The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-03


the regular steainboata After spending about
week in Washington went to my home. near
Binchamtpn. N. Y. by rail. and arrived at the
paternal door Feb %, 1866, having been absent
since Aug. IL, 1662-three years, six months
and 10 days
Having introduced No ! Of this sketch with
an engraving of its hero, Capt. James Stewart
rs he appeared about che time of tho battle of
Antetam think it proper to embellish It's
concluding number with his picture as he APP
pears in 1890. The two pictures represent -
lapse of more than 26 years. They display, in
war, the soldier without fear; aud, in peace,
the citizen without reproach. l respectfully
append q brief sketch of his services to the
Union.
He first entered the military service of the
United States Oct. 49, 1851, at Governors Island,
New York Harbor, which was then the head
quarters of the 4th u s. Art About three
weeks after he had been on tho Island he was
placed in charge of q squad Of recruits as Act
ing First Sergeant. About May, 1852, he was
sent rs Acting First Sergeant under command
of Capt. Albion T. Howe 18th Art with this de-
tachment of recruits to Brownsville Tex, when
he was assigned to Light Battery B, 18th Art.
About one year after Joining he was appointed
Corporal remaining in that grade about one
year. He was then promoted Sergeant. About
1855 he was appointed First Sergeant being
at tho time Of his appointment the junior Ser
geant of tho battery; and he retained the posi-.
ton of First Sergeant until Nov. Is, 1861,
when he was commissioned Second Lieutenant,
9TH Art. and assigned to duty with Battery Il,
in which he had seen all his service.
During bis service in Texas he was engaged
in several scouts along the Rio Grande River.
In the Autumn of 1856 the battery was ordered
to Fort Leavcnworth, Kan; hut ON arriving ut
ST. Louis, Mo-. tho river was found block ed with
ice and the battery had 10 remain at Jefferson
Rurrtpk & until nvipufiuu nd in tho fnl low
ing Spring, when il embarked for Fort Leaven-
worth in April, 1851 reaching that post the
latter part of that month, ana remained there
until July 10, the same year, when the bat
terry started on the Utah expedition, reach
ing what is now known rs Fort Bridger
in November. They left that post in June.
1858, for Salt Lake City, passing through the
latter city after resting there about four days,
and then marched to Cedar Valley, where
Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston established Camp
Floyd, where the battery remained until May,
1860. The battery was at this time ordered to
be loft AT the post aud the men to perform duty
as provisional cavalry between Camp Floyd and
Carson Valley, keeping the mail route open and
protecting the pony express aud emigrant
trains. While engaged in this duty the men of
the battery marched dn ing that Summer about
1000 miles over barren and almost dcsolato
country, infested with hostile Indians, whom
they encountered several times and finally
drove them into tho mountains for which
service Serg't Stewart was especially mem
toned Ia General Orders No. IL, from Head
quarters Of the Army, dated New York City.
Nov. %, 1850. In July, 1861, he reeulistcd the
second time in the same battery, and on the
18Th OF that month tho battery was ordered
East. While en- route, upon their arrival AT
Fort Laramie, the only Lieutenant present WAS
placed ia arrest aud so remained until they
reached Washington, ID. G. As soon this
officer was placed in arrest, Capt. john Gibbon,
then commanding the battery, placed Sergt
Stewart in command of n section. the presamp-
ton being that thoy would he attacked en-
route by Gen. Ben. Mccullough. Confederate
army. who had been sent from Texas to inter
cgpt them. The battery reached Washington
IN October. 1861. aud in November Orderly
Serg't Stewart was commissioned, and, at the
request oil Capt. Gibhon. was assigned 10 duty
with the old battery. He served IA Snbaltern
until Sept. IL 1862, on which date he assumed
command. Capt Campbell having been wounded
in the battle Of Autiotam. As subaltern he
participated in The engagements OF Gainesville,
second Bull Run aud South Mountain. He
commanded the battery IN the battles of An
tietam. Fredericksburg, Charlottesville. Get
tysburg. Mime Run. Wilderness. Spottsylvania
teieht days OF continuous hattlel. North Auna
River. Bethesda Church where he led the bat
terry in its famous charge Petersburg We'll
don Railroad. Ilatehers Run, aud tho opera
tions Of Oct. Z aud n
Early In 1863 he was sent for by Cen John
+. Reynolds. commanding the First Corps,
aud asked 10 accompany an expedition with
section of the battery 10 Port Royal. Though
tbs only officer with the battery at the time he
took his right section aud covered the crossing
OF ono Of the regiments which succeeded in
capturing a very valuable mail. and for this
service no was thanked by Geus. Wadsworth
aud Reynolds In General Orders.
Until Gen. Grant assumed command of the
Army exception WAS made In the case of
Battery y. which Was equipped on the u" full
war footing OF six pieces. twelve EMISSIONS aud
the necessary number OF horses. although Capt.
Stewart Was frequently tho only officer with
the battery.
In 1860, at the request Of Capt. Throekmor-
ton. he WAS transferred 90 Battery q. 4th Art,
aud served with that battery at Fort Wayne,
Mich. until he WAS appointed To a Captaincy
ia the 18th u. S. lnf. July -. 1866. He joined
that regiment at Fort Mcpherson, Neb., IN
the Spring of 1867. In May of the same year
he joined his company X in Wyoming Terri
tory. While ~ that station he escorted "a large
train and 80 head Of beef cattle TO Fort Reno.
OAK. for the upper posts of Forts Philip
kcarny and &. +. Smith. On returning, he
escorted another train back 10 Fort Laramie,
aud from that post hes WAS ordered 10 take post
at Fort FettrrmHu. On arriving at that station
of Government saw-miil. distant about 10
miles. While OH this duty Capt. Stewart aud
his company cut aud sawed all the lumber used
Tor building purposes NJ the post la the latter
part of May, 1863, they marched To sydney
Barracks. Neb., where they took post. In
April. 1869, his company joined the regiment
ut Omaha. route To Atlanta for consOida-
ton with tho 25th u. 3. luf. They remained
AT Mcpherson Barracks Atlanta, until October,
1870. when Stewards company was ordered to
Columbia, s. &. They remained at that post
performing detached service every two or three
weeks TO points In Georgia and South Carolina,
whence they were ordered 10 take post at New
berg, s. &. They remained there about five
years when Capt. Stewart was ordered To Green
VILE s. C., 10 assist the Internal Revenue oili-
GERS in supprcssing Illicit distilIns. lie re-
manned NJ Greeuvillc until the breaking out
of the labor strikes in July, 1877, when he was
ordered with his company To i ttsburg, Pa. lie
remained there till Oct. 80, when his company
waa ordered To take post ut Atlanta. Here
Capt. Stewart was retired OF account OF wounds
received In line OF duty aud disability result
ing rom them.
He has since resided at Carthage. o., aud was
recently described by contributor to THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE AS enjoying the alice
Tomato respect and esteem Of every man, woman
and child In the village"
In conclusion ] beg 10 say that 10 James
Stewart. commander comrado and friend, aud
to every other man or boy who helped To give
Battery its fame, the foregoing sketch Is