Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-04-05
COMMANDER STEWART.

Milton Stewart, the new department COM
marder, was born in Somerset, Pa, in 1843.
At the breaking out of the war, he was re-
siding in rostburg, Nd, near the Virginia
line, and was the first to respond to the So
licitation of recruiting officer from the
Fourth Virginia infantry, and was enrolled
as private in Company X of that regiment
july II, and was mustered into service at
Grafton, Va, then the headquar-
tiers of Gen. McClenand, July 30, 1861.
A picture of him taken shortly after, now
in possession of the writer, portrays a de-
cidedly boyish appearance. might almost
saw feminine in its type, from which you
would Judge him 70 be not over fifteen years
of age Even now he is taken for u much
Younger man than his years would indicate,
and people who met him for the first time
Mt Fort Scott, seemed reluctant TO accept
the statement of his friends, that he was
veteran of the veterans. He modestly bore
the honors of second corporal in his COM
pany, and when raised to the rank of sar-
geant was not too proud to occasionally as
.ociate with second lieutenant.
For meritorious services in a desperate
and deadly encounter with superior que
rilla force. in which he was taken prisoner,
when all his tDillfauee ntI Detil slfOt UOwD.
subsequently making his escaped he was
promoted to captain in the Thirteenth West
Virginia Infantry, August %, 1862, being
then nineteen years of age. He was again
taken prisoner by bushwsckers in April,
1864. being thrown while under fire, and
rendered unconscious by kick from his
horse in the stomach. As he fell, his order
ly was shot by his side and subsequently
died of his wound. In the defense of Hur-
ricanc bridge he received the thanks of
Gen. (now ex-President) X. b. HAYES.
for his sallautry in successfully opposing a
force of FIVE times his number, commanded
by confederate major general, in which
encoun;er-being second in command--he
refused to surrender when entirely surround
ed, and urged to DO so by his ranking officer
but assumed commsnd himself. and con-
Quoted the fight to successful tcrTnina-
ton.
At the battle of kernstown his was the
last company 10 leave that disastrous field,
and then only at the peremptory order of
his brigade commander. At the battle Of
Halltown, as ranking captain of his reg1-
ment, he commanded il throughout the
fight at the battle Of Winchester. September
10, '6i, he had led seventy-fve men with the
colors of his regiment, in the desperate
charge made by Crook Ia the afternoon of
that eventful day. In the supreme moment
Of the battle, when victory seemed TO hang
in the balance and men were reluctant TO
leave any temporary shelter in the face of
shot and shell, he seized the stars and stripes
and leaping stone fence. with the coiors
in his hand, cried TO his men. ..for Gods
victory, some to death. In this
ha.rl ha r..ofxa- hot nj
the LEFT thigh which disabled him for
three months, also slight wound in the
right thigh. A month later his lieutenant
colonel was killed in the battle o. Cedar
Creek. At the instigaticn of both Generals
HAYS and Crook, Captain Stewart was pro-
NOTED over ths head of the major TO be
lieutenant-colonel. OnreportIng for duty ri
the end of three months. ne was assigned TO
the position of inspector OF the department
on the staff OF Maj. Gen. George Crook, and
upon the capture of that able general by the
rebels. he served brief period on the staff
of Mai. Gen. Sprigg Carroll. He was mus
tered out with his regiment, at Wheeling.
June -, 1865.
Colonel Stewart took up his residence in
Kansas in 1867. The Indians being on the
wsr-paih, be participated with the Eigh-
tenth Kansas cavalry. in a four months
campaign against them. The following
wear, when the Indisn troubles began 20
thieken, ai the request Of General Sheridan,
be WIS commissioned a csptsin in the Nine
tenth Kansas cavalry. by Governor Crxw-
ford, and served with tina. command
siS-months' winter campaign
of untold suffering and hardship. Though
outrxnkcd by seven other captains cf high
merit he was promoted to I'll the vacant
majority occasioned by the resignation Of
Col. Crawford.
OF late years Col. Stewar. has resided q;
Wichita, being recognized as one Of its
most honorcd citizens On the organization
ct GARFIELD Post No. %. he WAS elected il.
first commander. ard laid down the gsvel s;
his own option afier serving three successive
terms.
In the recent contest for department
ST Fort Scott. where his CON-
peiitors were men Of high standing aud ir-
character. he gained friends
from the start. though personally unsc-
cuainted with sine cut Of ten OF the dele
gates present. Essentially soldier and an
intensely enthusiastic Grand Army ussn. he
will be effective where he takes hold. En-
ergefic in al the affairs OF life, be will SIM
ply 'push thing in his department and
hold every officer 70 Q strict accountability
for the performances of duties entrusted 70
him.-kniShf and Soldier.