The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-15
TROOPER MURPHY
LAID TO REST.
Comrades Gathered Round His
Grave at the Presidio.
A Brave Soldiers Record in the Indian Wars
Under General Sheridan and With Gen.
eral Crook in the Black Hills.

Back of Commandant Graham's residence
at the Preside. on a knoll, lies reserved
plot OF ground. where are buried the soldiers
of the army at the post The plat is known
as the National Cemetery. There is nothing
imposing about this burial place
Here and there a few cedar trees throw
their shadows over the green mounds, while
flowers may be seen moving in the breeze
which comes directly in from the Golden
Gate. The character Of the place is only
suggested by the melancholy cross and the
small head-stones There are 10 monuments
in this cemetery, nor high sounding epitaphs.
Nothing but the humblest marking of the
graves is there, with the simple name Of the
deceased, below which is the date of his
birth and death. Yet between those two
periods of time in the life of some there
buried how much faithful service was COM
pressed, of courage on the field how much,
and how much of unrecorded heroism.
1t was in this plat of ground that Private
John Murphy OF Troop L, Fourth United
States Cavalry. was inferred yesterday. He
died tragic death. He died while on spree.
Yet was he man for all that. a man with
record Of which any soldier might be proud.
He participated in no less than twenty-five
set engagements in the various Indian wars
since 1867, and in his discharges was particu-
larry mentioned for his courage on the field.
PRIVATE MURPHY's RECORD.
Murphy was born at Tyrone, Ireland in
1915. In 1867 he enlisted in the army, and
immediately saw active service. He en-
listed in Troop u of the Seventh Cavalry,
which was assigned to duty in Indian Ter
ritOry, then the seat of trouble with the IN
dans General Phil Sheridan had command
of the troops during the years 1860, when
Indian Territory was disturbed with these
troubles, and with him Murphy participated
in no less than twelve engagements.
The fighting at times was hard and diff
cult. The principal battles in which
Murphy took part were Cinnamon River,
September 10 and II, 1868; Wolf Creek,
September IA, 1865; Cavalry Creek, October
IS, 10. 1e6S; Solomon River, June 13 1863
Murphy was discharged in 1872, after five
years service, but after three years time the
attractions of military life proved too
strong for him, and he re-enisted in Troop
+, OF the Third Cavalry, participating in
the Black Hills campaign in 1876, in which
the memorable Custer massacre took place.
General Crook was in command of the
division 10 which Murphy's troop was
assigned. Murphy was present AMI took
part III the well-knOwn engagements at
Crazy Horse, March II. 1876; Rosebud,
June II, 1876 and Slim Buttes, September
Q, 1876. He also served in the Cheyenne
lndian outbreak from January OH to June
-, 1879.
y
In 1880 Murphy, after his second five
years enlistment, was again discharged,
and Immediately Te-enlisted in Troop l.
Fourth Cavalry, in which he remained up
Ia the time of his death. With the Fourth
Cavalry Murphy served all through the In
dian wars in Arizona against the Apaches,
in which the once-famous Geronimo caused
so much trouble TO the United States troops.
On account of mis- long experience with
Indian lighting he was lookel up TO by his
brother soldiers with more than ordinary
respect, which was not lessened by the fact
that he went on occasional sprees. HIS
death by falling from the balcony of his
troop barracks on Friday was great shock
to his comrades. His commanding officers,
Captain Wood and Lieutenant Davis. spoke
very highly of Murphy.
He was" said Lieutenant Davis, "a SOL
der of the old schOol" which You read
about. He had all tactics at his finger ends
and paid the greatest attention 20 the slight
est details. No officer would ever have any
complaint to make about Murphy and no
more faithful soldier ever existed. He went
on an occasional spree, but when he recov-
cred he never failed to perform any of his
duties with the greatest punctiIiousness.
His record was one OF which any soldier
should have been proud. and in all his dis
charges his troop commanders have pro-
noun ced his character most excellent"
HIS FAULTS FORGOTTEN.
Murphy was buried in the National Gem
etery at O'Clock yesterday afternoon with all
the hOuOrs that military etiquette allows to
be paid private. A detachment of eight
comrades from Troop !, headed by the Fifth
Artillery Band, followed by the greater part
of the soldiers of the garrison. formed the
funeral cor;ege. A father from St Ignatius
Church performed the religious part of the
services.
The military portion OF the services con-
sisted OF the firing of three volcys by the
firing squad. Captain Woods and other Of.
ticers of tie post were present at the inter-
ment. Alter tie last notes of Lights Out"
had ceased to ecno round the hills that rise
about the GOd+n Gate, those who departed
like the ancient Greek, forgave Murphy for
his faults for he had served his country well.