The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-07-05
GEN. NATHAN KIMBALL.
The Gallant Military Career Of the Department.
Commander Of Utah.


The Gallant Military Career Of the Department
Commander Of Utah.
Gen. Nathan Kimball, now commanding tia
Department Of Utah, has had an eventual mill
tary career. He was born in Washington
County, Ind, Nov. -, 1S22, aud entered the
service Of the United States in the war with
Mexico was commissioned Captain by Jas
Nhltcome, Governor Of Indiana, on the 9th of
June, lSi5, and mustered into the United States
service rs Captain Of Co. g, 81 Ind, at New
Albany, Ind on the 18th Of June 1876. By Col.
;. Churchill, Assistant Inspectors General.
u D A., 70 serve for one year, under the call
for volunteers By President Jas. X Polk
When the war Of the rebellion began in
1901 he was engaged in the practice Of his pro-
tesslon ,physicIanl at his home in Indiana
-Four days after the surrender Of Fort Sumter
he organized . company for the defense Of the
Government, and was appointed and commits
stoned Captain by Oliver Z. Morton. Governor
OF Indiana, on the Goth Of April, 1861, and on
the I'd OF day, 1861, was appointed and com
n ASSIGNED Colonel Of the 1ilh Ind, and on the
9TH Of June, with his regiment, was mustered
into the United States service at Terre Haute
Ind, BY LieGt.-COl. T. j. Wood U S A. for
three years, under the call of President Lin
coin His regiment was the first mustered
into the United States service for three years
from Indiana
Geo. Is. Mcclellan, he moved his regiment from
Indianapolis and joined the army in front OF
the enemy ct Rich Mountain W. Va, on the
18th of July. After the battle and victory at
this point by Gen. Mcclellan. he occupied the
advanced position on Cheat Mountain Summit,
which point Col. kimb2ll reached with his own
regiment on the 10Th Of July, where he in
trenched, and early in August was reinforced
By the arrival of the oath Ohio, Col. Jacob
Ammen, and 18th Ohio, Col. Jones command
ing, and Daum's 1st w. Va. Art. Gen. J. J.
Reynolds, commanding the division, occupied
a position aC Elk Water with one brigade, IS
miles 70 KimbalPs right and west Of his POSI-
ton. On the llth and 18th both positions Were
attacked by the enemy, under Gen. Robert u.
Lee. The rebels were reDIIsed and badly
beaten, and Lee compelled to retreat beyond
the Cheat Range into the Greenbriar Valley.
IN December Col. kimbalI was ordered 20
join the forces near Cumberland, Nd. and early
in January reached this point, and on the 10TH
occupied ROmney. Here Gen. Reynolds re-
signed-Gen. +. w. Lander assuming command
and on the 18th Lander abandoned Romney,
and the Union forces retreated to PatteFsOu's
Creek, and early in February moved eastward
TO Paw Paw. On the Baltimore & Ohio Road.
On the Goth Of April he received his commits
sion IS Brigadier-GeueTal, having been pro-
NOTED on April 10 By President Lincoln for
his victory over Jackson March 3 at kerns-
town. lie was assigned to command Of his old
brigade First Brigade, Shields's Division
May y, Gen. Shields having returned and as
sumed command Of the division, and under
orders from the headquarters Of the Army OF
the Potomac, commenced its march TO Join Gen.
MCDOwelPs forces at fredericksburg, Va They
reached Falmouth on the 23J of May, and on
the 18th, having received news Of the defeat Of
Banks by Jackson ct Strasburg commenced
their return march to intercept the enemy.
kimball5 Brigade led on the return march
from Fredericksburg, and, without meeting an
enemy until Nay 80, he reached defeated and
routed the forces Of the enemy at Front Royal
some hours before Gen. Shields with the re-
mainder of the brigades Of his division came
up.
On the Sd of October, by order of Gen. Me-
ClellaH, he made a reconnaissance to LeesbuTg,
returning to Harper's Ferry On the 5th, and
moved with the army to Falmouth opposite
Fredericksburg, where they arrived on Nov.
II, aud crossed the river into the city on the
18th On the 18th Of December, 1852, he led
his division in that terrible battle against the
enemy near Garyes flights, and drove them
to the cover of that famous stone wall Here
he was severely wounded but his division held
its position, keeping the enemy in check until
late at nIght. when lC was Withdrawn. He
was confined to his bed on account of his wound
until March, 1868, when, under orders from the
War Department, he reported to Gen. Grant az
YOung's Point, opposite Nicksburg. Miss.
On the 20th of March, by order of Gen.
Grant. being yet unfit for field duty, he re-
turned TO Memphis and reported to Gen. Hurl-
but. who assigned him to the command of the
forces and district of Jackson, Tenn. On the
3Oth of May he was relieved by Gen. Z. J..
OgIesby, and proceeded, in obedience to orders,
to Memphis, and with two brigades reported to
Gen. Hurlbut, who aJ once, in Special Order
No 116. assigned him to the command Of the
Provisional Division Of the Sixteenth Corps
and directed him to proceed at once and report
to Gen. Grant, then investing YiGksburg;
which he did.
On the 9th of February, 1865, ne was brevet-
ted MajOr-General for gallant and meritOrious
services during the Atlanta campaign and az
Nashville
Gen. Kimball was a member of the conven-
ton that perfected the National organization
Of the Grand Army of the Republic, held at
indianapolis, Ind, on the Goth and 2lst OF
November, 1866, and on Nov. p was unani-
mously elected first Commander of the Depart
ment of Indiana. He was a member and at
tended the National Encampmen5 of the Grand
Army at Cincinnati and Philadelphia, and par
ticipated in the election Of John A. Logan as
C0mmander-in- Chief.