The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-13
ADJUTANT-GENERAL FRY.

The death of James B. Fry. generally
known as Ad1utant-Gene Fry. carries
US back TO the ancient days. There was
time when no man in the United States
was more heartily abused by his enemies
or more cordially supported by his friends
than this same James B. Fry.
When the war became inevitable Fry
was one of the soldiers to whom the coun-
try looked as q probable leader of men.
He had graduated high in his class, his
classmates reckoned him as their superior,
he was known to be without rival in the
science of gunnery. Accordingly, when
Scott's retirement involved reOrganiza-
ton of military headquarters at Washing
ton Fry, who was only 81 years old, was
appointed assistant adiutant-gene ral and
Mcdowell, when he marched out to meet
the enemy at Bull Run, appointed him as
his chief of staff. The battle, although
admirably planned. was lost owing to
circumstances beyond the control of the
commanding general. and he and his chief
of staff alike suffered in military prestige.
Fry had a chance of rehabilitation on
General Buelrs staff at Shiloh, but he did
not improve it, and people settled down to
the belief that while he was the most
exact of soldiers. an officer who never
made a mistake, he lacked the energy and
initiation which great commander must
possess. he was relieved from staff duty
and appointed to the post Of proves, mar
shall general, for which he was emin emily
fitted. That Office he filled from about the
middle of the war to the abolition of the
post.
1t was one Of the most important and
most ungrateful posts in the service. 1t
was Fry's business TO muster in regim ents,
TO catch deserters. 10 collect fines from
recalcitrant> organizations. In the dis
charge of this duty he came into collision
with State Governors, recruiting officers,
generals in the field, regimental officers
He was a man who would neither be de-
ceived nor bulIdoZed. 1t was said Of him
that his temper was so pugnaciOus that he
would always rather fight than not. He
was always fighting, and, as a natural con-
sequence. his enemies we're legion. All
round him he saw fraud, corruption. de-
ception, disloyalty. treachery. and he saw
that these wrongs were often winked at by
men in authority. who had great ends to
accomplish. Fry was uncompromising and
unforgiving. he could not overlook a sin
even in the best aud most valuable officer.
That he was hated on every side. as an
embodiment of inexorable justice, goes
without saying.
The most fiOurlshing trade at that time
was the substitute trade. Cities. counties
and States offered bounties for substitutes,
and to earn these bounties men f1ocked by
the thousands to recruiting stations. When
they had passed inspection a ceytan pro-
portion of the substitutes deserted, and,
removing to another State, re-enlisted to
gain another bounty. Smart fellows would
repeat this operation several times over.
Men in New York openly carried on the
business Of substitute brokers, and edu-
Gated immigrants how to enlist and how
to desert. The whole North was full of
deserters, and the rolls of the army on
paper did not tally by tens of thousands
with the numbers Of men present with the
colors.
1t was General Fry's business to break
up this system. bow faithfully he labored
to that end nay be inferred from the fact
that in two years he caused the arrest of
over 5000 deserters, many of whom were
sentenced to penitentiaries, and some of
whom were shot. Their friends clamOred
against him. and people could not I'M
derstand how newspapers which were
really loyal made him an exception to
their usual rule Of praise for the generals.
When he was driven to bay he would re-
ply to his ASSISTANTS, and then they wished
that they had let him alone.
For fifteen years after the war he served
as adjutant-genera of the army; in 1881
he resigned and retired 10 private life, de-
voting his time to writing history of
things which be had seen and events in
which he had nlaYed q leading nart.