The Portland daily press., 1885-03-25

The Retirement of Ordnance Sergeant
James M. BoOeLs.


Ordnance Sergeant James NJ. Brooks, who
has been stationed ct Fort Preble for so long
time and is now about to retire, was born at
Randolph, Orange county, in the State of YER
mont, on the oath day OF June, 1873 Taking
liking to the soldiers life, at the early age
OF 18 years he enlisted in Company H, Second
Infantry Of the United States, on the 3lst Of
May, 1884, and was at once sent TO the frontier,
where skirmish duty was done until the year
1887 when they were ordered to Florida,
where Brooks did valiant service in the Sem
mole Indian war until 1870, after which be
was temporarily stationed as recruiting officer
at Utica, Syracuse and Rochester, in the State
of New York. After brief service in that ca
pacity he became attached to the Third Artil-
lery and was sent to Fort Moultrie, where he
remained until the breaking out of the Mexi-
can war, in 1S47, when the regiment was Or
dered to Tampa Bay, Fla, and from there to
Tampico, Mexico. and thence to Vera Cruz,
serving during the entire war, winning the
admiration Of his superior officers for bravery
in famous battles, such as the siege OF Vera
Crnz, Cerro Gordo, Cheru0usco, Melino-del-
Ray, Chepuitepec ard taking of the City OF
Mexico, the records OF which battles are
fled in the archives of the War Department;
and never in the history Of wars have such
brilliant achievements been accomplished as
were by that handful of 10000 men, when
they routed the Mexicans with an army Of
from 80 ,OOO to 10000 men intrenched on their
own soil.
In the year 1848 he was assigned to duty in
the company commanded by the hero of heroes
whose name will be remembered with veners-
tion 50 long as the English language is spoken,
as the brave Major Anderson of Fort Sumter
fame, and they were seut TO Fort Prsble, where
in 1851 he first received his appointment as
Ordnance Sergeant, over the signature of Win
field Scott, Commander-in chief of the army,
and has served in that capacity ever since, a
period of 80 years. His commission is in as
good condition as when signed by that old
chisftain.
Sergeant Brooks has with his long term of
service seen much OF army life, having been
stationed at Fort Preble during the rebellion;
he has met and known many men who never
returned from the front to signify their liking
for army life.
The sergeant has always enjoyed the best
of health during his long continued service, up
to two years ago, when ne met with an scoi-
dent which came near proving fatal. He was
destroying damaged gunpowder on the shore
when he thought himself sufficient distance
away, but a gust of wind blew the flames
toward him and burned his face and hands in
shocking manner, since which time be has
not been able to do active service and has been
confined to the house most of the time, which
leads to his contemplated retirement, which
will probably take place before the first Of
June, under an army regulation which will
entitle him to thre6-quarters pay.
Upon the arm of this soldier is affixed the dis
Inactive marks of honor which it is no exag-
geration to say is not equalled by any other liv-
ing man in service, viz: two war stripes,
which indicate active service at the front,
eight stripes that each represent Eve years OF
service, and four which represent three years
escn Of service, aside from continuous ser
vice at Fort Preble during the rebellion, which
dees not eDtitle him to a war stripe because Of
not having engaged in active battle.
At the time he entered Fort Preble it was
bat small fortihestion, with bat twelve or
thirteen guns, but the access ion of more terri
tory makes it three times greater, and whep
the work that is now IN progress is completed,
opportunity will be given to mount from
80 to 40 powerful guns.
Sergeant Brooks married in 1849 Miss Annie
Butler descendant Of the Stanford family;
Der grandfather being the lats Capt. Samuel
Stanford, who formerly lived Oh Front street,
at Ferry Village, portion OF whose house was
used as waiting room for passengers crossi Bg
on the ferry to Portland fifty years ago. Eight
children have been born to the marriage, all
within the garrison, five OF whom are married,
and only one of ths number marrying person
IN any way connected with the service, viz:
Maria, who ia the wife OF Sergeant Wilson,
now stationed at Fort Trambull, Conn. Mrs.
Brooks mother, grandmother and great grand
mother we're born within the limits of what is
Row known as Cape Elizabeth, and their de-
scendants are numbered among those OF our
best families.
We hear the name of Sergeant Dardingkiler
now Ordinance Sergeant at Fort Warren,
prominently mentioned as a possible successor
10 tha old soldier