Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-04
THE SOLDIERS, HOME.


Gen. J.. C. Kelton viii Be the New Gov
erner of the Institution.
An ADMIRABLE SELECTION OF MAN WHO HAS
BHEN CALLED THE FRIEND OF THE PRIVATE
soLDIEr-sKErcH OF HIS MILITARY CAREER
~ THE FIELD AND SINCE THE CLOSE OF THE
WAR.
The President has decided to appoint Gen.
John c. kelton to be governor of the Soldiers
Home at Washington. The selection of Gen.
kelton was made known from long list of
distinguished soldiers who desired this appoint
ment. and it is considered that the President
could not have made better selection, nor one
which would give better satisfaction to the men
who viii be placed under the care of Gen.
kelton. Throughout the rank and file Of the
army Gen Kelton has long been known and af-
fectionately regarded as 1.-The friend of the pri-
waite soldier" This appellation has been given
him by reason of his constant and sustained
efforts to ameliorate the condition of the private
soldiers in every way possible. His position as
adjutant general of the army afforded excellent
opportunities for display of lnteres. in the men.
and he has not neglected to take advantage of
these opportunities. One Of his earliest efforts
was an attempt to diminish the number of de-
sertions from the ranks. at that time very large,
and he accomplished it, not by making deser-
many of the causes Of desertion, making the
service attractive TO the men. In this way and
with many little acts of consideration and kind
ness has he won the regard of the men in the
ranks and endeared himself to them.
TRIBUTE TO HIS SERVICES.
His efforts in this line have received official
recognition from the Secretary of War in gen.
eral order issued June "a, 1892, the date of Gen.
kelton's retirement. as follows: .
The Secretary Of War cannot let this occa-
sion pass without calling the attention of the
army to the valuable and distinguished services
rendered by Gen. kelton, covering period Of
more than forty years. in all of which his efforts
have been used for a high and rising standard
of personal and professional excellence and am
bition in the army. His influence and efforts
toward establishing in the army what WAS once
explicitly mentioned in the army regulations,
"a gradual and universal subordinatiOn or au-
thority. which. without loss of force. shall be
even, mild and paternal. and which founded in
justice and firmness. shall maintain all subordi-
mates in the strictest observance of duty" are
worthy of high praise: his vigilant care of the
true interests of the soldier. his professional
and personal advancement and the happiness of
his daily life in the service have never relaxed.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
".
He was born in Delaware county June "a, 1925
He has Irish blood in his veins. his grandfather
coming to Chester county from Ireland about
1875. In 1851 the young soldier graduated from
West Point and was Immediately sent to the
frontier. where he served until 1857. He then
returned to the Military Academy at West Point
and for the next four years instructor in
infantry tactics and the use Of small arms.
At the breaking out of the civil war he went
g. H.
eral. He commanded the ninth Missouri
with rank of colonel, and for two months COM
manded brigade. He resigned his volunteer
commission March ~. 1862. but was in the
field during the advance upon Corinth and the
siege upon that place during April and May.
and was on Gen. Henry ". Halleck's staff from
July of that year until July 1. 1865. Gen.
Kelton's record in the field is a brilliant one.
and is attessed by his being brevetted heuten-
ant colonel. colonel and brigadier general
United States army on March ID, 1865, ''for
most valuable and arduous services, both in the
field and at headquarters"
ON DUTY IN WASHINGTON.
From 1865 to 1870 he was or duty in Wash
ington. in charge of the appointment bureau
in the adjutant generals Office. Afterward he
was ordered to duty as adjutant general of the
division of the Pacific. On June 10. 1880, he
attained the staff rank of colonel and in 1885
for duty at Washington as assistant
adjutant general. When Gen. Drum. adjutant
general of the army. was placed on the retired
list, in 1889, Gen. kelton was appointed adjutant
general, his appointment dating from June Z,
1889.
On the oath of June last Gen. Kelton was
placed on the retired list of the army with the
rank of brigadier general.
Gen. kelton has patented number of de-
vices for guns, which have been adopted by the
ordnance department of the army, among them
a modification Of the locking mechanism of the
Springfield rifle, reducing the number of mo-
tiOns required to loau and fire ii to four front
sigh cover and protector. safety stop for re-
voivers. preventing accidental discharge in a
cavalry combat. pistol pack, whereby any
jointed revolver can befoaded in two seconds
an automatic check rein. that enables a cavalry
man to have both hands free, and a rear sight
for rifles.
AN AUTHOR OF ARMY LITERATURE.
Gen. kelton has also found time to publislfa
number of books upon military subjects. among
them being Manual of the Bayonet." .Fenc-
ing With Foils," Pigeons as Couriers." In
formation for Rifemcn" and ''Select Songs for
Special Occasions.''
The billet Of governor of the Soldiers Home
is one eagerly sought by retired officers and its
bestowal is always considered mark of con-
sideration and the position carries with it many
perquisites which add to the comforts and
pleasures Of life.
Prince Georges County Notes.
Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star
UPPER MARLBORO, Nd. July 4, 1892.
Some one went into the pasture field of Clar-
ence Hall, who lives near the station. on Satur-
day night and stole young horse belonging to
James A. Parker, laborer on the Baltimore
and Potomac railroad. The Washington police
were notified and close watch will be kept up.
The Gazette office, which was burned some
time ago. is being rebuilt on the same site. but
the new building will be much better looking.
Geo. W. Wilson who also lost his storehouse
by fire on the same night. has broken ground