little ground to
indulge reasonable hope of his final
rescue, yet it was not until the fullest
confirmation of his death had been re-
ceived, that his friends accepted the fatal
truth in all its terrible reality. Death is
painful enough, even when it's terrors are
mitigated by the ministering intentions
of friendship and affection. 1t is doubly
SO when accident and calamity snatch
from the hand of sympathy the oppor-
tunity of its most grateful offices. Al
though Gen. Torbert was neither ma
tive nor a resident of Elkton, yet his per-
sonal acquaintance was extensive i'll the
town and vicinity, where, in his boyhood,
he had made frequent visits to family
relatives. His father, the Rev. Jonathan
II. Torbert, once lived here. Col. George
r. Howard, now one of the oldest citi-
zens of this town, is a contemporary Of
his, and with him clerked for John Sharp
lev in the old store house still standing
near Trinity Episcopal Church. General
Torbert inherited many of his fathers
prominent traits of character. Both were
men of pre-eminent social qualities, warm
hearted, impulsive, and quick in the de-
tense of a friend. Each was man of I'M
doubted personal courage, generous and
forgiving. as truly brave men generally
are. A love of field sports, the manly
exercises of the open air, and fondness
for animals, particularly the dog and
horse, were traits characteristic alike of
father and son. Both excelled i'll horse
manship, the latter particularly. Bold,
dashing, and fearless, these We're just the
qualities for successful cavalry officer.
Sheridan, Custer. and Kcarney never out
ranked him in nerve and spirit. His ap-
pointment, therefore, to West Point in
1851 was the realization of boys dream
of glory and achievement. He was gradu-
ated with excellent rank in 1855, and i'll
the fall Of the same year was assigned to
duty on the frontier and at San Antonio,
Texas, with the rank of Brevet Second
Lieutenant of the Fifth United States
Infantry. On the outbreak of the re-
bellion he was recalled from Texas and
assigned to duty as recruiting officer
at Trenton, New Jersey, in 1861. On
September 16 of that year he was APP
pointed Colonel of the First Regiment,
which he led in the Virginia peninsular
campaign of 1862 at Yorktown, West
Point, Gaines's Mills, and Charles City
Cross Roads. On August %, 1862, he
was assigned to the command of a brig
ade of the Sixth Corps, and participated
in the second battle of Bull Run and the
battles of Antietam and South Mountain,
at the last of which he was severely
wounded. He was promoted to the posi-
ton of Briadier-General of Volunteers
November 90, 1862, and was granted a
furlough until June, 1868. He was then
placed in charge of brigade of the
Sixth Corps and took part i'll the battles
of Gettysburg and fredericksburg and
the subsequent operations of that corps
during the winter of 1S63-64. In the
| Richmond campaign of 1864 he com
mandcd the cavalry remaining with Gen.
Grants army during Sheridan S raid Oh
Richmond, and the First Division of this
after the latter's return ON May %. He
was engaged in frequent actions at that
time, among which were the battles OF
Howe's Shop and Cold Harbor. In Aug
1864, he was made commander of the
cavalry of the Middle Division, and ell
gagged in all the operations i'll the She
nandoah campaign, and he was often il
command. From April, 1865, he was il
command of various districts of Nirginis
until mustered out of the volunteer ser
vice on January Is, 1866. He was made
Brevet-Major for gallantry at Gettys
burg, Lieutenant Colonel at Howe's Shop
Colonel at Winchester, Brigadier-G Genera
at Cedar Greek, and Major-G General fo
gallant and meritorious services during
the war. He resigned his commission "a
captain of the Regular Army October 81
1866, having married in the same yea
Miss Curry, of Milford, most cstima
BILE and aimable lady. He was in turn
Minister to San Salvador, and Consul
General to Havana and Paris under Gen
Grant, having been nominated for Con
gress by the Republicans of his distric
in 1870, previous to his foreign appoint
mentS.
But in the prime of his manhood, atflu
ent in means, opportunities, and friends
with military reputation few men o
his years have achieved, he has met dealt
in manner that adds fresh dignity to hi
name. In the moment that, of all other
most severely tries the nature of men. h
was no less generous and unselfsh. TIL
history of his devotion to the helples
child that clung to him i'll that momen
Of supreme trial, when the impulse o
self-preservation too often overpower
men. and selfish natures transform heroe
into shrinking towards, Alfred Torber
filled the measure of true moral hcroism
He moves not now among his fellow men
to win fresh plaudits for this his latest ac
of self-sacrificing manliness, but doubl
enshrined in the hearts of those that ar
yet to follow him, the tender recolectio
of his manly virtues, will perpetuate hi
memory, as time effaces the sorrow of hi
untimcly departure.
VERMONT THE BANNER STATE.
Vermont nobly leads the van, and he
mapniticent Republicau majority wi