Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-02

DTIE AND ~ A StlGNtINl-iuF IliLlEi 'f
The w.surHGToS AQUEprcr-So FUNERAL
ARRANGEMENTS YET
Gen. Montgomery c. NeiSs, L. s A.. retired.
died a: his residence, corner Of street and
Vermont avenue, at O'Clock this morning. Up
10 within week ago the generals
health was fairly good, but on Sun
day last tie grip seized him. The
attack was not particularly vicious one and
until Thursday tho patient. who was attended
by DIR. Heccr, L. S. \, seemed TO be moving
satisfactorily toward recovery. On Thurs
DAY evening. however. symptoms OF pneu-
monia appeared, but 1t was not until
yesterday afternoon that the general 5
condition was really regarded as very serious.
Throughout the night the disease made rapid
progress and at ) am. the distinguished en-
gineer passed away. number OF watchers
were at his bedside when :eath came. among
them being the generals daughter. hrs. Taylor,
wac for some time past has lived with her
father.
Funeral arrangements are in allegiance until
the arrival of the generate son. Montgomery
Neigs- He is civil engineer. located At
Keokuk, Iowa. and Will not be here until to-
morrow afternoon. The funeral will nndonbt-
edly be military in its nature, although no
positive announcement TO thar effect can he
made until tomorrow. s..
Three children survive but only two Of these
will follow their father to the grave. iE0se
who will be present at the ODsequles are M
Montgomery Meigs and Mrs Taylor. widow OF
the late Col j. ~ Taylor. [. 5. A. he absent
one will be Mrs. Archibald Forbes. One of the
late generals brothers. Mr.. Emlyn Meiss W
Philadelphia, is expected here this afternoon.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Montgomery Cunningham Meigs was son OF
Charles Delacena Meigs. son of the brother
OF Return Jonathan Meiss Of revolutionary
fame as soldier. whose descendants well
known in Washington. lie was born IN Au-
gusta Ga. May ). lSl6. and studied at the
University OF Pennsylvania.
He received appointment 20 the Military
Academy from the keystone state IN ls3! anu
graduated four years later fifth In his
class. He was appointed to the hrst
ARTILLERY. but transferred IN
year to the engineer corps During
his early career as an army engineer he was en-
gagged IN the bUilG,nE Of Fort Delaware, in ihe
Improvement OF harLors in the Delaware river
and bay and in various other works along the
Atlantic coast Until lSil, when he was made
superInteI ding engineer OF the construction OF
Forts WAYNE. Porter Niagara and Ontario This
duty lasted Tor eight years. tie sptnt the wear
1880 IN Washington ia the engineer bureau,
after which he served az experimenting engi-
neer en- The building of Io.t Montgomery
TIE wAsuISGroS AQUrBUcr.
In 1852 lie returned TO Washington under
orders TO take charge Of designing and con-
structinS the Potomac adusdUct. also superln-
tending the building OF the new wings
and non dome of the Capitol extension
Other architectural duties were assigned TO
him, including the extension of tie gem
eral post office. As part of the
general project OF the construction OF the aque-
dGct Gen 1lcigs designed and constructed tine
wonderful bridge across the Cabin John
that Is now regarded one Of the finest spccl-
mems OF arch work IN the world.
This arch, with single span Of 90 feet, with
ga feet Use from the sIriEging. carries the
water mains across a ravlne lOl feet deep. Il
i ~ feet wide and i2o feet long, and cost
S23I COZ. The bridge Is built OF
granite with Seneca paTapets and Coping
Ii was built during tie almin;stra-
ton OF Jefferson Davis as Secretary OF
War, which lasted from 1858 TO 1854. When the
coniederacy formed and the ex-Secretary
was placed at Its head. Capt. Nleigs caused the
name of Davis. which had been cut into the
date stone on the bridge, to be wholly erased.
DURING THE WAR.
in ls60 he was sent TO Florida TO take charge
OF the building of Fort Jefferson. but in 1861
he was appointed to organize an expedition to
relieve Fort Pickens. which was besieged by
the confederate forces. On May IL. 1861, he
WAS made colonel OF the eleventh infantry
and the next day was promoted to be quarter
master general of the army. to IL the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Gen. Jos. L. JoEu-
ston, who joined the southern army. lie held
the same post for twenty-One Years. until his
retirement IN lss2. longer than any officer OF
modern times
During the civil war he was engaged in di-
reciins the equipment and supply OF the armies
IN the field, generally from headquarters at
Washington, though he was present ut
the battle OF Bull Run in July. 1861.
and during iS63-64 he was specially
engaged In providing transportation and cup
plies tor the forces At Chattanooga, being pres
eEt during the investment and bomlarl me Z
of that city and the subsequent battle In Ne
yeElber l-63-
had for a snort tine personal charge OF the
base Of supplies OF the Army CO the Potomac at
fredericksburg and Belle Train. During the
Threatened invasion o. Washington in july
lsGl, lie commanded brigade OF troops COM
posed largely OF quurteruHSt.rs men on
duty IN ;kIs city. The s!Nth army corps
under the command OF Gen. H. '. Wright wa.
hurried w. !-on City FOi.I Va. in time to CO.
opera-e with this little band and Early's troops
were encountered a: Fort Stevens on the
B-IghtwOOd road about three miles from the
boundary The invaders were repealed bv The
EuI;e forces. Of which Gen. Neiss commando Il
hy.sion th.; Occupied the trenches cast OF
IOrt Ste,en
q,
lisa On July : Gen. MeIGs received breyet
CON nlssIOn as major geueI Al for di-tingui.hed
and 2erItor-Ous services during he rebellion.
subsequently he visited Savannah. Ca sup
PLYING md renting the army under Gen. Sher.
EiGH. after when ne was IC GoldsEorouGh, v
e., directing the opening of Communication toI
again supplying SHERMAN = armies.
AFTER TIE wAG-
Atte- tho war he Continued in Washington
nad il con=CeI.oa with the duties OF his oHic,
rsade various inspection tours Throughout the
country.
In ls15-76 hs visited Europe on specia
service 20 study the constitution srd govern
men: OF the European armies, and ON his re
turn he was made a member % commission
fo- the reform sai reorganization o: the Cu:teC
St.tes army
lie was also. in 1896. member Of the boarG
TO prepare plans for the new War Department
building. Zen years later he uic-d in design
Inc ;1e Nat:ona! Muse uEI building AID n Isl,
he prepared pi.sn for a hall # rrcoIGz
THE Pension IUuoIsa.
On the 9Th of February 1851 Gen. Neirs
being g. years Of age. was placed on the &c
sired IL. 81 the army, and, by direction of tn
President. WAS designated a. architect il
charge ~ the erection OF :Ee new pension
oiiicr. fO- which appropriation bad been mad
BY Congress