The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-19

The new plans for coast and harbor de-
Tense are highly creditable to the capabili-
ty and ingenuity of the engineer corps.
Among the most prominent officers of this
corps is General Henry Larcom Abbot, the
director of the board of Notifications and
engineers. This eminent officer and war
scientist is known far beyond the borders
of the United States as one of the best
authorities in the art of modern military
engineering It is with a feeling of pride
that the writer pays tribute to so distin-
guished a soldier Most of the new plans
are of General Abbot's creation, and they
all reflect his genius and practical skill.
Apart from his success in this direction
he has worked hard to develop the general
art of military engineering in America,
and the existence of the engineer school of
application at WilIet's Point is due to his
efforts.
General Abbot was born in Beverly,
Mass, Aug. Is, 1881. He was graduated
at West Point in 1854, and then became
brevet second lieutenant of typographical
engineers. He was subsequently employed
in the Office of the Pacific railroad surveys
at Washington. One year afterward he
was transferred to the survey of the route
between California and Oregon. It was
not, however, until the civil war that Abb
bots capabilities were fully appreciated.
He was then engaged as a military engi-
neer and took part in various actions, be
ing seriously wounded at Bull Run After
the war he was brevetted brigadier gen
eral United States army, and in 1880 be
was made lieutenant colonel Of engineers.
For quarter of century he has studied
the coast and harbor defenses of America
and on the subject of high explosives he is
regarded "a an authority in Europe as well
as in the United States.
He has also invented and developed q
system of submarine mines for coast and
harbor defense, and has held positions as a
member of the engineer board on United
States military bridge equipage and drill
and on the board for the protection of the
alluvial region of the Mississippi against
foundations. He has likewise been CON
nected with nearly every board on forth
fications and river and harbor improve
ments. At present he is director OF engi-
neers and the board of Qualifications
The United States government sent him
in 1870 to Sicily to observe the solar eclipse
which took place during that year, and
MS work there, as elsewhere, was per
his most noted literary productions the
following deserve special mention: Phys
les and Hydraulics OF the Mississippi"
which he jointly published in 1861 with
Captain A. A Humphreys; Siege Artil-
lery IN the Campaign Against Richmond;;-
United States Bridge Equipege and
Drill" $50; Experiments and lives
LEGATIONS 70 Develop a System Of SUB
States" 1881: Report Ct Gun Foundry"
1854, aud Report Of s.,e Board on FORTH
cations or Otner Defenses-" ISS6
General Abbot Is now sixty years old.
He Is man OF medium height, with iron
gray hair and a full beard His large gray
eyes are very expressive and glow with
intelligence and afabiiity. The high fore
head reveals the thinker He is greatly es-
teemed by his superiors and beloved oy the
officers OF MS coros
LIEUT.. F. De THUxMEL CLoTE.