The National tribune., 1888-12-13

capture OF the City OF -, n ?, -.
Mexico, aud ia Sep NAN' L. D. d t'lss'
TENDER Of that same year be gained his pro-
motion to the full grade Of Lieutenant in the
Sd Art.
He served the usual routine of garrison ar
tllery duty from 1913 10 1861, being promoted
60 First Lieutenant in 1852, and in 1861, when
the 5th Art was added to the established force
q thc Regular Army lie was appointed a Cap
tain Meantime his stations had been in
Maine, Rhode Island, Texas Missouri, New
York Harbor Kansas, Minnesota, California
and at the Artillery School at Fort Monroe.
Under his new comission as Captain he or
gauized his battery here IN Washington In less
than 10 days, and had it ready soon enough to
take an important part in the fight at Black
burns Ford, July Is, 1861. and in the battle of
the first Bull Run three days later.
IN the Fall Of 1861 he was made Chief of
Artillery Of the division commanded by Gen.
William L. Smith e. Badly y, IN the Army of
the Potomac, and when that command became
enlarged into the famous Sixth Army Corps,
Gen. Franklin made him his Chief of Artillery.
All through the campaign on the Peninsula
and the Maryland campaign IN the Fab of 1862,
his services were so mcritorious that after
CrsmptoH's Gap and AnUetam President Lin
coin made him 3 BriCadieT- General Of yolun-
tesrs.
he had not yet received his appointment as
BrigGaicr when the disastrous battle at Freder-
IN thar battle he directed the guns OF the Sixth
Corps that faced Gen. T. j. lStonewalD Jack
son and Gen. Longstreet on the left OF our line
there
His new comm ssion carried him to q Fifth
Corps brigade, and very soon after he assumed
command Of the division OF that gallant corps
that was known until the end of the struggle
a. "Ayress Division" The rest of his history
during the rebellion is part of the history of
the war, for there was no general engagement
r. which the Army Of the Potomac was en-
gagged wherein Gen. Ayres and his division did
not take part. Charlottesville, Gettysburg,
Nine Run, the struggle through the Wilder
ness, Spottsyiyania, the almost endless fighting
down 10 Cold harbor and across the James
River to Petersburg. the siege of Petersburg,
the Weldon Railroad fights, Five Forks and
Appematt0E tell his story.
la the Regular Army he was brevetted five
times from Captain TO Major-GeneTal), each
comm iSsiOn being for bat lie named therein,
and Aug !, 1854 be was brevetted Maior-Gon-
erai q volunteers for conspicuous gallantry"
An Eve different general engagements specified.
De remained Ia the volunteer service until
April 80, 1866, when he was mustered out, and
was thus left Captain still. although he held
the breTet OF GajeT-Gene ia the Regular
service. When the Army was increased in the
EaIGe year his gallant war services were recog-
nlzed, and he was made Lieutenant-ColOnel of
the neE ZSth ms. When the infantry regi-
Uents were consolidated in 1869 be was trans
ferred 70 the 18Th Inf, aud when the reduction
O. officers came in 1870 he was again transferred
60 the ID Art
Ia July. 1879, he became Colonel of the ID
Art, aud when the headquarters Of that regi-
B8sBt was transferred from Fort McHenry, Bal
timore, In 1882, 10 the old Arsenal here, he
came 10 Washington and remained until June,
l5sa, when the regiment was transferred TO the
Gulf States, and he went to jacksonville, Fla
6hOut three years ago his health began 10 fail,
and The dread disease, Of which he died, de-
Fel0ped last year.
Gen. AyTes was twice married, and his last
wife survives him. His son, by his first mar
Tisge is First Lieut.. Charles Griffin Ayres, 10th
Cav who is named for his fathers cIassnate
Gen. Charles Griffin
Among the members Of his class at West Point
who became distinguished soldiers during the
war we've Gems. Orlando B. Wilcox, John S.
Mason, James B. Foy, Ambrose Z. Burnside,
JOAN Gib50n, Charles Griffin, Thomas H.
Aeln. Eogar Z. Fiele aud Lewis Cass Hunt. OF
the class Of 3 only four joined with the South
IN tie rebellion, and neither one Of the four
became distinguished officers
The death Of Gen. Ayres prom 0tes Lieut.
COi. John Mcndenhall from the Attn Art. to
command Of the ID Art, and that gallant SOL
dier (ien. Richard T. Jackson from Maior Of
tbe 9TH 10 Col. Mendenhal's Lieutenant-C COL
OBelcy. Gen. jackson served in the ranks over
eight years before he Was given his frsG COM
mission IN the 4th Art, and just four years
later was q Major General by breyet and q
Brigadier Of volunteers.
DEATH OF ADMIRAL SIMPSON.
Rear-Admiral Edward Simpson (retiredl. q.
5. Navy, wno died in this city Saturday morn
iug, Dec. !, was born Ia New York city March
Tea. ard was appointed Aidshipmaa in the
Ravy Feb. H. l540.
During tue Mexican war he was IN a number
q engagements, including the siege and CAPTURE
OF Vera Cruz. dis next service was two years
on the Coast Survey work, and after a cruise
= Br2Sll, 1862, was ordered TO the Naval
Academy IN the latter year as Assistant In.
sirucs0r Of Gunnery and Infantry Tactics In
15S5. GA promotion to Lieutenant. he was or.
derea 70 China IN the brig Portsmouth, and in
113s assisted IN the stOrming and csptu-e al
the Barrier Forts at Canton. From 1853 "a
l56z be was head OF the Gunnery Department
at the Naval Academy, aud then for a year was
Commandment Of Cadets.
Ia 1853 he was ordered 70 command thf
monitor PaSsaic of Charleston aud participated
gailantly in . number Of battles with the rebel
1OruDcdtl0ns and gunbogts-he being then 2
Lieutenant Commander July &c, 1862 In
lo04 he was ordered 70 the Gulf Of Mexico and
when the squadrons there were consolidated
under Admiral FaTragat he became Actinp
Fleet captain Chief OF Staff for the feet and
after participating in the battle of Mobile Rav
received for karraRut the surrender OF tho
rebel feet in the Tombigbee River.
he was promoted to Commander March 2
lef55; 70 Captain Aug. Is. 1870; to Commodort
April Is, lS75, and TO Rear-Admiral Feb o
leSS, with which rank he retired March 9. 1856
Oh Reaching g. years Of age.
he was considered the highest authority n
The Navy on the subjects Of gunnery and ord
nance, and his gunnery tactics was for wear,
the textbook On the subject at the Nava
Academy.
dis last active service was as President o
the Advisory Board On Construction and Arma
ment Of the New Steel Cruisers, and prior I,
that be WAS President OF the Board on the Fstah
lishmeBt Of a Gun Foundry for New High
power Guns Of Large Caliber, the lengthy re
port Of which board be made IN 1856.
his wife died during the war leaving fv,
young Children sou and four daughters. ane
DC never remarked, his household being thence
forward presided over by his unmarried sister
Inc son, Ensign Edward Simpson, jr, u. S
navy: 10 now serving on the Alaskan coast il
bhe Ihetls, under Lieut. Commander Enorv.
ne funeral took place at ST. Johns Episco
pa Church IN this city Sunday afternoon Dec
= ana was very largely attended, for there wa
FF0saDiy no man vino wore the silver foul
hhcheFs that was more popular OF well beloyet
taah ne; ne remains we've removed to Brook
iyhi n l., Tor iBtermeut II Cypress F45Il Ce,na
GSry beside AIS wife ~-S