The herald., 1895-09-29
Last of the Veterans Command
ing an Army
FORTY YEARS OF SERVICE
His Work in the Field Both Solid ani
Brilliant
But Still nore Substantial Benefit to the Army
Has Resulted From His Adminis-
trative Ability
Associated Press specisl Wire.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2s.-Tomorrow
Lieut.-Ge John NJ. Schofield goes on
the retired list. after an eventful care er
in wa and peace. For more than seven
years he has been in command of the
army, and since February Sth held the
exalted rank of heutensnt-general by a
special act OF congress.
General Schofield was born in Chautau-
qua county, N. Y. September 20, 1881,
and was appointed to the military acad-
emy from Illinois in 1S49. Entering the
cavalry branch as second lieutenant in
1853, the outbi eak of the civil war found
him a captain of the First artillery in
1861. He was in active serivoe in the west
throughout the hostilities and IN 1864
was br igadier general in com mand of
the army of the Cum berland. During
reconstruction times he was in command
of the First military district Estate OF
Virginia) for little over year, and for
ten monhs was secretary of war, from
June 2, 1868, to March Ia. 1869, in which
latter year he became a ma JUf- e eli sra, !,
and after commanding several of the
army departments he became commander
of the army In 1885 upon the death Of
Gen. Sheridan.
Genreal Schofeld is the last of the
veterans OF the war who commanded an
army, who fought battle himself as
such, and the record Of his active service
in the field is full OF brilliant achieve
ments. But in addition to those he has
accomplished in an administrative way,
matters of such substantial benefit to
1. r. A.: s.,tx@ J. Col
rest on one of them.
First of all he has been an artillery
officer and has Kert constantly in view
the Importance of bringing this arm OF
the service up to perfection. AS the
senior mem Der OF the fortihcation board
since it's creation, he has lost no oppor-
tunity to encourage investion and the
coast uefense. He has inaugurated sys-
tenn of higher education among the
younger officers of the ordnance and
artillery branches that has had remarka-
bly, successful results. Young officers
who showed special aptitude in the
schools have been sent to the arsenals by
his orders. Lyceum instructions have
beer afforded Others and complete in
struction in special branches has been
given to non-comm issloned officers and
men by means of pamphlets under the
direction of General Sohofield by experts
IN eaCn DrAnCn.
In the wider field of the army reorgan-
ization the general has played an import
ant part. He has for years been an earn
est advocate for the three battalion or
CARNATIONS, and TO him is owed the
adoption OF the policy of concentration of
troops in the large railroad centers and
on exposed points in the coast lands and
the abandonment OF small posts. 1t is
also a notable fact that under his admin
istration of the army has come an end Of
the Indian wars that have ravaged the
western country since its settlement,
which may be at least in part attributed
to the skillful handling of the troops
that has made it manifest to even the In
dians that their struggles were hopless.
In time of civil djstur bancees the general
has shown himself most wise and dis
Greet commander. He is largely respon-
sible for the admirable construction of
the posse comitatus laws, which have
never been disturbed by the courts, and
during the great labor strikes of last year
it was his wisdom in the administration
Of these laws tnat prevented any serious
conflict between the national and state
authorities while using the army to
afford porper protection to national in
terests.