The daily gazette., 1880-09-04
FOURTH EDITION
- '---'-E -
Gen. A. Il. A. TOrbert.
HIS REPORTED EATH
AT SEA.

THE ILL-FATED VERA CRuz-A
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Among the list of passengers ON the
ill-fated Vera Cruz, as published in
the New Hork Herald, yesterday morn-
ing, appeared the name of one Seen
eral Forber.' To Delawareans this
name was entirely unknown, and pos
sessed no significance, but when the
announcement came last evening that
this name was intended for General A.
4. A. Torbert, of Milford, this State,
the affair suddenly assumed new and
painful interest to the people of Della
ware.
From all information obtainable
there seems to be no doubt that Gen.
Torbert really did take passage ON the
Vera Cruz. He left Milford on Mon
day week, and on the next day took
the 1850 train from Camden for New
York, in order to make this steamer,
having been commissioned by a num-
b.r OF influential capitalists to go di-
rect to the city of Mexico and endeavor
there to st cure land grant for the
building of railroad from the Gulf TO
the Pacific, a distance of $50 miles.
General Torbert carried with him let
ters of endorsement of the highest
character, and lie ters of introduction
to Senor Romero, the Mexican Minis
ter of Finance, who for several years
was the Mexican Ambassador at Wash
ington. All the capital for the enter
prise has been secured, and it needed
only the grant from the Government of
Mexico to put the scheme in operation
and this grant General Torbert was
expected to secure.
General Alfred +. A. Torbert, whose
fate is uncertain until deiiuite news Of
the Vera Cruz is received, is a native Of
Delaware, and about folty.siX years Of
age. He graduated from West Point 10
which place lie was appointed by Hon.
Geo. Read Riddle-in 1866 aud in 1856
81 served in Florida. afterwards, 1857
90, lie was on the Utah expedition. lie
@as made Captain 25Ih September, 1861,
On the outbreak OF the Rebellion he
was commissioned Colonel of the lst n g.
j. Volunteers, and commanded bri-
gade Of Ihc 9th Corps i'll the battles oi
Manassas, South Mountain, aud Antie-
tam. lie was commissioned Brigadier
| General of NOlantce.s November 20,
| 1862. lie served at Getty sburg, and
wa, brevetted Major United STATES Ar
my, July 4, 1865. Duiing May and
| June, 1864, he commanded "A division oi
cavalry in the Army Of the Potomac, and
Was Ia numerous actions, including Cold
larbor, Treyllian Station, and Darby
town. He was Chief Of cavalry in tLt
Shenandoah campaign, and In the bat
Ties OF August October, 1864. lie was
breVelted Lieutenant Colonel u. 5. A
May 2S, 1864, Colonel lgth September
lSCI; igadier-Genrral and Maior-Gen
eral l3ih Mach, 1868, for gallant ant
melitorious services at Cedar Creek ant
throughout the Rebellion.
In 1865, General Torbert was the Re
publican candidate for Congress in thi
stare, but Vas defeated By Benjamin
L. Blsss, his Democratic competitor b.
majority Of 3,325. Gn 1871, Genera
forbert was appointed Consul Genera
10 Havana, from which position he wa
transferred. few years afterwards, to
similar position at Paris. There he re
manned until May, 1873, when he wa
removed by President Hayes, TO max
Dom Tor eN Governor Lucius Fairchild
pi Wisconsin, who was thrown out
MS place as Consll at Liverpool, i
order that berth might be found fu
eX-Malshal Packard, of Louisiana. Sine
his retirement from the Consul Genera
ship al Paris, General Trobert has bee
eng aged in private business. lie resid,
AT Milford, and is married, but has /
/ children.
Gen. TOrben's wife was the on
= daughter Of Daniel Curry, wealth
. farmer and ioImer active politician
. Milford. The wedding, which toe
- place in 1863, was most magnifce
n ,ilair, and was attended by tens. Mead
Wilson, Webb and other celebrities, wi
came down from Philadelphia on
is special tram. Mrs. Torbert isa woman
~ handsome, commanding presence, mob
" disposition and fine social qualities.
= General Torbert was gentlemen
d genial, social disposition, and was alwa
y exceedingly popular in ms native Sta
, Babies are too highly priced t. perm
u, them TO suffer with Cole FluLulence, ct
,, when Dr. Bulls Baby syrup will AT ON