Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-08
He Will Retire from Active
Service Today.
A Brief Sketch of His Military
Career.
An Interview With Him on Various
Army Matters.
He Favors Fortifcations at San Pedro
and the Establishment of Military
Post-Other Army Changes.

mander of the department of Arizona,
with headquarters located in this city,
will be placed upon the ratired list. The
army regulations require in time OF
peace that when man attains to Ga
years of life he should cease active SER
vice. No one to look at General
Grierson as he sits at his desk in the
round bay window in the top floor of the
Bryson-Bonebrake block, would believe
that he had passed so many mile posts
in life. His hair and beard are iron
gray, but the wrinkles on his face are
those of firm manhood, not of old age
All his life General Grierson has been a
strong man-an athlete, indeed; and he
fails to find as yet any ma
terial diminution in his powers.
There is no reason as far as the
matters of health and strength go why
he should not serve his country for a
number of years longer, but the law of
the army service was made for the gem
eral run of men, not for the exceptions.
General Grierson's biography.
General Grierson was born at Pitts
burg, Pa, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He
entered the service Of the United States
at the breaking out of the civil war as a
volunteer without pay. He was at the
sonville, Illinois. After serving for some
months as aid-de-camp to General B.
M. Prentiss he was made major of the
made colonel.
~, A,,;I ~ 1890 ha o,,+ -, oo,,,
mand of an expedition which made a
flying trip through hostile country from
Tennessee to Baton Rouge. In sixteen
days the expedition got over 800 miles Of
territory, destroyed $4,000,000 worth of
property and captured 1000 prisoners.
1t was one of the most famous under
takings accomplished during the war.
In June of 1868, Col. Grierson was
promoted to be general of volunteers.
At the close of the war he was selected
as one out of the vast volunteer corps
for preferred service in the regular army.
He was made colonel of the tenth cav
airy. In this position he continued for
twenty-four years without promotion.
About year and half ago Col. Grier-
son was placed in charge OF the depart
ment of Arizona and was located here in
he was promoted to the rank of briga-
dier-general at the time when the death
of General Crook caused number OF
changes in the upper ranks of the SER
vice.
From this brief biography it will be
seen that General Grierson has seen
about thirty years of service in the army
of the United States. Not only during
the war but also since, among the hos
tile Indians of the southwestern terri
tories, General Grierson saw great deal
of active service. He belongs to the
class of men who 60 out of their way to
avoid notoriety and for that reason he
has not always received the recognition
from the public that his services de-
serve. Those who are nearest to him,
the men in the department offices in this
city, the men who have served in his
regiment and the officers who have COM
manded with him, are his sincerest ad-
mirers and most loyal friends. Wher-
ever he is we'll known he is held in high
honor, and when he passes to the re-
tired list the government will part with
an excellent and trustworthy officer.
An Interview.
A reporter of this paper called upon
General Grierson yesterday afternoon.
and asked him with regard to his future
plans.
81 am all ready to co." said he. He
pointed to the desk, which was cleared
of papers, and in the half-opened draw
ers he showed correspondence filed away
in perfect order. Everything is cleared
up, and my successor will. think, have
no cause to complain. visited General
Miles last week in San Francisco, and
arranged for whatever work may come up
before my successor is appointed.
"As to my personal plans. expect
to leave for the east in a few days.
shall 60 first to Jacksonville, Illinois, my
old home, where / have many friends.
They have telegraphed me that my house
there is ready for occupation, and that
they will all be very glad to greet me.
After long visit there 1 shall travel
about in several of the eastern and
southern states, and then return to Los
Angeles before winter comes on.
During the latter years of my life l
have lived almost entirely in a southern
climate. l do not feel inclined to put
up with northern winters. In the time
that l have been dwelling in Los An
geles / have become completely enam-
ored of it-of its climate and its people.
have many warm friends here, and l
know of no place where / would be more
willing to spend the remaining years of
my life. 1t is beautiful country, this
Southern California, and l shall sound
it's praises wherever CO."
"What about the removal of the office
from Los Angeles?"
II have received no information of a
sort to make me believe that it is under
consideration. l doubt if it is to take
place. There are plenty of reasons why
the Offices of the department should be
located here, and I believe they will not
be moved"
"Can you say anything about the es-
tablishment of a military post in this
vicinity?"
The general picked up small PAM
phlet which lay on the table. ''Here is
my report to the secretary of war;
said he, "all finished and printed and
supplied with maps as you see. 1t has
not yet been forwarded to headquarters,
so cannot show it to you for publica-
ton. But it contains my recommends
tions with regard to the establishment
of post here"
swell, aside from the report what are
your views on the matter?"
81 think that the government land at
| San Pedro should be cleared of squat
| ters and used for extensive Notifications
and a post. There should be regiment