New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-27
COLONEL, RICHARD RIDDLE IRWIN.

| Colonel Richard Bddle Irwin, OF The Tribune ed
itora staff, died from trght's disease at his home,
No. 145 West Fifty eighth-st., yesterday morning.
Colonel Irwin had been sick for about month, and
since Thursday he had been confined to his bed. He
knew that recovery impossible, and he looked
forward TO the end with resignation For the last Few
days his Illness attended with great pain, but he
bore his suncrngS with patience and preserved his
| cheerful manner to the last. Around his dcath-bcd
were his mother. son. daughter sister and brotherin-
law. his physician and his nurse. The funeral will
take place at the Chapel OF the TRANSFORMATIONS SIXTY
ninth-st near the boulevard, at 10 a. m tomorrow.
The body will be taken to Philadelphia. The pail
bearers will be selected from The Tribune staff tine
Loyal Legion the Union League Club and George Wash
ingt)n Post, G.. 4. Il.
Colonel Irwin born at rttSburg December
90 1880 lie the eldest OF William Wallace
Irwin, who lawyer, Mayor OF Pittsburg in
154143 and Minister to Denmark in 154347. lie
the younger son of John Irwin, a native OF
Tyrone Ireland who ut the close of the Revolutionary
War in this country went West with the expedition
that established the town OF Pttsburg on the site Of
Fort Pitt Colonel Irwin's mother was the grand
daughter OF Alexander James Dallas and OF Richard
Bachc and sally Franklin. only daughter and only
legitimate child of benjamin franklin. Rear-Admirll
John Irwin, United states Navy, commandant Of the
Mare Island Navy Yard, is a half brother Of Colonel
Irwin by previCsS marriage. Colonel 1rwlns mother
and two unmarried sisters, Agnes and Sophy Dallas
live in Philadelphia.
Colonel Irwin was educated by tutors In Copenhagen
until his eighth year. and sterward he studied In
private schools in Washington kept By George j. Alb
bot William +. Abbott and Leonard Bacon. When
Colonel Irwin was boy las father died and the youth
felt II TO be his duty to do something for his family.
In May, 1853 when he was thrtccO years old. lie
was appointed by Jefferson Davis. then Secretary OF
War. rs "A clerk In the Ordnance Office, War Depart
ment TO fill vacancy caused BY promotion. Early
In s5s he transferred TO the Office Of The Secretary
~ Nar nd - pud of nj lie
CORES pondlng clerk OF the Department This place
he held until August, 1861.
on April IL 1851 Colonel Irwin enlisted pr.
vate in Company a Of the Third Battalion Of Nolun
teers Of the District Of Columbia, being mustered into
service for three months. These were the first troops
mustered into the Union service. on May D. 1861, he
was made acknowledgements Of his battalion. lie
served I'm this capacity, and part Of the time as acting
quartcrmaster of the brigade, on stones Rockville
Expedition" 10 reinforce Patterson and In Patteisons
bloodess campaign In the Shenandoah Valley. lie was
mustered ont at Washington August 4, 1851, on the
expiration Of his service In August 1861. Colonel
Irwin was appointed additional aide camp in
the Regular Army, with the rank OF captain, and was
assigned 10 the staff OF General Mcclellan, then en-
Gagged I'm organizing the Army OF the Potomac lie
served as acting assistant adjutsnt general at head
quarters until October 1sG2. When Mcclellan marched
early in september to meet Lee nj Antciam,
IealZig nearly half his forces to defend Wash
ingOn, Colonel Irwin was detached at the
last moment ard ordered to take charge OF the head
quarters in Washington and issue orders to the
| troops there IN McClclnns name. About the end OF
October he was detached from McClelan's staff, at
bis own request and ordered 10 New-York 10 report
10 General Banks, who wins ordered 10 organize an
expedition to ascend the Mississippi from NewOrleans
and open the river In cooperation with McClernondS
expedition which afterward became Grants, from
Memphis to Cairo. General Banks was also 10 com
| nand the Department Of the Guf relieving Butler
| n, he npDOiuted
| adjuant- general, with the rank OF lieuteha't-
colonel, for the Nineteenth Army Corps He served
a. the adiutant general OF the corps and De
partment through the operations OF 1eo3o9 Coionci
Irwin suffered from the effects Of fatigue exposure
and climate at Port Hudson, and beng refused oriors
TO Join the active divisions Of his corps, which had
| been transferred 10 the Shenandoah Valley, he re
signed on surgeons certificate Of disability for further
| service In Louisiana. This on september 49,
| ! SOL and for three years he suffered greatly
| Toward the end OF 564 temporary employment was
| Owen TO Colonel Irwin In the ONCE of the Pacific
| Mall steamship Company by President Alan McLahe'
In the spring OF 1865 he took the edoTShip OF Inc
| t'nod service Magazine" Before this publication
collapsed he turned the work 10 Dr. b. T. Martin
tIe assistant editor. and accepted permanent BERN
with the Pacific Mail Company secretary for Its new
| line 10 China. When the China steamers we're butt
Colonel Irwin sent, in June. 1869, 10 san Fran
n.co a. assistant agent, with tbreeyears contract
From about December l. 1869, he was JOINT agent win
Canal Oliver Elddgc. Under the firm name OF Eld1dge
| T. Irwin they carried on the business Including the
General management from Panama 10 Hong Kong. I'M
iii December 81 1872, when they resigned because
,hov would not be aswerabe for the results Of the re-
forms and economies introduced by President Stock
| well , -, 49,, ,,, .,
Now York BY Telegraph four times and sent to Washing
ION 4, subsidy Of So 100000 FOR ten yeira Tor
The SEMI monthly line To China. To escape uis lrk
some and rcpulsivc service. Colonel irwin twice re-
signed from the company's service but as ne sad III
after wears he fOoliShly persuaded by personal
| nnpeols TO % on 10 the end" +,
| lPn August, 1873, after closing his business III
| San Francisco, Colonel Irwin went 10 LONDON 10
manage the business Of his brother Robert w. lrwl
I'm rice etc. on account Of the japanese Government,
thought they had learned enough to manage the trade
| themscvee Colonel Irwg came home. For three
Years he lived I'm Philadelphia the home Of his mother
and sisters. In January 1880, he joined the editorial
manners and a man u attractive qualities and varied
| knowledgc and among his associates he was heid III
! The highest esteem. lie married on December 20,
| ie65 Charlotte. eldest daughter OF David Randolph
| Marlin She died In England In JanuaS 1884. Two
children survive, Frank born In 1865, and A.Vn,s,
porsl Ieaion. George Washington Post, q. a. r. the
society OF the Army Of the Potomac the Society OF the
| Nineteenth Army Corps tof which he was for some
lime presidcnt). the Union League, United service.
qunwvrrs, and Republican clubs Of This city, OF the
i~njor Atbenneum Club Of London and the Rtenhouse
SInh ~ philadelphia lie was the author Of history
| - tbe nineteenth Army Corps and the last thing he
a.d was letter from General Lord Woseley thanking
| him for q copy OF the wofh'
| JOHN SNYDER.