The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-02-26
TIE HOUSE HONORS ITSELF

IllL NV WILL 1tS1NNAsS AAoA<1
nv UNEXPECTEDLY HoyoRLyo TIL
yExr SECRETARY OF THE NAvY.
n Representative American from Alabama
Biographies sketch OF tho Hon. HiInr,
A. uerbert-How He Won His Commits
sion In the Confederate Army-How II,
s,gnniined His Entry Iuto Cougre.s-A
Tariff Rcformcr and an Uncompromi.ina
Opponent OF sabsidies-Coi. Herbert. Lit
ernry Carcer-A Pcn-and-Ink Portrait.
wAsuryaroS. D. c., F eh. 2a-There was ar
extraordinary scene In the House on Thurs
day. a Congressman with iron-gray hair. O
~htts moustache and chin Wits kers. entered
the matn door OF the hall OF tho House. lie
had u MANNED arm. receive d while on the bat
tleield In the Confederate service. As he was
about to walk toward tho ID emocratic cloak
room Mr.. Butler Of Iowa recognized him and
began to clap his hands. At the same instant
New York me mber shouted. Herbert! Her.
bert!" In an instant nearly every member OF
the House. Republican and Democratic. was
greeting him wi tn applause. Mr.. Cultivate OF
Ohio hat the floor. He seemed dumfounded
by the demonstration. but rs soon as he saw
who was honorcd Joined In the applause.
" tiiuS WhS " ullUT
A. Herbert OF Alabama. Mr.. Cultivate is
Chairman OF the Committee on Military Affairs.
and Col. Herbert Chairman OF tho G ommittee
on Naval Affairs The Colonel stood at the
head OF the main aisle. utterly nonplussed. and
apparently undecided as to what to do. As the
applause died away. Mr.. Cultivate relieved
him Of his embarrassment by SAYING:
Il Yield five minutes Of MI time to the gen
tleman from Alabama" ..
Advancing to the stops Of tho aisle. the Colo
mol stopped. and in a voice tremulous with
emotion thanked the House for It's tribute OF
affection. He then retired behind tho arras at
the rear Of the hall and was warmly congratu-
lated by his friends.
To say that everybody was delighted to hear
that he waste b Secretary Of the Navy hardly
conveys an adequate idea Even the door
keepers and pages Of the House seemed over
joyed. Although a man OF quiet dignity. the
Colonel has always kept In touch with the
people No man in the House is moro
esteemed and admired. An authentic story Of
hN life must prove interesting.
II.
Hilary A. Herbert was born In lawrence
Vile. 8. C.. ffty-eight years ago. The Her
berts were English stock and old line Wings.
His father was . planter. q Democrat and a
school teacher. HILARY. while an active boy in
field sports. developed an aptitude for study at
IN early age. His amily removed to Ala
bama and settled in Gresnville. Butler county.
when he was IL years old. This was at the
time Of the Mexican war. Six years afterward
the boy entered tho University Of Alabama
On leaving It he stood first in his class. Two
years a.terward he entered the University Of
Virginia. After q two years. course there he
returned home. studied law. and was admitted
TO the bar.
Young Herbert had fairly entered upon his
profession and was achieving success when
Alabama seeded from the Union. Jefferson
Davis was hardly inaugurated President Of
rhe Southern Confederaoy at Montgomery
when Herbert Joined tho Southern army In
Virginia as Captain in the Eighth Alabama
Regiment His first service vas under Gen. J.
ID. MaCruder ct the siege OF Yorktown. Tho
Confederates retired toward Richmond. and
were followed by Gen. Mcclellan. The Eighth
Alabama was engaged In nearly every battle
'on the Peninsula Herbert was wounded and
captured in the fight at Fair Oaks. Even at
that carly day he had won the commission Of
Major. Within two months. however. he
was exchanged. and again entered active
service. Not long afterward he wore
the collar and silver acorns Of Lieutenant
Colonel. The Colonel OF tho regiment
being wounded. Lieut. Col Herbert was
placed In command. When exchanged he
found his regiment In Longstreet's corps. 1t
wal afterward transferred to A. P. Hills corps.
He was in the fight at fredericksburg and at
Salem Heights. his regiment being in Will
cox's brigade. Anderson's division. He was
engaged at Antietam and at Gettysburg. In
tho latter battle the Eighth Alabama was In
Anderson's division. A. F. Hills corps 1t was
confronted by the regiment Of Martin Ma.
Riness on tho Union side. Twenty years af-
ferward Herbert and Maginess sat In adjoin-
ing seats in the House OF Representatives.
Aft7r Lees retreat from Pennsylvania came
tho cam paiGn Of the Wilderness. In the dead
ly baltic near Spottsylvania Herbert was Sc
riously wounded. The bone was shot out OF
his left arm. and to this day 1t hangs almost
useless at his side. a silent reminder OF Lees
desperate struggle with Grant In the Wilder
ness. Herbert WAS on foot In the thick woods at
the head OF his regim ent when the bullet struck
his arm. ltturned him completely around. His
men bore him from the field.
Herbert, as Lieutenant-Colonel. had COM
manded the regiment from Aug. 20. 1852.
up to the battle OF the Wilderness In May
q. 8 with the exception of about three
weeks. His promotion was retarded because
tho absent Colonel. who had been badly
wounded. still retained his place on the roll.
When Herbert vas disabled he was still a
Lleutenant-Colonel. acting as Colonel. He
went back homo with n shattered arm. The
surgeon told him that he would not he able to
return to his regiment. and that he ought to be
retired. Thsreupon Herbert wrote q letter to
the commanding officers OF the brigade. stat
Ing the facts In q plain way and asking that
bis retiring papers be sent on. He n ded that
he would not like to be kept in the why OF other
mems promotion. as he had been forced to re-
main y Lieutenant-Lo l4nel Tor years by an
absent Colonel. who retained his place on the
roster. He did not want to stand in tho way
OF the promotion OF others. '
Not long afterward he received n letter tell
ing him that the Colone! Of the regiment had
asked 70 pc retired. md that within II month
!Alabams sympathized deenly with Col. fier-
bert Major, Enrich; next in line OF promo
officers had decided that they would walt their
Rr"m9tion for the sake Of nis, They thought
They actually took the responsibility OF with
holding his retirement papers until Col. Toys
ton had been placed on the retired list. With
IN six weeks this was done: Col. Herbert was
then retired with the rank. Of Colonel. Tho
Of1c0rA Of his ra0lmanf had daInya1 fhair our