Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-22
The Last Of a Fighting Family Re-
tired From the Service.
THE SECRETARY'S GENERAL ORDER
His Long and Honorable Career
Fully Set Forth.
PROB ABLE PROMOTE N S

After serving continuously in the service
of the United States for period of forty
three years Maj. Gen. Alexander Mcdowell
McCook retired from the army today, a
step made necessary by the law, the lin
1t of age-sixty-four years-haying been
reached. Gen. McCook will leave Denver
this week for Dayton, Ohio, where he will
remain until May. He will then come to
Washington and New York, reaching the
latter city June 1, to be present at the
graduation of his daughter. Later in the
summer the general will sail for Europe
with his family, where he will visit several
months. He has made no plans concerning
himself after returning to the United
States. With the retirement of Gen. Nc
Cook the last of the fighting McCooks goes
into private life, and for the first time in
nearly half century the army will be
without McCook on it's active rolls 1t is
most noteworthy fact that Gen. McCook,
father of Gen. McCook who will be retired
today, and the sons were all in the field
fighting for their country at one time, and
that four of them attained the rank of
general
The Official Order.
The following general order was ISSUED by
Secretary LAMONT today:
"By direction of the President. the re-
tirement from active service this day, by
operation of law. of Maj. Gen. Alexander
Mcdowell McCook, under the provisions
of the act of June so, 1882. is announced.
Gen. McCook entered the United States
Military Academy from the state of Ohio
and was graduated and appointed lieuten-
ant in the third infantry in 1852. His
frontier service before the late war WIS in
the territory and the military department
of New Mexico where he was engaged with
hostile Indians in the actions of Sau-
Watchfe Pass, of Arkansas river, and the
one on the ella river. On the outbreak of
the late war he became the colonel of the
first Ohio volunteers, and was engaged
with his regiment in the action of Vienna
and the first battle of Bull Run. For gal
liant and meritorious services in this bat
tie he was brevetted major. On the Sd of
September 1861. he was appointed brissadier
general of volunteers. From the command
of brigade, in the department of the
Cumberland he soon passed to that of
division in the army of the Ohio, and was
engaged in the battle of Shiloh, April {,
1S62, and the advance upon the siege CT
Corinth April to May 30. 1862.
He was commended by Gen. Sherman to
Gen. Grant for the conduct of his splendid
division as it drove back the enemy along
the Cornth road, which was the great CEN
trail line of battle. There Beauregard COM
manded in person. supported by Bragg's,
Johnston's and Breckinridges divisions
For gallant and meritorious services in the
capture of Nashville, Tenn, he was brevet-
leu lieutenant colonel. ana colonel Tor gal
liant and merftorious services in the battle
OF Shiloh, Tenn. In October. 1852 he came
into command of the first corps, Army of
the Ohio, and was engaged in the battle OF
PerryVllle and the march to the relief of
Nashville. For gallant and meritorious
services in the battle of Perryville he was
brevetted brigadier general. He became
major general of volunteers July II. 1862.
For time he commanded at Nashville, and
later the right wing of the fourteenth
corps, and was engaged in several skir-
m1shes on the march to Murfreesboro, De-
cember. 1862. and the battle of Stone river.
December 81, 1862. In January, 1885, he
was transferred to the command of the
twentieth corps. Army of the Cumberland,
and was engaged in the combat of Liberty
Gap, June "a to %, 1868; the advance to
Tullahoma. June % to July IA. 1885, the
crossing of the Cumberland mountains and
Tennessee river, August 10 to September 4.
1868. and battle of Chicamauga, September
10 to 20, 1868.
While awaiting orders in 1864 he was
engaged in Washington, District of Column
bia, il defense of the capital July II to u.
18Th In the early part Of 1865 he was in
command of the district of eastern Arkan-
sas. For gallant and meritorious services
in the field during the war he was brevet-
ted major general.
ION the 5th of March, 1857, he was ap-
pointed lieutenant colonel of the twenty
sixth infantry, and served from that time
until 1874 in the Department of Texas. On
the 10Th Of March, 1862 he was trans
ferred to the tenth infantry. In 1875 he
was appointed aid-de-camp to Gen. Sher-
man. with the rank of colonel, and served
in that capacity until he was promoted to
be colonel of the sixth infantry, December
10. 1850. After a lengthy tour of service in
Utah he was ordered, in May, 1885, to the
command of the Infantry and Cavalry
School at Fort Leavenworth. There he re-
NAMED until he was appointed brisadier
general on the 10th of July, 1890, and as
signed to the command of the Department
of Arizona. Promoted to be major general
on the 9th OF November, 1894, he continued
in this command. row known as the De-
partment of the Colorado, until the hour of
his retirement.
He is the-last survivor but one of gal
liant family, which gave a father and every
son to the military service in defense of the
country, and lost four-dead upon the bat
tlefield."
Promotions to Follow.
The retirement of Gen. McCook will cause
a number of important changes in the
army, including promotions all along the
line. If Brigadier General Merritt does not
succeed to the major generalship there will
be general disappointment among army
men. He is the senior officer of his grade,
and has an excellent record. The friends
of the other four brigadiers concede that
Gen. Merritt stands the best chance of pro-
notion There Is reason to believe that a
surprise Will be sprung in the matter of
the Eext bcigadier general This appoint
ment is open to all the officers of the army,
although it is practically confined to the
colonies. Col. Bliss of the infantry is said
to be the iikeliest candidate, but his selec-
ton is far from certain. His most formid-
able competitors are said to be Col. Wilson
of the engineers, Coils. Merriam and Mason
o. the infantry, Col. Wade. the senior cav
airy officer; Col. r. B. Frank of the artil-
lery school, and Lieut.. Col. Guy " Henry
of the cavalry. 1t is expected that these
army appointments will be made tomorrow
or soon after.
Robbing the Mails.
Thos W. Jordan, colored. formerly