Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-11
our OLDEST soLplER.
Ltcat. Michael Moore I'm the Army fol
Eighty-Three Years.

Lieut.. Michael Moore I'm the Army for
Eighty-Three Years.
From the New York Mall.
A communication from a gentleman in
Washington to the effect that Gen. Van
Vlet was not the Oldest soldier in the
United States. but that Lieut. Michael
Moore held that honor, was printed in
Major Handy's column a few days ago.
The writer asserted that not only did Lieut.
Moore antedate Gen. Van Vhet, but that
he antedated him by twenty-four years
more than a generation.
The correspondent was correct Michael
Moore will be. II he lives ninety-five years
old next Independence day. He was born
in New York city, July 4, 1890, and on
April 80 1872. he enlisted in the United
states army. and was in active service I'M
TIL December 10, 1872, when he was placed
on the retired lsit. He is now the oldest
living soldier in the United States, and so
far as known, in the world, although it is
claimed that in Germany there lives SOL
dier who was conscripted in the year 1910.
That, however, is not authentic.
Great Britain had begun to harass Amer
ican merchantmen on the high seas only a
rev months when young Moore. with an
elder brother, determined to run away from
nome goaa ana a. 60 into the army. Michael was
a good-sized. brawny boy, and found no
alIhcuity In getting himself taken as a
drummer in Capt. John SPROUTS company
OF the thirteenth regiment of infantry.
commanded by Col. Peter B. SCHUYLER and
stationed at Greenbush, opposite Albany.
Inc drummer boys first experience under
lire was at the battle of Queenstown in
which several men in Col. Schuyler's COM
mand were killed. He next smelled powder
at the capture of Fort George, and then at
stony Creek. At the battle Of Fort George
he was wounded in the arm by bullet.
When Gen. Wilkinson, that feeble-hearted
soldier afterward characterized by bluff old
Winfield Scott as IAN unprincipled i'm
becile." laid out his wonderful plan of cam
paign, the ultimate object of which was
the capture of Montreal. the thirteenth
regiment formed part of the 1900 men that
were to take part in the expedition. The
drummer boy was in the engagement in
which Gen. Covington was killed.
The next battle of Importance in which
young Moore took part was the battle of
Williamsburg, after which his regiment
went into winter quarters at French Mills.
In 1874 he participated in the fight at Sack
etts Harbor.
The thirteenth regiment had then been
consolidated with the fifth infantry, and
was ordered to Detroit, then an Indian
trading post He remained there until hos
tilties ceased and received an honorable
discharge. After two or three months of
inactivity he re-enlisted in the second reg
iment OF infantry. This regiment had
lively experience with the Indians in Mich
lgan. and in 1921 established military
post at Sault St. Marie.
When Gov. Cass went on an expedition to
the head of Lake Superior, the second reg
iment acted as his escort. Moore was then
man of twenty-six, about five feet ten
inches in height broad-shouldered deep
chested, with the ideal physique of SOL
der. In the year 1892 he had the first seri-
Gus experience in Indian warfare. 1t was
in the Black Hawk war. which was car
ried on with such sagacity and determine
ton by the famous fighting chief who har-
ried the whites until he nearly compelled
them to give up the contest. The next
Indian fighting in which the young man
took part was in the Seminole war. He
had three years of 1t there.
He had then been in continuous service
for twenty-eight years, and in recognition
of this fact and for his bravery he was
given an honorable discharge at Fort
King. Florida. and was sent to report at
Bedloe's Island. He remained there from
1871 until 1869, and then he was commits
stoned second lieutenant. Three years
later he was retired. after serving his coun-
try atively for sixty years. All soldiers on
the retired list are Considered to be in the
service of the United States. so that he
has been a soldier for eighty-three years.
Lieut. Moore antedates Gen. o. o. How
ard by thirty years, Gen. Henry W. Slocum
by twenty-seven years. Gen. P. H. Sheri-
dan by thirty-one years, Gen. w. s. Han
cock by twenty-four years, Gen. W. 7.
Sherman by twenty years and General
Grant by twenty-five years. He was drum
ming in front of regiment before any OF
these famous officers had been graduated
from West Point.
Lieut. Moore is now confined to his home.
No. 20 It'll avenue, Brooklyn. with broken
hip He had a bad fall few years ago,
and this, with a severe attack Of the grip,
has so greatly enfeebled him that he is
not permitted to see visitors.