Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-02
MACKENZIE.

Last and in many respects the ablest OF
This famous luartette, whose name viii
live as long as the history OF the late
war survives. was Mackenzie He was
the youngest In years and service for he
did not graduate until 1862. But though
he came a year later than any Of the
Others in two and n half years Of active
service Mackenzie received seven hrevets
FOR gallant and meritoriOus services,
not T.; skirmishes, mind you. but In such
actio. as the Second Bull Run, Chan
cellor, Vile Gettysburg, Petersburg, Win
chester. and Cedar Creek. This record has
never been equalled since the United
States Army mad an existence. That
eventful October. 18th day. so often men
toned in this article. was fortunate for
Mackenzie as II had been for the others.
For the most brilliant, daring, and sol
lierly conduct the then General I'm chief
Of the Army recommended Mackenzle's
promotion TO the rank Of Origadler-gen-
oral, end his commission was given him
FOR specific distinguished services In the
battles Of Opequan, Fishers Hill and Mid
dleton, Va The recipient OF these honors.
uneduaUsl before or since IN American
history. was little over p years Old.
So closed the war records Of the four
for their years the most prominent young
men I'm the United States Army or The
Graduates from West Point: records
equallcd by but two others - their years
from thu volunteers General Miles. OF
Massachusetts,, and Pennypacker. Of Penn
svlvania. Upon the muster out Of the
vast force of volunteers and the reorgani-
Zation Of the regular army July y, 1866.
Merritt. Custer. and Upton were made
Lieutenant colonele- Merritt ~ the Ninth,
and Custer Of the Seventh regiments M
cavalry. and Upton Of the Twenty-iifth
Infantry.
Mackenzie vas stll captain AZ engl-
neers But Grant, who knew soldier
when ne saw him. was determined that
40 brilliant an officer should not remain
a cartain very long. and I'm March, 1871
Mackenzie was commissioned colonel or
the Forty-hrst Infantry When the army
o.os again reduced. I'm 1859. h. was trans
farlod to tho TWcnty-fourth Infantry.
,ut Mackenzie folt that his proper Ti1c"
was IN the cavalry arm. The Indians
acre troublesome all along our southWes 81
and northwest frontiers, and q man ~
his Characteristic inlomltable energy AMI
dash would b. Of the greatest use. 50
when General l.. T. Graham veteran
.avalrv officer. after .oug and brilliant
-rr\lccs. retired the command of me
Fourth cavalry was given Mackenzie.
ana how lave they Jared since. ihe sll-
liant four2 Custer died in battle IN 1870.
with tho Indian %ar-hoop ~ his i ia
knoll. I'm fight that will live In history
aa the last great stand Of the "arlke
tribes 81 the Northwest against the over
w5elmirg white man. jpton-alas. that
&, should have 10 be written-died with a
cio,,B.l mind. by his own hand' Mac
Eruzie for years lived dead 20 The word
and 20 TIE grief and sorrow Of 'hose VINO
knew and loved him best hefor" he pass
ed ov-,v. But the star which Merritt so
worthily wears to-day cleaned on me
shoulder OF gallant Mackenzie befor' the
LIGHT Of reason went out for him forever
more.
Ana thus II is that Merritt IS The only
ono LEFT u the four gallant youns sou!5
,.bo ba,,im life seriously together. whose
ea,r,ro and soloicrly deeds won the
chivalrlc appreciation Of their own c"ri-
radas end the admiration Of those VINO
roI folt and seen the might 81 their
valor on twenty stricken fl Ids. Ana 's ne
who ia left recalls the past there must
come n sigh for the memory Of AMI a
prover for the souls OF the gallant com
rodes who have before him gone across
the River Of ID atm. W IL -