Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-20
THE ARMY's MUSEUM.

HE ANN u1O0EOVAs
Interesting Relics of the Service-d Rore
Collection of Curi0stttes at Cen. Han
cocks Headquarters on Governors Island
Reminders of Washington and Other
american Heroes.
From the New York Graphic.
| Since the nomination of Gen. Hancock
for the Presidency, Governors Island has
unusual attractions, but few of its visitors
know that the island has an institution for
| the promotion of art, science and literature,
as we'll as valuable collection of relics, gen.
orally termed by the officers stationed there
ssthe museum" few days since the
writer, speaking with Gen. Hancock, learned
| the object for which this institution was
created, and the general kindly referred the
writer to his secretary, Col. Theodore r.
Rodenbough, for further information on the
subject. The story of the formation,
growth and prospects of the institution can
not be better told than In the coionefs
words:
"Some two years ago three or four officers
stationed here were talking of the adyanta-
ges derived by military and naval men In
England from the Royal United Service insti-.
L Ill lluGuOIs IitOi eA1nS oAoSuooASN ~
was decided to establish military library
and museum of war and collect relics of an
tiauity, not only from this country, but from
Europe. Since then we have succeeded in
establishing our institution, and as soon as
possible we intend to locate somewhere in
the city and make it the headquarters for
army men resident or visiting. So far the
membership is restricted to officers of the
United States army, bnt it is intended to in
vite all persons eligible to any recognized
club to become members, provided they take
an interest in the development of the insti-
tuition, which is called the Military Ser
vice Institution"
1--WE now have some 600 members. resid-
ing in every State in the Union. Our IL
brary consists of about 8, 500 volumes, relat-
ing principally to military service and his
tory OF the United States. The Smithsonian
} institution will shortly forward us fine col
lection of Indian curiosities of every de-
scription. The Ordnance department at
Washington has looked very favorably on
our institution and has done US great service,
We have received 100 stands of arms, repre-
senting the various improvements made in
; small arms during the last two centuries.
Also a number of cannon, used in all the
wars in which the country has been
engaged. Added to these we have q
number of projectiles used in the late war,
.. many of which are considered valuable relics,
: and as the institution advances will afford
much interesting study.
r ss1his much,' said Colonel Rodenbough,
s'for eur institution and the objects in view.
We intend to have reg ular course of lee
; lures in various departments and not simply
collection of antiquities, and we believe
that in the course of few years it will prove
) one of the best scientific schools in military
) circles to be found in any part of the United
States.'
The curiosities that are to be found in the
! museum are too numerous to particularize,
although each has an interesting record.
First on the list is General Washington's
e card table, presented by him by Judge Ber-
rien, of Rocky Hill, N. j. AT this place
Washington made his farewell address to the
army. This is loaned by great-grand-
! daughter of Judge Berrien and until now
has never been out of the custody of the
/ | family. Next is General Sheridan's famous
s horse Winchester. When this noble animal
e died General Sheridan had it stuffed and
about one year ago sent it to the museum
I together with full history of the different
! engagements entered into during the
/ | ldt0 WdTs WluCud6loI, Lho uio 1AoCA, WE
very fortunate in escaping injuries, and in
e twenty battles was only wounded twice
n slightly. The famous horse is placed in 6
b room belonging to the ordnance department
u adjoining the museum.
In the same apartment is large Indiar
4 "Medicine LODGE" captured by Major Mills
/. of the Tenth cavalry, and many India1
g weapons and dresses of peculiar design cap
n tured by General Crook during his engage
& ment with the Indians year ago. A larg
: number of Japanese weapons of various de
:, signs are also of interest, as we'll as thos
;. captured by the Spaniards during the Soolo
n and Philippine engagements. These ar
= loaned by Captain Oakley, of this city,and al
ia are authenticated. There are battle flags il
o great numbers, torn and r1ddled with bullets
3, the most prominent being the two flags be
q longing to the Second army corps, one be
. ing the headquarters flag and the other be
n longing to the corps proper.
20 Around the walls of the museum are
d number of paintings, engravings and photo
d graphs of distinguished American soldiers
n There is an unfinished head, in oil, of Gen
20 Scott, in 1s49, taken from life by the we'll
~ known artist, Kellogg. Also portraits o
~ Gen. Worth, Gen. Jacob Brown, once com
IS mander of the rrmy; Gen. Sherman, Phi
J. Sheridan, the latter being full length por
" trait, presented to the institution by himself
y of Gen. Grant, and of Gen. Hancock. 1t i
re the intention of the officers to make the por
y trait gallery q prominent feature of the mu
y scum, and they ask the families or friends O
# distinguished officers to loan or present tn
!; portraits Of those soldiers who 30 gallant,
II distinguished themselves either during th,
'r Mexican or the late civil war.
There is also fine collection of autograph
u letters and documents from such distln
y guished men of the past generation as Hen
d ry Clay, General Zachary Taylor, Patricl
o Horny and Santa Anna. Among other curl
it osities if copy of the Pekin Gazette, tn
n only Chinese paper published in 1876. Fol
lowing this are two ancient relics captured
e by Mays squadron of the Second dragoon
!, Il during the Mexican war and belonging II
f General La Vega, as also his spurs, worn b.
: him in the famous battle of d,
la Palma termed the Valley Of
: the Palms and Spurs another
9 interesting relic is that of the original loci
: and key taken from the old Sugar Hous,
:, prison, where the British officers confined
2 their prisoners during their occupancy o.
| New York at the time of the Revolution.
The American ministers and consuls abroad
e are also in correspondence with the author
o tiles at their stations for the purpose of OBJ
t tanning military publications and articles Of
equipment used by foreign armies, and SO fal
valuable contributions have been received
from England, Austria, Switzerland and
/ Japan. Everything will be done to make the
g library, museum and armory as complete az
e possible, and at the same time afford every
opportunity for young officers to study any
: subject in relation to arts and sciences con