The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-01
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
ti0naI Capital


Col joseph C. Breckenridge, lnspector-=en-
eral. u. S. Army. arrived here last week and
took charge @. the Inspcgt0E-le Generals Office
at the Headquarters Of the Army pending the
slow. coavaIescence Of Brighten. Roger Jones,
he Senior Inspector General, and relieved tol.
Robert 7. Hughes, who sTii. soon be ordered to
tbe Division Of the Atlantic
Col. BreCkiaTilEe is no stranger here, and ne
and his pleasant wife VIII bc welcomed by
host Of friends they made while stationed at
the Arsenal here q few years ago.
He Is one Of the famous Kentucky family Of
Breck .nridecs, and is. i think, the youngest
enc OF the sons Of thes sturdy divine, DR. Robert
j. Brack;nrid-e. whose loyalty 70 the Union in
1851 was - marked as the dislayalty OF his dis
tinguishe5 ne. lgw, who had been lea-Prcsi-
dent Of these United States and then joined the
rebels.
Col BrocEiuridge was born in IaTyl land in
January, 1872 and was TINS only Boy Just
past IS years when the rebellion BROKE out. In
August 8f that wear be iai8c3 the Union forces
Is an Acting Volunteer Aid-de-CawV, aud
served without pay or allowances Of any kiHa
until the following June when be received
commission as Second Lieutenant in the ID
8. s. Art and Joined bis battery in The East.
In August Of the following year be was pro-
noted to First Lieutenant aad this carried
nim 10 q battery III TIE Western army which
he commanded during SlermaR's Atlanta cam
naira Ia 1864 winning hr8vet for gaiiantry
IN The battles arooHa Atlanta July y be
vas again L1avetfed Major Tor gallant and ne--
5torious service, 50 thas lor many years, walIc
still wita she ID a.,., lie was geac-atty known
by this t-.
Afte-the war he went with his regiment 10
the paci Coast and While Stationed IL Alaska
served Tor some time IS A-3-s.G-tamP 70 the
commanding General there In 1870 be "8s
ordered be the srtillary 81. 5g. u Fort Aanr0c,
and was A65asaGt Of the school until his pro-
motion g. Captain ID june ls74
Assuming command OF las new battery, ae
commanded the post ii Fort Fo0te. just below
Washington. for several years, and was taeu
transferred to the Arsenal here, which be was
commanding STD January, 1881, when President
HAYES appointed han an Inspector General,
with the rank Of Major. In February, 1880. he
was promoted 20 Lieutenaut-CoioHci and m
September Of the same gear to Colonel waeH
Gen. Absalon Baird was promoted TO seuior
Inspector General.
While serving the Pacific Coast, I65l-'st,
Col. Br6cbiuridges health became impaired
and he went 20 Texas for a time, aud for Delriy
year just past be has been travelling in Eu-
rope with his wife and daughter.
During their seven years Of official residence
in aud near Washington Col. and Mrs BrUck-
inridge became great fayorires in society, and
when Mrs. Hayes was mistress Of the White
was a frequent assistant IN doing the hon0rs
Of the Pres dents home.
The illness of Gen. Roger Jones has been Of
such nature and severity thar it viii probably
be a long time before BE Is able to resume his
duties aud UEiil then Col Breckenridge viii
remain here 10 administer the affairs Of the
office.
a CANE FROM GETTYSBURG.
Another souvenir that viii be Of interest to
the soldier reaGers0f THE SATHoNAL TRIBUNE
was shown me by Col. William II. Chase. 10
is q wal kinz-cane that is iUgcuiogsiy turned
into a map of the battlefield OF Gettysburg.
II is Systematically crooked and foil Of kuors,
and is followed out for several inches at the
top, providing a neat Iittse receptacle for doc
uments, the whole being capped by a silver
band. into which the silver Knob, also hollow,
screws, aud serves as q lid. This box contains
various clippings from newspapers relating to
the battle
The inscriptions on the knob and band give
the history ol the cane, aud are IS follows. On
the top oI the knob.