Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-04-04
GENERAL SCHENCK DEAD.
He Suddenly SuccumbS to an
Attack Of Pneumonia.
His Notable Career as Diplomat,
Statesman and Soldier.


General Robert Cumming Schenck, Con-
e,ress,nan. soldier and diplomat, and leader
in public affairs a generation or more ago,
died at } O clock in the evening Of pneumonia
At his residence in Washington. 1t was not
until the previous day that it was known
that he was seriously i'll. He had been all
in for about two weeks, but attached very
little Importance 70 his complaint. A week
before he was out calling and seemed in his
usual health. save fOra slight brOncnIa! cough.
1t was not until four days previous to MS death
that il was thought necessary to call IN a
nhvsician Dr. II. &. GarrOw was sent for
and found General Schenck suffering from
capillary bronchitis. Within twenty-four
hours limited pneumonia Of the right lung
set in, and later the left lung also became
involved When Dr.. NarrOw visited Gen
eral SchencK he found him much worse and
it was discovered that diphtheretic exuda-
ton was commencing III the right side Of the
throat He grew rapidly weaker until the
end came His mind was clear and bright 10
the very las. His three daughters Mrs
Bates, an old friend and Miss Sedgwick
were with him at the time Of MS death
General Schenck was in his S1st year hav-
ing been born III Franklin, Ohio October f.
1909. He was graduated from Miami Uni
Versity in 1927, and after spending three adj
ditOnal years at the college studied law with
Thomas COrwin. He served two wears in the
State Legislature, and acquitted himself so
well that he was elected to Congress az a
Wing, serving from 1912 until 1851 Presi-
dent Fillmore then sent him to Brazil as
Minister PlenipOtentiary. While serving in
this capacity he distinguished himself as a
diplomat by taking a conspicuous part in the
negotiation of treaties with Paraguay
Uruguay, and the Argentine Republic
After two years in Brazil he returned to
Ohio his native State but took no part in
politics. When the Civil War broke out he
offered his services to the Government and
was commissioned Brigadier-General by
President Lincoln on May II. 1861. He
served with his brigade in the first battle of
Bull Run, in which the Federal army was
defeated. He next served i'll West Virginia
under General ROSecranS, and did some brill
liant fighting at Mcdowell and Cross KEYS
General Fremont then entrusted him with the
command of division, and while leading the
first division of Franz Sigeis Corps at the
second battle of Bull Run his right arm was
shattered by a musket ball, incapacitating
him for service for some time. In Septem-
Der, 1862, he was promoted to be a Major.
General, and in December of that year he
took command Of the Middle Department
and Eighth Corps at Baltimore. He rem
dered effective service in the Gettysburg
campaign.
General Schenck was nominated for Con-
gress against the anti-war Democrat Val
landingham, and, though the district was
Democratic, he carried the election, and re-
signing his post in the army took
his seat in the House of Representa-
tives on December 3. 1868 He was
Immediately made Chairman of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, and during this
and the following Congress his position en-
abled him to do valuable service to the Fed
eral cause. He was reelected to the two
succeeding Congresses and throughout the
exciting times, during and after the
war, he took q leading part in the proceed
lngs Of the House. During his last term
he was Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee and leader of the House. succeed
ing Thad Stevens in command Of the Re
publican party. He was Minister to Eng,
land in 1870, and in 1877 was one of
the Alabama Claims Commissioners re
tanning this las5 office for five years
when ne resigned. Since that time he
has made his home in W aShington, where he
was a warm favorite. He was a familiar
figure at Republican gatherings there but
he took no active part in politics His life
the last decade but his hardy constitution
and strong will pulled him through.
Secretary Blaine was much attached to
General Schenck, and sent an affectiOnate
note when he heard of his illness. In his
book Mr.. Blaine pays General Schenck
warm compliment. No man in Congress
during the present generation" he
says has rivaled General Schenck
fve-minute debater In the five
minute discussion in Committee of the
Whole he was an intellectual marvel. The
cOmpaCtneSS and ClearneSS of his statement,
the facts and arguments which he could mar
shall in that brief time were constant sur.
prise and delight to his hearers"