The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-17

A brief biographical sketch of Col
Flagler will be of interest at this time
Col. FIagler graduated from West Point
academy with the class of 81, and was
Immediately assigned TO duty as second
lieutenant of ordnance. He served dur>
ing the civil war, was in the battle of Bull
Run and other important engagements OF
the war, and was aid in General Mellow
ellis staff in the defenses of Wash
ington. He was promoted to first lieuten
ant and was ordnance officer at Allegheny
arsenal, Pittsbnrg, from Aug IA, to De-
ccmber 22d, when he was assigned to
in the expedition of North Carolina,
December 25, 81, to August, 90, engag-
ing IN the battle of Roanoke Island, the
battle of Newbern, and the bombardment
and capture of Fort Macon. He was
brevetted captain for his conduct at
New bern and brevetted captain for his
conduct at Macon. He was transferred
to the army of the Potomac as assistant
ordnance officer, and was engaged in the
battles of South Mountain and Antietam.
After the latter battle, he was appointed
chief of ordnance of the army of the Po-
tomac and served in that capacity in the
battles of Fredericksburg. Chancellors-
vile and Gettysburg. He served as in
spection officer at West Point foundry
from October, SO. to May, Ga, and as
sistant in the ordnance bureau at Wash,
ington, from May, GA, to June 65. He
was brevetted lieutenant colonel in March
50, for distinguished services in the
field and faithful and meri-orious services
ir the ordnance department during the
rebellion and was appointed on specia
ordna nee inspection in Kentucky. Ten
nessee. Georgia and Alabama in that
year
HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE ARSENAL
| was in 1865, when he came here under
official instructions to inspect the place
as to its advantages for the storage OF
trophies of war as well AS post ordnance
equipments of the union army and
United States troops. He reported that
in his best Judgment no more desirable
place could he found The result wa.
that steamboats, and fleets of barges. and
| freight trains, came to the Arsenal will
munitions of war, which were stored in
old barracks and structures erected tenn
porarily. From October IS to January
66, Colonel Flagler was ordnance Officer
at Waterviiet arsenal, and at Augusta
arsenal afterward
When General Rodman became en-
feebled by ill-health in the spring o
1871, he requested that Col. Flagler b.
detailed as his assistant, and the orde
was made; and through the Generals i'll
ness, the Colonel had charge of the ord
nance work. The General died in jun
H. II, lamenled by the nation. Jun
10Th, Col. Flagler was appointed comman
dant of Rock Island arsenal Genera
Rodman had been in charge since 1896
and at the time of his death, work on tn
island had but commenced. Shops
and G had been commenced under Gen
eral Rodman. and have since been com
pleted by Col. Flagler. Shops / and
are in progress of construction. Anon
other improvements, are the three home
for subaltern officers, soldiers barracks
post building, water works, reservoir
complete system of sewers, the gre,
water-power, Moline bridge, powder mal
azine, system of avenues and forest roaC
ways. arsenal railroad. great storehous
while machinery has been introduced an
put in operation for work in iron, bras
, copper, leather and wood, which give
D employment to many mechanics, an
4 many improvements have been introduce
, by him. In short, more than 1000, OO
has been expended under Col. Flager
{ direction. The question now may natu
ally arise, who is this
NEW CoMMANDANT
Col. Thomas G. Baylor2 He is one
! the eminent officers of the ordnance d
!. partment. He entered West Point acat
'emy in 1858, appointed from Norfol