Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-30

General SchofIeld was born in Chan
taqua county, n. Y, sept. %, 1881, and
was appointed to the naval academy from
branch rs second lieutenant in 1888, the
outbreak OF the civil war found him n
captain OF the First artillery in 1861. He
was in active service in the west through
out the hostilitics, and in 1854 was u brig
adicr general in command of the Army Of
the Cumberland. During reconstruction
times he was in command Of the first mil
itary district Estate of virginia. for a little
over n year, and for 10 months was sccre-
tary OF war, from June 2, 1868, to March
IA, 1869, in which latter year he became
major general, and after commanding
several of the army departments he be-
came commander of the army in 1883 upon
the death of General Sheridan.
General Scho0cd is the last OF the vet
Grams Of the war who commanded an army
or fought battle himself rs such, and the
record of his active service in the field is
full Of brilliant achievements. But in adj
dition to those, he has accomplished in an
administrative way matters of such sub
stantia benefit to the army that his repu-
tation might safely rest alone on them.
Some of His Work.
First Of all, he has always been an ar
tillcry officer and has kept constantly in
view the Importance OF bringing this arm
of the service up to perfection. AS the
senior member of the Notifications board
since its creation he has lost no oppor-
tunity to encourage invention and the
development of modern ordnance and
coast defense, and has inaugurated q sys-
TEN Of higher education among the
younger officers of the ordnance and ar
tillcry branches that has had remarkably
successful results Young officers who
showed special aptitude in the schools
have been sent to the arSenals by his or
dcrs; lyceum instructions has been af-
forded others and complete instruction
in special branches has been given to non
commissioned officers and men by means
Of pamphlets prepared under the direction
of General Schofield by experts in each
branch
In the wider field of army rcorganza-
ton the general has played an important
part. He has for years been an earnest
advocate for the three battalion organiza-
ton. and to him is owing the adoption of
the policy of concentration of troops in
the great railroad ccntcrS and on exposed
points ON the coasts and the Abandonment
of small posts. 1t is also u notable fact
that under his administration of tho
army has come an end of the Indian wars
that have ravaged the western country
since its settlement, which may Mt least in
part be attributed to the skilful handling
of the troops that has made it manifest 10
even the Indians that that their struggles
would be hopeless.
In time of civil disturbances the gem
cral has shown himself most wise and
discreet commander. He is largely re-
sponsible for tie admirable construction
of the posse comitatus laws, which have
never been disturbed by the courts, and
during the great labor strikes of last year
1t was his wisdom in the administration
of these laws that prevented any serious
conflict between the national and state
authorities while using the army to afford
proper protection to national interests.