Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-30
HONOR THE PATRIOTIC DEAD.
The Memorial Chapel at Fort Leav-
enworth, Kan.
BRAVE MEN OF RANK AND FILs
They Died in Defense OF Their Couu-
try-some Died on the Battle-
Field and Some on the Sea
and Frozen North.


Tablets That Speak of Heroes.
LEAvENwoRTu, Kan, May 29.-[Special to
THE BEE. But few of the many people who
visit Fort Leaveuworth avail themselves OF
the opportunity to see post chapel that Is
not excelled in interest by any in this coun-
try. A place doubly sacred, first, because 1t
is dedicated TO the worship of the living God !;
second, because of the many memorials
therein memorials that tell Of duty done in
the face of death, of death met in upholding
the country's honor.
The post chapel at Fort Leavenworth is on
the east side of Scott avenue, a short distance
from all that remains OF the old fort, and
almost opposite the triangle on which the
Grant monument is to be erected. The
quarters on Scott avenue are occupied by
of the Missouri The roadway and the lawns
on either side are well kept. AT this season
of the year, this avenue presents a beautiful
appearance with its grand old trees in full
leaf, its closely shaven grass, and the many
beautiful flowers that are in bloom.
AT the north end stands the chapel. 1t Is
of grey stone, of alternate layers rough and
smooth, and has q cathedral roof, but no
tower. The west end is surmounted by a
white cross, the emblem Of christianity.
two beautiful rose bushes, on either side
woodbine and Virginia creepers of luxuriant
growth.
The roof on the inside is finished in hard
yellow pine, oiled, the pews and altar decora-
tions are Of black walnut, oiled. 1t has
twelve cathedral and eight dormer windows,
and large circular window at each end, all
filled with stained glass of appropriate de-
sign 1t is thirty feet wide by eighty feet
long and will seat about 600 people.
This chapel is thoroughly military. Two
small gun metal mortars stand on either side
OF the altar, six six-pound mountain howitz-
ers support the side lamps. These mortars
and howit7ers shine like FURNISHED gold
Three chandeliers In the center are also
used when night service is held. All around
the walls in groups of three, the national
colors predomnating, are flags representing
the three arms OF the service, cavalry, in
fantry, and artillery.
The interest here centers mainly in the
different tablets set in the walls.
''Enough of merit has each honored name
TO shine untarnished on the rolls of fame,
And add new lustre to the historic page"
Al the front, over the entrance, is large,
dark, marble tablet, oval shaped, bearing the
inscription: 'In memory of the officers and
men Of the Seventh cavalry, killed in action,
Washita, 1. T., November 81, 1868; Little
Big horn mountain, Nj. r., June rs, 1875;
Bear Paw mountain, M. T., September 80,
1877"
4
tablet of the same material, having on it in
gilt figures and letters the following: A
figure z, and two crossed sabres, then Licu-
tenant Colonel George A. Custer, brevet
General Custer Is buried at West Point) !;
Major Joel II. Elliott, November %, 1868;
Captain Myles w. Keough, June 81, 1876;
Captain Louis M. Hamilton, November "a,
1868; Captain CIV. Yates, June %, 1875;
Captain Owen Hale. September 30, 1877;
Captain Thomas N. Custer, June 25, 1876;
and First Lieutenant w. w. Cooke, adiutant.
| June 25, 1876.
On the porth side similar tablet having
these names: First Lieutenants Algernon E.
| Smith, Donald Mcintosh "a full blooded In
| DIAM, James Calhoun and James E. Porter,
| and Second Lieutenants Benjamin II. Hodg-
| son, Henry M. Harrington, James G. Sturgis
| (son of General Samuel Sturgis, now on the
| Reilly and J. William Biddle. Underneath
| each name, June Is, 1885.
On the north side as you move up the aisle
| there is white marble tablet having on it
| In gilt: "In memoriam, Patrick T. Brodrick,
| adiutant 'rweEty-third infantry, March %,
| 1856" Next a white marble diamond: I'm
memoriam, William f. Rice, first lieutenant
| Twenty third infantry, June 8. 1884," Then
! an oval gilt tablet bearing the inscription
"a S. Bennett, captain Fifth infantry.
| Killed in action with the Bannock Indians
| September 4, 1878" The writer was well
| acquainted with Captain Bennett when he
| was SUaClOneu aU fOrL lIedVeuWOrIu. "A more
| gallant gentleman or courageous soldier
| never graced q drawing room or led an infan-
| try charge
| A painful interest centers around the next,
| O piece of white marble, shaped as banner.
| It's gilt letters say, "In memOriam, James
| b. Lockwood, first lieutenant Twenty-third
infantry, member OF the Greeley polar ex-
pedition. Died ut Cape Sabine, Grinnell
Land, April 8. 1854" The writer met Lieu
| tenant Lockwood IN the opera aouse In
| Leavenworth when he was en- route to
| Washington, d. q. to report for duty with
| the Greeley expedition. After the salutations
| were exchanged he asked Lieutenant Lock
wood, Where are you going!" II am 60
"And where are you going from therei'
| was the next question. "I'm going up into
| the Arctic regions to freeze to DEATH" was
the second reply. Poor Lockwood, brave
| soldier and young man of great promise.
| Was his reply prophetic, or was it only "a
| true word spoken in iestf Who can answer
| that question:
A Crock cross of white variegated marble,
| having in gilt let ters, In memOriam, Brevet
| Lieutenant Colonel Edward Il. Platte, died
| June IL, 1884" This tablet was erected by
the officers on duty at headquarters depart
I ment of the Missouri, and at the post of Fort
Leavenworth, where Colonel Piatt died. He
| was acknowledgement OF the department of
the Missouri at the time Of his death, and
highly esteemed by his brother officers.
The last tablet on the north side, just in
front OF the organ lOft mas Two BRASS SHIELDS
| In relief, on dark marble. One says, 'In
/ memory OF First Lieutenant George E. Lord,
assistant surgeon, killed in action with Sioux
Indians June 25th 1876" the other, 'First
| Lieutenant Thomas j. G. Maddox, assistant
| surgeon, killed in action with the Apache
Indians near White House, N. M, December
| 10, 1885" On the base of the tablet are the
| words, "Erected by the officers of the cOrps.''
| On the south side of the chapel coming
towards The entrance the first tablet is in
memory of "John Anthony Rucker, second
lieutenant Sixth cavalry, drowned July II,
1878, Camp Supply, Ariz." 1t is dark
marble shield, letters in gilt, and crossed
| sabres.
| A dark marble banner with gilt letters and
fringe is inscribed, "Daniel II. Murdoch,
captain Sixth United States infantry,
| drowned while crossing his command over
| Grand river, Utah, June q, 1886, Devoted,
Loyal and True. Captain Murdoch belonged
| to the regiment now stationed at Fort
Leavenworth, of which General A. Med. Nc
Cook, who distinguished himself in the late
| war is colonel. A black marble maltese
cross is in memory OF "BrevetM Major
| General Sykes, United States army, colonel
Twentienth infantry, died February s, 1sS0,n
The next tablet IS of the same shape and
material, and as modest as he in whose mem