The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-05
BE Is CAPT. CARTER NOW.
A Brief Sketch of Brilliant Eilitar
Omcer's Career.

a brleI Sketcn OF a Erillians &llitarY
Omcer's Career.
It will be gratifying news to the many
friends Of Mr.. o. II. Carter, both here and
elsewhere, to learn that he has advanced
another step in rank, and is now drawing
the increased emoluments aud bearing the
additional honors Of captains rank, while
another bar has been added 20 his shoulder
straps. 1t was between eight and nine years
ago when be was promoted from q second TO
a first lieutenancy.
In these days Of quiet and peace, ad-
| vancemeut In the army among the officsrs
Is slow. and promotion marks an epoch in
an officers life, there being but three steps
between a captaincY and q brigadisr gener-
alship In the corps Of enginsers, that of
major, lieutenant colonel and colonel.
FEB. 20 Sir. Carter, then q first lieuten-
ant, left for New York city for examination
with a view to promotion. This took
place on the Tuesday following
aud was conducted by Gen. Abbot,
Gen. Comstock and Col. Gillespie.
He passed this ordeal successfully, and on
the Goth, q vacancy being caused by the
placing Of Capt. F. A. Human on the
newly created retired list, was informally
vested with his new rank, but will not
sign his name as such until his commission
is received from the President
Capt Carter has been stationed in this
city since 1885, nearly six years, and his
knowledge OF his duties, the interest
he has taken in Savannah's future,
mis- appearances before the river and harbor
committee Of the House Of Representatives
arguing in favor of suitable appropriations
for this harbor, the zeal and energy he has
always displayed, have all united IN making
him valuable factor in the advancement
of this city, commercially. When he first
came here vessels drawing from thirteen to
seventeen feet Of water experienced diff
Guilty in proceeding to sea on one tide; but
now ships Of draughts from nineteen
to twenty feet leave the city
wharves and proceed TO sea
on a single tide; and only a
few days ago vessel drawing III feet and
inches had no difficulty in going down the
river ana over the bar on the same tide.
The only thing he lacks to give Us depth
OF water sufficient for the growing needs of
the port ard commensurate with our i'm
portance is money regularly and adequately
supplied.
Capt. Carter Is considered one Of the most
efficient officers in the engineer service, and
his district, embracing as it does the works
now In progress in this harbor aud those to
be continued at Brunswick harbor and
Cumberland sound, is among the most
important.
Capt. Carter was appointed a cadet at
large to the military academy at West
Point from Ohio, in 1876, by President
Grant, and graduated in 1880 at the head Of
his class, receiving for the four years course
1892 points out of total of 1850, being
perfect in mathematics, French, Spanish,
natural and experimental philosophy, tao
tics, law, ordnance and g1nnery, mineral
ogy and geology, and discipline, and veered
but fraction from perfection in all other
I'D a.
achieved at West Point under the present
curriculum. For a short time after gradua-
ton he was assigned to the military acad-
envy as an instructor in practical military
engineering, and later at the schools of
practical application of civil and military
engineering at Willet's Point, New York
harbor. Ia 1889 he was appointed first
lieutenant and shortly thereafter was as
signed to duty as chief engineer of the de-
partment Of the Missouri, on the staff Of
Gen. John Pope
While filling this position he conducted
exploration and surveying parties in Colo
RADIO aud New Mexico, and while in these
expedi tons had command at different
times of attachments Of cavalry and in
fantrY. In 1884 he was relieved from this
duty and ordered to report to Gen. Quincy
A. Gilmore at New York city. He was
sent by that officer to Charleston, 8. c., on
NNSl AZ NOAAACSNAOA WIN river anu HhTDOT
work. He remained there but a few months,
being transferred to this city, where he he's
since been stationed.
Gen. Gilmore died in April, 1888, and
the works Of improvement over which
Lieut.. Carter had local charge were placed
under his direct control; he being RESPONSE
bic to no one but the chief OF engineers.
The works at that time under his jurisdic-
ton were the harbors of Savannah and
Brunswick. Cumberland sound, Alta
maha and Savannah rivers aud Rom
erly marsh. A few months later
the works OF improving the
Ocmulgee and Ocones rivers was trans
ferred from Capt. r. l. Roxie to him. The
bill of Aug. II, 1888. contained the first APP
for Jekyl Creek, and the work
of Improvement was assigned to him.
While in this district he has acted on
various boards OF engineer officers, chief
among which were those for the establish
ment of harbor lines for Savannah harbor,
Brunswick harbor aud Fernandina harhor.
At present he is a member of boards of en-
gineer officers for locating harbor lines for
St Augustine and Pensacola, Fla.
The river and barbor oct, approved Sept.
10, 1890, charged him with the survey of
the outer bar at Brunswick the surveys Of
the inside route between Doboy and Sapelo.
.he inside route between Savannah and
the Yellow river, and with a
new work, that Of Darien harbor.