The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-04-18

Chamberln's or Welcker's it would simply be
incomplete without his participation.
Gen. Van Yliet is 3 direct descendant Of that
sturdy Holland DeEtsche stock that is referred
to now rs the Knickerbockers but he was born
July q, 1915, al Ferrisburg. VI, although the
War Department records have for more than %
years past persistently alleged that he is a ma
tive OF New York.
IN 1886 he became a Cadet at West Point,
whore be graduated in 1870 well up in his class,
and was appointed Lieutenant in the Sd Art.
Among his classmates were two men who be-
came woIld-iamous in our civil war, and both
Of these were his room mates during the first
wear. The first was William i. Sherman aud
the other George Il. ThoHas-Aew England,
West and South with Gen. sherman an ST
fection began in those Plebe days that ex-
lists 10 this day.
The Seminoles were troublesome IN Florida
when fan Fiiet graduated, and the young
Lieutenant ct once Joined Lis company and
went CALAMITY through the campaign of $50
and 1871 participating ia several sharp Skin
mishes. IN September, 1871, be was ordered to
West Point IS Assistant Professor Of Mathe-
MATES, but he bad hardly warmed his chair
when the Semiuoles broke out again and at his
own request he was relieved Nov. 10, 1871, and
reiOined his company in Florida for the cam
paiga that was successfully ended in the next
year. in this second Florida war, while en-
gagged with the Indians on ST. Johns River,
"A
sharp hand to hand fight young Van Nllet shot
and killed his antagonist.
Then, until the breaking out Of the Next
csn war. be served In Louisiana, Fort Macon,
=. c., Charleston aud Savannah, and was mean
time promoted Nov. Is. 1919 to First Lieuten-
ant
At the battle Of Monterey. Sept. %, 1916.
Maj. Kinton the Captain of the company was
acting as a field officer and while the Mexican
guns were sweeping the streets OF the town,
Lieut.. Van Nliet, commanding the company,
led the esssnlting column. Ii was madness TO
charge through the narrow streets, So he made
his way 10 the Plaza by cutting passage
through the walls frOga house 10 house until
the Plaza WAS reached, aad when his muskcts
covered aad sileneed the Mexican gUnuers, lie
received Gen. AmpEdia's surrender from an
Aid-de-Czmp.
IN March. 1877, he still commanded his COM
pany in charge IF a battery Of mOrtars at the
siege and capture OF Vera Cruz and the castle
OF san Juan d'UIloa AID While talking with
Maj. Ninton the latter was struck by shell
and killed On the day before the surrender
OF Vera Craz he was made Regimeutal Quarter
master, but IN the following June was made
Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, and never
did regimeatai duty again.
From IS47 until the rebellion broke out he
was or the frontier at various points, and did
valuable service. he built old Fort kearney,
Aeb., and Fort Laramie, on the Oregon route,
and while serving ST Fort Lsavenworth fitted
out the Utah expedition under Gen. Albert
Sidney Johnston, and accompanied It TO Salt
Lake. In 1875, q he ec0mpanied Gen. Harvey
on tae Sioux expedition, and took part in the
desperate engagement Of Sept. 5, IS55. at Blue
Water
In August, 1861, he was promoted to Major
lhaving resigned as Captain Sd Art, Dec. a
1853, aad in tie same month reported 70 Gen.
Mcclellan Acre ia " Washington FOR duty as Chief
qusrterm2ster Of the Army Of the Potomac,
and performed the hinge labor Of fitting out
that army Is X WAS being organized and pre-
pared for the neld. IN September, 1861, he
was appointed BTissGieT- General Of Volunteers,
and ~ Chief euartermaster Of the Army of the
Potomac took part IN the PeuimSGlar campaign
aEsiBs. Richmond, being present in every en-
gagement from the siege OF Yorktown TO NAL
Eern EIlL The Senate IL the meantime had
lalled 10 confirm lis appointment as Brigadier-
General, AID he vas relieved Is Chief Quarter
master OF the Army Of tie Potomac July TO-
1852 and July y reported at New York city,
under as haeal raak OF Major 10 have charge
Of the transportation OF ali supplies from that
point TO the armies III tie field.
10 troops o. the armies IN Virginia, the
Carolinas. the Gpif, or on the Lower Missis-
sippi, during the subsequent years to March,
1856, had 40 reason 10 complain Of lack of
prompt arrival Of supplies and stores as far as
Sen. Van Niiet's duty was concerned, but there
are comparatively few only who have the least
idea OF the magnitude Of his work or of the
vast responsibility devolved upon him.
] dare not venture 10 estimate how many
millions upon millions Of dollars we're discussed
~ hlm, but the reader may guess at it when
lie remembers how Iaany hundreds Of sea-craft
OF al kinds steam and sail were constantly
arriving at and departing from the main depots
OF each separate army. At one time GEN Van
kilet had absolute authority to take possession
If ff.r -
might be found in or near New York Bay, if
IN bis Judgment he deemed il necessary for the
public service.
Despite ais splendid service, he toiled on
without reward Of promotion, except by the
empty breyets OF Lieutenant-C oonei Colonel
and Brlgaaler- General, L. 5. Army, which were
conferred "a 1854. until al last, in March, 1865,
the Secretary OF War had him again appointed
frigadier-Gencral Of Volunteers, and this time
he was promptly confirmed, retaining the rank
until mustered cut Ia September, 1856. Ia the
Volunteers and also IN tie Regular Army he
was breveted Mzj0r-GeneraL
After the war he served at various points
until 1o1o, when he came here as Colonel and
Assistant QuaEteTmasteT- General. and remained
here on duty nntii Placed on The Retired List in
the Fail Of 1851.
Fortunate investments made IN his early life
yielded large returns, and lie is now possessed
OF competence that enables him to enjoy life
u rooGly mansion here on Fifteenth street
where ne lives iIon early November until the
following May when he migrates to his baauti-
f1l 2ad extensive Simmer home On the Shrews-
bury River, near the New Jersey Highlands. 70
stay until Autumn brings him back 10 the city
and associations he loves 50 well.
Ml edium in hight, broad IN figure, and with
BY Jolly lace wreathed about with a snow-whitt
beard that seems part Of his luxurious growth
OF haiE, be IS, as ! began above, a welIknoWn
figure here. lie aud his admirable wife are the
most welcome Of guests in society, and both are
seen AZ almost every dinner party and recep
tion OF prominence. If Mrs. Van Yliet is de.
tanned at home, the General goes alone and ID
IS as great a iav0rite with the rosebuls of soci.
ETY. aud their mothers as be IS with his com.
Tades IN military and civil life. Some time
ago society paragraph IN a daily paper here
II describing the guests at grand ball, de-
clared that p" Gen. and Mrs. Van Yliet were
present, wearing pink silk with lace oversk irt.
have never believed the statement, however
for / don't think Gen. Van Eiiet would iook
well in such q dress.
The close intimacy formed between Gen
Nan Niet and Gen. Sherman IN the cadet DAYS
when they were r00m-nates, continues to thi.
day, and while Gen. Sherman was command
ing The army the two were so inseparable thai
when you SAY one you knew the other was moi
Tar away, and doubt If one was known Il
sttend dinner when both were in the CITY
Np ut her b.s~