Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-10-07

b 4e'd, ''of common woa brethren OF
universal Prief
General Daniel E. Sckels spoke next.
He said:
first met General Torbert in 1869. leading
his New Jersey Veterans. 1t was easy then to
zee that he was sure to win distinction. After
wards as brigade and division COM
mander. his brilliant services merted 'and
received the commendation and applause of
his country. Towards the close of the war |
reviewed his command in the valley of the
Shenandoah. The soldiorly benripg of the
troops revealed the presence of an intrepid
leader, thorough disciplinarian and an able
commander. This il not, however, the time
for review of his military record.
In 1869 General Torbert was appointed
Consul-General of the United States to the
island of Cubn and held tina. Office during
nearly the whole of my official residence in
Madrid. / therefore had the best opportunity
Of forming careful judgment Of lis fitness
for high civil employment. At that time the
people of Cuba We're i'll insirrectiou against
the mother country and no few large Ameri-
can interests were constantly involved, re-
qlliring from our representative there the eX-
ercise of diligcnt tact and Judgment and the
estimate formed by the Government OF the
ability with which Gen. Torbeit discharged
the duties of his difficult office was eyinced
after four years by his promotion to the
highest service in the consular gift of the
Government, that of Consul-General at Paris.
There too | met him in 1874, 1873 and 1876.
He was in daily intercourse with tho throng
of American visitors and the great capitalists,
with the merchants and manufacturers en-
gagged in business with the United States and
with the large American population resident
there. | presided at u complimentary dinner
given to Gen. Torbert in Paris in 1876.
attended by gentlemen representing all the
newspapers and by many prominent French
men, and the admiration was universal of the
ability. courtesy nd kindness with which he
had fulfilled the duties of that high office.
Gen Iorbert was Il true friend lie was the
type of u gentleman, frank and courteous, in
his social relations hospitable ever agreca-
bic. Perhaps never i'll the history of the
Consulate of Paris has its representative
hospitality been better illustrated than during
the time Gen. and Mrs. Torbort filled it.
In his last hour Gen. Torbert was, as ever,
brave and cheerful, not forgetting others, for
who has not noticed his solicitude and care for
the saving Of the little boy, whose unpro-
tected situation commended him to his care.
In the great crisis of his fate he had cheer
ful word for his fellow-sufferers, and how
bravely he struggled il seen in the remarka-
bic circumstance that, after 20 hours or more
of battling in that fearful sea, he reached the
distant shore with heart still beating.
His army associates, his friends from many
places, have come here to unite with you in
this last homage to his remains no not that
for while we live his memory still lives and
history will hand down his honored name to
other generations. Although he died far
away from home and kindred and companions,
there We're not wanting gentle hands tn
wreathe garlands in his honor. and they were
the hands of those who knew little else of him
than of his prowess III battle at a time when
war had made him their enemy.
All the way from st. Augustine To Milford
cities and towns have We'd with each other in
honor to your lost neighbor and fellow
citizen. must apologize myself now for the
brevity and iucompletcneSs of what | have
said about him because | was informed that
others were perform that Office and because
if ! were to go further, | should touch upor
tics and associations for which | am not equa
now.
GEN. ToRBERT's MILITARY SERVICES.
General Robert L. Stockton ther
delivered the memorial oretion he hRC
prepared for this occasion. He began his
remarks in voice which faltered some
but grew calmer as he proceeded. Hi,
Grafton was n concise biography of tii'
departed, dwelling particularly upon BIZ
services in the late war. The following il
u pretty complete synopsis OF what hi
said
General Torhcrt and were brough
together some 20 years ago, under Circum
stances which gave rise to an intimacy tina
soon ripeuod into Il friendship which has con
tnued uninterruptedly to the day he was st
unexpectedly taken from us. Pardon me
IL I rninula INV IN antr,,tv,
with the public grief. Torbert was my friend
None knew him better none loved him more
He was born in Georgetown, Delaware
July ], 1888 His father was Jonathan II
1orbcrt, u prominent citizen, a farmer b.,
occupation, and Methodist local minister
Alfred received good school education il
Georgetown, and, at the age of II, desired tt
engage in business Mt his native place. Thi
purpose he relnquished to crafty long
cherished wish of his fathers, and, receiving
an appointment, he entered the Nationa
Military Academy at West Point during 1851
There he won the friendship of his class
mates, and his attention to duty was such II
to insure success. He graduated in 1855, il
the same class with Generals Weit2el, Gregg
Webb, llazcn, Averill, and Colonel Comstoc
and others, whose names have bccom
familiar iii the history of the late war. II
returned from West Point with a sad heart
only in timo to see his father laid in til
grave. lie soon after reported for duty, AN
was sent to the Secoud United States III
iantry as brevct second lieutenant, an
during the summer of 1855 Was promote
first lieutenant in the Fifth Infantry, an
placed on duty Mt Fort Columbus, in Me-
York harbor.
In November, 1866. he was ordered to ioi
his regiment, then OH the Rio Grandc frontier
| at Fort Mcintosh, where he remained on Ii
| dian service until the fall of 1856, at whic
time he left with the regiment for the swami
| of Florida, and served through the Scminol
campaign, In 1857, when troops were ordere
to rendezvous at Fort Lebanon to preveI
contemplated hostilitics in Utah Torbci
| came with his company and regiment, but. q
| the list of July, was detailed on stan duty n
regmontal commissary of subsistence.
will be remembered that the command undo
General Albert Sidney johnson started fl
| Utah and cncnmpcd the following winter
| Fort Badger, in the Rocky Mountains. Iul
before leaving Fort Lebanon. Iorbert, at Ia
own request, was relieved from staff duty,an
| joined his company, which, at the time, wa
serving as canoneers to battery under til
command of the late General Reno. Whe
the army reached Camp Floyd. in Salt Lal
| Valley, during the summer of 1858, he 4,
| joined the regiment, which remained in Uta
| until 1850, when he went with his regiment I
! New Mexico. where he served Mt Fort Stauto
ON Indian service until the spring of 1876
| Up to this time. it might he observed th;
Lieutenant Torbert had taken no leave 1
absence since he graduated. In the sprin
of 1861, however, he received 60 days leay
of absence to visit the States, and started ft
home by the overland route from Texas.
On reaching San Antonio he learned for I'll
| first time that seven states had determined |
secedc from the Union. To secure his servic,
for the cause of secession great temptation
We're offered, but he never swerved from h
determination to remain i'll the service of I'll
United States. Indeed n frank denunciatio
of the crime of secession gave rise TO a
adroit attempt to capture him together wit
the men under his charge. But suSpcctii
that an effort would be made to dctain hin
he changed his route, and, with some difficult
succeeded i'll reaching the states and arrive
safe in Philadelphia. where his mother an
sister had resided since tile death of h
father. From here he went to Trenton, an
was placed ON duty for service in the field.
1t was warm day in the latter part {
August. 1861, n day | can never forget, (,
the day was an cventful one i'll the history
the First New Jersey brigade and in the lii
of my friend. 1t had been tlresome NJ
trying day to both Iorhert and myself. Att
getting through the work of the day, We M
i'll cur bed rooms which adiuined. | was reat
ing private letter from General kearne
received daring tine day before, when Turbc
coming from his room, threw n letter upC
my bed. saying, ''rend that. and then retire
| first read my letter, which among 9th
things said that vacancy would probnb
occur in the cOlOnelcy of the First iegimci
of the Brigade under kearney's cOmlnan
and urged me to take u personal interc
in securing first rate officer for the positio
Torbert had always been averse to taking
position IN the volunteer service, prcferrll
duty with his own regiment, Therefore, d