The Portland daily press., 1892-05-07
TOOK LEAVE OF HIS COMMAND,
An Interesting Event In which an Army
Officer Familiar to Portlanders Figured.


Officer Familiar to PortIanders Figured.
colonel George L. Andrews, senior
Colonel of the regular army, took formal
leave OF the Twenty=fifth Regiment of
United States Infantry, at its headquar-
tiers in Fort Missoula, Montana, on Mon
day, April 18th. The occasion was one
of unusual interest, and the military
ceremonies, though brief, were very APP
propriate and significant. The troops
were drawn up in line in full dress on
the parade-ground, with colors displayed,
and the farewell order'' formally pub
lished by the Adjutant, after which the
commanding officer came down from his
residence to receive the final parade.
The scene was deeply affecting, and
many eyes were moistened as the real
farewell came. Many an old soldier
wept as he shook the hand of his old
commander. Nor was the Colonel him
self entirely unmoved More than once
his emotions evercame him. Indeed,
real tears were shed by both officers and
soldiers. 1t was beautiful sight to see
these men clad in the paraphernalia of
war, hardened by years of service and
discipline, giving way to the finer feelings
OF their nature, and manifesting friend
ship as tender and rich as can be found
anywhere'in American life-otficers and
soldiers, white and black, all swayed by
common emotion, and mingling their
tears in a common regret.
Colonel Andrews is still active, robust
and hardy. A Rhode Islander by birth,
and soldier from boyhood, his life has
been one of activity and events. In 1861,
in Missouri, he was driven out of the
state militia because of his loyalty to the
Union, only to enter the volunteer ser
vice for the war. He was engaged in the
bloody battle of Wilson's Creek, where
General Lyons was killed, and was
wounded, and his horse shot under him
IN that engagement. Subsequently join
ing the Army of the Potomac, he partici-
pated in various battles in Virginia. and
was twice brevetted for gallant and meri-
torious services. At the close of the war
he served as post, regiment and district
commander in the Northwest, and as
superintendent of Indian Affairs in Ari-
IONA Territory.
His connection with the Twenty-fifth
Regiment began on the 18th of December,
1870, when he was assigned to it as its
Lieutenant-C Colonel, and on the list of
January, 1871, he was promoted to be its
Colonel. Tt will be seen, therefore, that
almost exactly one-third of his life has
been spent with the regiment. What
world of meaning was there in the
words, when, on receiving the final affec-
tionate salute of the officers of his COM
mand, with choked utterance and eyes
filled with tears, he said, 'That is all,
gentlemen A typical American gen.
tleman and soldier, a useful object-lesson
for the youth of the nation, his name
holds n just place among those fittingly
honored by a grateful government.
Colonel Andrews at one time COM
manded that popular organization in
Providence, the Marine Artillery. now
the United Train of Artillery. He be-
came colonel of the First Missouri In
fantry, and later, in May, 1861, was com
missioned Major of the Seventeenth
United States Infantry, and ordered to
recruiting headquarters of the regiment
at Fort Preble. Here he became ac-
quainted with Mrs. James Olcott Brown,
the widow of son of Hon. j. B. Brown,
and they were married. He was station
ed in Portland for about a year and is
therefore an old acquaintance of many of |
our readers. Hewas then ordered into the
field with his regiment. He was after
wards Lieutenant Colonel of the 18th |
United States Infantry. He is now the |
Ranking Colonel of the Army.