The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-19

climax Of the war being close at hand made
no effort indeed he could consistently make
NO ecort-to set the public right. and yet It Is
perfectly certain that tho capture OF Fort
Fisher was made By the troops solely under
his orders. and by his personal direction and
leadership: and was. besides. one OF the most
notable performances OF modern warfare. 1t
has no parallel. unless wo except the capture
OF thu Notifications Of Selma, few weeks
later by the cavalry corps under tho command
OF Gen. Wilson.
IT may be truthfuily said that tho i'm port ance
OF those two performances WAS dwaried by
the greater events which too; place about
Richmond r few weeks after the form or and
simultaneously with tho latter
Here it Is proper t. emil attention to the fact
that Ames was n soldier OF the highest ability
and courage. He belonged to tho brilliant
GLASS OF May. 1861. which left the Academy
after l,ostiities began. and included in it's
members Du Pont OF the Artillery. Cross and
Babcock OF the Enginesrs KingsburY. killed ut
Antietam. Kirby at fredericksburg. Hazlett
at Gettvsburg: Upton. the distinguished tacti-
clan; Fitzpatrick. the caval-yman: besides
J.oeser. Has)rOucI. Beaumont. McQuesten.
Guy Henry and n number of other excellent
officers as promising patriotic and mbitious
o galaxy Of youngsters as ever went out from
West Point.
SmeF, atNOuen SenSoneu by three years
service. WINS at the epoch under consideration
still mere youth but ono o. extraordinary
maturity OF judgment. combined with raro
self-possession and modcsty. He had already
hy hard lighting with the Army OF the
Potomac reached the grade OF Brigadicr-
General. and the author OF the paper under
consideration vol says OF him mt that time:
:" He Was the beau ideal OF division COM
mander. and as such there was no more eiIi-
Client and gallant officer in the armies OF the
Union. Every ono who rodo with him in bat
tie soon discovered that Ames never hesltated
to take desperate chances. lie seemed to
have q life that was under some mystic
protection. Although he mover permitted
anything to stand in his way. and never
asked men to go where he would not
TO himself still his manner was always
cool. calm. and gentlcmanly Under the
heaviest fire. WHOM mon and officers were be-
ing stricken down around him. he would sit
on his horse, apparently unmov0d by singing
riie balls shrlekinG shot. or bursting shell,
and quickly give his orders. which were inva-
riably communicated in the most polite way.
and generally In the form OF u request. often
thought when saw him under Are that IL his
leg were carried away by u round shot no
would merely turn 10 some officer or soldier
near By and quietly say Will you kindly
assist me from my horse ?" 1t may we'll be
sddod that la seemed 70 have been born to
command. md that he showed 1t in his spsn-
did parsonage and martial bearing. even while |
still a cadet. About live feet nine inches In |
height. broad shouldered and ieep-ches ted. |
calm, diGnined. and impressive In manner. he |
WAS every inch soldier ana u Captain. Be- |
fore he entered West Point he hal been first !
mate OF Yankee clipper ship. and after the |
war was over. during the period OF reconstruc- |
tion. he became provisional Governor United |
States Senator. and civil Governor OF Missls-
sippi and in every position displayed q lofty
probitT and an upright patriotism worthy OF |
all praise. He now lives in Lowoll. Mass. in
the full strength and prime OF mis- manhood.
Had he been rebel and native born citizen |
OF . southern state with his splendid service.
there would have been no oTce In the gift OF
his fellow citizens too good or too high for him.
As IL Was supported mainly by Tho blacks, he
was unable without tbs interference OF the
Federal Government u sustain himself aud
retired from the State In disGuSt. since then
hIs innate moiesty. or the unpleasant memory