The National tribune., 1888-10-11
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
A VARIED SERVICE.

VARIED SERVICE
Mai Robert II. Rogers, who was here last
week en- roate 10 rei0in his battery at Fort
WadsWorth, on the Staten Island side Of the
Narrows Of New York Bay, IS rated lneal y
On the Army Register as the fifth ia seniority
of the First LieGtenants OF the ID u. ). Art;
but he has a military history away outside of
his service IN that famous regiment, that once
included William +. Barry and Henry J. Hant
among its battery commanders. he is Penn
sylvaniau by birth, but when the war broke
out he somehow became private in the Sd w.
Va. Cav, and served there until April s 1862,
when be was discharged to become Second
Lieutenant IN the 9Th VIVA. Inf He thought
he would walk. That didn't seem TO satisfy him,
for IN the following November he was honOrably
mustered out, and the same day was mustered
into service again as First Lieutenant of the
73d Ohio In February, 1866, he was made
First Lieutenant In the IIth u. 5. Inf, aid
until transferred in 1869 10 the 10th Inf served
most of the time as Adjutant Ia the latter
regiment be was Adjutant aud Quartermaster
during the last two years Of his service as
Lieutenant, until promoted 70 Captain in De-
cembeT, 1874 lie was on duty here IN wash
ingtOn for several years as an Assistant 10 the
Chief Signal Oficer OF the Army, and Is pleas
antly known 10 most people who know the
members Of the Army and Navy Colony.
he was becoming somewhat Of coSmopoli-
tan in service by this timei born in Pennsyl-
vania and serving in regiments from two other
States. But not yet satisfied, be rushed IN so
CALAMITY in battles that be gained, in 1863, one
Of the honorary appointments 10 West Point
that were given gallant soldiers 70 I'LL up the
quota there Of the southern States and he was
accredited 10 Georgia. He IS a credit 10 Geor-
gia. Graduating IL 1867, he went to the I'd
u. S. Art, aud became a First Lieutenant IN
1870. Service was dull in the artillery. and he
was yoang enough then TO be ambitious for more
than the dull routine of garrison life on the
seacOsst so, when the Egyptian KhediVe con-
cluded 10 call upon American soldiers 10 aid in
organizing his forces, young Rogers was one of
half dozen that obtained long leaves Of alb
sence for the purpose, and went out TO Egypt
with the rank Of Major, which he held in the
Egyptian army for three years. Thus, you see,
he halls from Pennsylvania West Virginia,
Ohio, Georgia and Egypt, by birth and service;
but be declares that be represents the whole
United States.
SENATOR CHANDLER
The recent visit Of Senator William Eaton
Chandler, Of New Hampshire, to the Brooklyn
Navy Yard 10 visit his son, reminds me vi some
things that may be Of interest 10 the readers of
this column Of gossip.
MF. Chambers son is Naval Cadet Lloyd II.
Chandler, VINO finished the four-years' course
at the Naval Academy in June last, aud is now
on duty on board the new steel cruiser Boston
Tor the tW0-years' cruise necessary before he can
finally graduate and become an Ensign.
/ doubt if any man was ever placed in charge
Of the portfolio Of Secretary OF the Navy in
these United States that went to their duties
better qualified than Senator Chandler. Born
n New Hampshire, whose sparse area of arabic
lands forced her over-pOpulatiOn Of young men
To seek other pursuits, the overflow naturally
turned 10 the sea that washed against her little
stretch of shore; and the coat-0f-arms Of the
State shows the sea and a ship.
How much the junior Senator from New
Hampshire knew Of ships and seafaring in his
younger days / do not know, but l fancy that
he knew enough by March, 1855. when Presi-
dent Lincoln appointed him Judge Advocate
General Of the Navy, 10 know the forepeak
from the foretruek, or the horseback from
Flemish horse.
He held the position Of Judge Advocate
General OF the Navy Tor over two years until
he was appointed First Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury, and IN that time became so IA
mlliar with the personnel as well as the Gus
toms ia the Navy, that when he took office as
Secretary Of the Navy, under President Ar
thur, he Was enabled 70 60 right at the work
ne desired 10 perform.
How he was banked IN his plans, and how
his orders and wishes were evaded by the close
corporation that had 50 long run the Navy"
prefer 70 let some ether writer tell but
think II can be shown thai had be recei ved the
cooperation that he expected and was entitled
70, be would have reaped the reward Of fame IN
bnilding up q new navy that was denied him
by the pubic-at-Iarge.
AT. Chandler is the only Member Of the Sen
ate nov VINO has ever had the least personal
experience with naval affairs; and it is a singu-
Lar coincidence that there Is also al the present
time an tx Secretary Of the Navy in the House
Of esentatives-Gen. Nathan Gol Of West
Virginia, who Is a Union cavalry veteran of
the rebellion.
In person he gives one no idea Of the force
Of character that is in his slight figure, but III
his brain methods be reminds me greatly Of
that grand namesake-th0ugh hot q relative
who SO long graced the Nations councils and
hOnored Gichigan-Zaeh Chandler.
A SERGEANT WHO COMMANDED.
A veteran soldier OF the war Of the rebellion
died here last Saturday morning, after brief
illness, that made . history such as very few
men OF that war did.
John Lyon, an Irishman BY birth. native of
County Limerick, came here ia his childhood,
and was Is thorough an American as ever /
knew Of
When the rebellion broke ont he was living
II New York city. working at his trade Of
plumber and gas -6tter, bat be dropped work at
once and enlisted in that famous regiment Of
Irishmen that Michael Corcoran led LYON
soon became the First Sergeant Of his company,
and although repeatedly offered promotion 10
commissions declined the straps.
At that dreadful battle Of FREDERICKSBURG.
when Gen. Burnside rushed the Army Of the
Potomac II 70 useless slaughter the 69th Y. Y.
moved across that grassy slope below Marye's
Rights almost 200 strong When the remnant
came back from that desperate struggle there
was less than 100 men who were not left on the
field killed or wounded and when the corps
commander rode down 20 the regiment as it
returned, John Lyon answered his inquiry as
TO who was commanding.
think ! am, General. Every officer is
lying back there. and ] d0ut believe there i
another First Sergeant alive or unwounded in
the regiment"
COmrade Lyon became well known 10 MANY
old soldiers here IN the years since the war.
and especially while he was the proprietor OF
the Lyon House, which be kept for years on +
street, just east Of the EJbitt House His
house there was the rendezvous Of old-tine
Army aud Navy officers aud men, and ali who
went there admired the well-proportioned
hOst.
COSMOPOLITAN SOLDIER
Gen. James j. Mcbride, who is praeticing law
here, was Union soldier who had about as
varied AZ experience rs any know Of.
lie is d Buckeye by BIRTH and when the LIST
Ohio was raised 50 suddenly in 1861 after the
battle 81 Sumter, he went from his home in
Mansfield 10 join that regiment aud foupd
his baptism Of fire az our ngioriOus first Bail
Run battle, and was unlncky enough TO be also
euuaupH fff that 1f-ps-sflfa srTs.fr - -.