The National tribune., 1888-11-08

! . ~
President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton to
carry dispatches where bravery and fidelity
were particularly needed, and he always &C
| quilted himself n0bly. As a recognition Of
I his worth Serg't Lynch was awarded medals of
special honor by Congress, besides being men
toned in special orders by the War Department
for bravery and faithfulness.
Serg't Lynch was born in Ireland. and like
most Others of his nationality when they come
to this country 10 seek homes, he had ali the
Loyalty to the Government of his adoption OF
the true American citizen.
SeTg't Lynch has for a number of years been
an employe of the Post Office Department. and
brought to that position all the faithfuluess
which had characterized him upon the field of
battle.
SOME ARMY VETERANS.
Gen. Nelson B. Sweitzer, Colonel, I'd q. s.
Cav. who was placed on the retired list last
week Oct. % at his own request, for over 30
years OF continuous service, wall probably add
another to the Tapidiy-growing colony OF Army
and Navy officers here in Washington.
Gen. Sweitzer is a member of the dIstin-
guished Pennsylvania family of his name that
! has been prominent Ia the history Of chat Com
4 mouwaaith since Colonial days and was born
I in the Wyoming Valley. He was a classmate
( at West Point of Gen. sheridan and Mal.-Gen.
Schofcld, graduating q 1893 into the 2d Ora
/ go0ns .nOw the n Cav.) the regiment in com
mand of which he has just terminated his long
tour Of service. IN 1851 he was transferred to
the lst Dragons list Cav. now, and became u
Captain in May, 1861.
When Maj.-Gen Geo B. Mcclellan was made
7 General in-Chief of the Army in the Fall of
/ 1861 TO succeed Gen. Winfield Scott, Capt.
+ Sweiizer was made Lieutenant Colonel ard
/ Aid-de-Camp on his staff, and held that posi-
ton until March, 1868, after Mcclellan had
t been relieved from all command and his huge
4 -F1s frrrT ann 80 = g-rrH
T In 1864 lNOvembeEt he was made Colonel of
the 10th n !. Cav. meantime commanding
/ the LIST Z. $. Cav. IN the Valley campaigR), and
! served with distinction in the Cavalry Corps
that Sheridan whlrlad about Lees columns
from Yellow Tavern to APpomattox Court
house. He received Eve brevets for gal.antry
in action, the last being that of Brigadier-
/ General in the Regular Army.
he was mustered out of the volunteers in
( September, 1865. In July, 1866 he became
! Major og the ID 9. :. Cav; Lieutenant Colonel
I oth Cav IN June, 1877, and Colonel, ID Cav,
Jan. 9. 1886. He IS we'll known here in Wash
t ingt0n, where he was on duty for long time
as member of the board Of officers that adopted
the equipments and service uniforms now in
use IN the cavalry aud infantry.
Gen. Sweitzers retirement promotes Gen
I David Il. Gieudcniu from Lieutenant-C Colonel
81 Cav, and he, too, is of particular interest to
many NashuGteuiaus, for he is q relative by
marriage Of the late Hon. Montgomery Blair
who was President Lincoln's Postmaster-G Gen
eral. and Rear-Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee,
/ Z. s NAVY.
Gen. Ceadenin entered the Regular Army
/ from the volunteers, having been appointed
/ Major o5h Cav. in 1856 when the Army was
J increased TO enable the Government TO reward
volunteers who had distinguished themselves
during the war. lie belonged TO the 6th I'll,
! Cav, which was famous hereabouts as the only
t--. O. -. & ~
I hated To meet; for the Illinois light riders
usually got away with the rebel rangers, and
at ali times kept them moving to escape fight
ing or capture. He was Lieutenant Colonel OF
the regiment. and was brevetted Brigadier.
General for his services in the Northern
Neck OF Virginia
lie became Leutenant-C Colonel of the Sd u
s. Cav. in November 1852 and now in his
promotion TO Colonel jumps over Gen George
4. Forsyth, who is Lieutenant-C0loneI, 4th
=. Cav, The latter officer having Just had a SEN
tcnce Of dismissal mitigated by the President
10 suspension on half-pay FOR three years, loses
bis promotion during that time. 1t is d singu-
( lar coincidence that Gems. Ciendenin and For
( sylh were both in the Sth H. Cav, the latter
as Major; bat FOrsyth's longer service made
him senior in the Regular Army. Now For
sylh misfortune restores the old-tme relations
in their rank.
Maj. John J. Upham, 9th Cav, who succeeds
( Gen. Gieuueniu as Lieu euaut- Colonel served
after graduating in 1859, III the 9th Inf in
which he became Captain in the Fall Of 1861
until the reorganization of the Army in 1870
when he was transferred to the 9th Cav, and
became Major in August, 1874. He commanded
the 6ts Int. at Gettysburg and was brevetted
Major for galantry.
Capt. Gerald Russell, Sd Cav, becomes Major
5tl Cav, and Is a veteran of veterans, with a
history. include him here to complete this
ske,ch, but be is little known III Washington
except 10 cd Army officers, for | have never
seen him II the city, during more than 20
years observation OF visiting officers, and, in
fact have never heard Of his even having q
leave OF absence from his command He is an
Irlshman By birth, aud coming TO this country
enlisted in the Mounted Rifles now the Sd
Cav IN 1851 when just 70 years Of age. Dis
charged as Corporal in 1856, he re-enlisted six
months LAYER la the same regiment. and when
the rebellion broke out he was First Sergeant
OF Troop d, and serving in New Mexico
When the Texas Column " invaded New
Mexico, IN the Winter and Spring of 1862
Gen. Edward K s. Candy then Lieutenant
Colonel was commanding the District and we
in sore straits for want OF officers SO many
having deserted their colors to Join the rebels
II this dilemma Candy took the law into hi
Oggn hands. and in january, 1862, Just before
the battle Of Ea,verde, selected y of the bes
uon-cJmmissiOned officers he could find in hi
command and appointed them Acting Second
J-leUrcnauts by general order. These mel
We're so efficient and rendered such good serv
ice that in the following May three other
were similarly appointed, with like results
One Of these selected enlisted men was Firs
Sergeant Gerald Russell, and he with all th
others was regularly appointed to commission
by the President in the following July, tn
regiment then being known as the Sd Cav
! Thus Maj. Russell has, with the exception @
six months July, 1856, to January, 1857, bee
continuously in service Tor over 81 years Dur
? ing the war the regiment came east of til
: Mississippi in tho Fall of 1862 and took par
in all Of the campaigns under Gems Grant an
Sherman in the West Russell being brevette,
First Lieute SAINT for gallantry during the sieg
S Of Nicksbarg.
z Lieut. James Allen, who becomes CAPTAIN {
/ Russels troop, was too young to be a vetera
e Of the rebellion, having only entered Yves
i Point in 1865 from Indiana; but he is well an
j pleasantly known here from his long connec
tion with the Signal Service, of which he wa
/ one of the brightest Assistants. He is now a
a Assistant Professor at West Point. Lieu
: Thomas 3. Dugan- of Maryland. the son of
Z veteran OF the rebellion, becomes First Lief
4 tenant.
D OUR LAWMAKERS.
4 Senator Dawes, of Massachusetts,, entere
= upon his 18th year last week in the best
! health and spirits.
! Senator Palmer, Of Michigan, is writing
: novel. He has always had literary inclini