The National tribune., 1892-01-07
Mention Ths National rrrpuna.
GEN. NJ. C. MEIGs DEAD.
The War Quartermasier.GsusraI Dies In washing
tom or the erin

Byt. Maj Gen. Montgomery Cunningham
Meigs, Quartermastcr. General q. s. Army, re-
tired, died at his home in Washington on
Saturday Jan. .. 1892, after an illness OF a
week, Of the grip. Death came almost un-
awarcs, for not until Thursday did his ailmsnt
assume serious aspect. He took a severe
cold on Sunday, Dec. % which developed into
the grip, but bis attending physician thought
that recovery would soon follow He died at
o'clock IN the morning, peacefully and
quietly.
Gen. Meigs was born May 3 1916, at Augusta,
Ga, although all Of his early life was passed in
Philadelphia, from which place he WAS ap-
pointed 20 West Point as a Cadet in 1892
Graduating July 1, 1896 (dfth in class Of
49l. he was commissioned Second Lieutenant,
lst Art, but was placed on engineering duty at
Fort Miffiin, Delaware River.
He was transferred 10 the Corps Of Engineers
Nov. 1, 1886. but a difficulty arose about his
OutFanking the classmates assigned, and he
reverted 10 the Ist Art until Aug. l. fS37,
when the trouble was Fixed by his resicning as
Second Lieutenant, lst Art, July 81. 1887, and
being appointed next day Brevet Second Lieu
tenant OF Engineers, 20 rank from July I, 1896.
The next year he was promoted % First Lieu
tenant Of Engineers, and from 1857 To l5l9
was engaged IN the usual routine work of engi-
neer oiiceFs-buildiug and repairing fOrtihca-
tiOns, and improvements OF rivers and harDOrs.
In l549 80 he was ON duty in the Office Of
the Chief Of Engineers in Washington, and in
the latter year was made Superintending Engi-
neer in the building Of Fort Montgomery, at
Roase's Point, N. Y, to defend the outlet of
Lake Champlaiu
Nov 3, Is52, he was ordered to Washington
| and placed in charge Of the devising and con-
| struction Of the Potomac Aqueduct from Great
Falls 10 Washington, which furnishes the pres
ent water supply of the Capital, and conducted
that great engineering work until its virtual
completion in 1850. At that time the eBgi-
neeriug difficulties overcome were the wonder
/ OF modern times TO engineers all over the
world, and the feat Of springing a single arch
| on which 20 bring the yiaduct across the deep
| raVine Of Cabin John Greek brought him high
/ fame IN his profession at home and abroad. At
i this late date the bcautifu bridge stands yet
the longest single arch Of stone known in the
| world.
| While conducting operations on the Potomac
\ Aqueduct, Capt. Melgs The was promoted to
I Captain March 3 I5J3j was placed IN charge Of
the construction March %, 1850 Of the Sen
/ ate aud House wings Of the extension Of the
/ Capitol, and Of the new iron dome that was
( necessary to equaliZe the external appearance
| OF the extended structure. The extensions
| were completed for occupancy by the House
1 and Senate at the meeting Of Congress IN 1859,
/ but the present grand dome was left to be I'm
i ished by others when the rebellion came TO re-
| quire his services elsewhere.
/ The moment that Fort sumter was fred
/ upon, and rebellion was an assumed fact, an ex-
/ peditiOn was organized TO save Fort Picksns
/ from sharing the same fate, and Capt. Meigs
/ was made its chief engineer, with special in
| structiOus from President Lincoln and Secre-
tary Of War Cameron that gave him advisory
powers almost equal TO the authority OF an
| Abide Camp TO the President.
| When an additional fOrce Of the Regular
| Army was authorized by Executive order of
/ President Lincoln, Capt. Meigs was rendered
and accepted the appointment (May 19. 1851
/ Of Colonel, llth Inf. bot when the detection
/ OF Gen. Joseph f. Johnston TO the rebels left
/ the position o. QuartermasteT-Gieneral of the
/ Army vacant, he was rendered that position,
/ with the rank Of BrigadIer General, and ac-
/ cepted it June l3 1861, TO date from May Is.
/ ls6l- He never Joined the 1lth Inf as It's
/ Colonel, and when he was 80 summariIy placed
on the retired list in 1892 to give place to Gen.
/ Sheridan's father-in-law. he had served almost
/ q years as Quartermaster- General.
The administration Of the Quartermaster-
Generals office during the war OF the rebellion
| was huge task that required executive ability
/ OF the highest order, and the history OF the
/ war proves that for once the right man was
( selected. He might have earned higher
/ place IN history Is a commander Of troops in
i the field, but no commander IN the field had
4 more depending upon his action than the man
n
hauling food to the men who made history for
i the commanders IN the field
/ He performed many duties during the war
/ not strictly appertaining 10 his office. He was
a member Of the commission 70 examine and
| report upon the efficiency Of the plan of the
defenses OF Washington, in 1862; IN 1868 he
i started IN August on a general tour of inspeC-
tion Of the operations Of his department.. espe-
cially in the West, and it was his presence in
/ Tennessee that FASTENED the arrival of supplies
/ TO the furnishing troops at Chattanooga where
he witnessed and graphically described che
battles on and about Missionary RidgeJ; he
/ took command at Belle Plain and FredeFieks-
burg. Va, in May, 1864, and organized the
| base of supplies for Gen. Grant while hammer
/ ing along Lees front, and even to his flank
| when Gen. Early tried to steal a march on
| Grant and capture Washington. he commanded
a hastiIy-Organized brigade Of Quartermasters'
and other employees, and gave him battle until
Gen. Wright arrived with the Sixth Corps and
| sent him whirling back to the Shenandoah;
| and when Gen. Sherman arrived at Savannah
after his march to the sea, he found Gen. Meigs
waiting with plentiful supplies for the tired
troops.
The Quartermaster-Gen Office became
| an objective point for claimants after the war
| was over, but so rigid was Gen. Meigs's ad-
| ministratiOn in such matters that he rather
| went to the extreme of DENYING relief 10
honest claimants in fear that he might unwit-
tingiy pay unjust claim. However. except
| for a suspicious distru5t Of anyone who pre-
| sented = claim against the Governments his
administration Of che Quartermaster's Depart
ment was thorough and good
/ Finally, Feb. 6, 1882, he then being nearly
| So years old, President Arthur, against his
| vigorous remOnstrance, placed him on the re-
tired list for age.
/ Soon after, IN the same year, he was employed
| by the Department of the Interior as Architect
and Superintendent of Construction Of the
i new building for the Pension Bureau at a sal
ary of $40 per diem, and he continued in that
/ work until the building was completed
Many years ago Gen. Megs built a very com
mOdiOus and handsome residence in the midst
! of extensive grounds at tho corner of Vermont
| avenue and " street, in this city, and there he
| entertained ut various times some Of the most
/ distinguished men in scientific, political, lite
| rary and military life from all countries that
! have visited this Capital.
| One of his daughters is the widow of the late
| Col. Joseph II. Taylor, u. s. Army (who was q
nephew Of President Taylorl; another is the
| wife of Mr.. Archibald Forbes, the famous Eng
| lish author and journalist.
| At the close of the rebellion Gen. Meigs was
| brevetted Major General for distinguished
/ and meritOriOus services during the war"
The funeral took place on Tuesday, Jan. 5,
all the troops of the Regular Army stationed
near Washington taking part. The inter
| ment was in Arlington, the General being
buried by the side of his wife and son. The
latter was killed by MOsbys guerrillas during