The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-05-02

moved-Eallet's reef and Flood rock
and the feat, one of the most difficult and
daring in the history Of civil engineering,
was watched with the kecnest interest by
the entire civilized world. 1t could not be
accomplished in little time, and tho first
explosion did not occur till 1870 Its sue
cess was perfect, and General Newton won
plaudits and honor from the scientific men
and organizations OF every country.
1t was not until Oct. 10, 1885, that the
second big blast was set off. 1t was quito
as successful as the first and since then
the once turbulent waters of He'll Gate
have been as placid as a river, and the
benefit to commerce has been almost in
calculable. For this achievement General
Newton was made II member of the Ma
tional Academy Of Science and an honor
ary member of tho American Society Of
Civil Engineers.
John Newton was born In Norfolk Aug
"a, 1928 He was graduated from the mil
itary academy at West Point in 1912 and
stood second In his class-a notable ono, for
it included William 8. Rosecrans John
Pope, James Longstreot, Henry L. Eustis
and others who were scarcely less eminent
in after years From lSi2 to lS46 he was
assistant professor OF engineering at West
Point and was promoted into the englneer
corps as second lieutenant During 1858
be was chief engineer of the Utah expcdi-
tion, but for the remainder of the time un-
til 1860 he was engaged IN tho construction
of Notifications and other engineering
works along the Atlantic and gulf COASTS,
having in the meantime, July |, 1855,
| reached the rank of captain.
When the civil war broke out he was
| chief engineer of the department Of Penn
| sylvania Then he held u similar appoint
| ment in the department of the Shenan-
doah, and from August 1861 till March,
| 1863, was assistant engineer in the con
| struction of the defense in Washington
| In August, 1851, he wa1 made major, and
| In September of the same year brigadier
general of volunteers. In December, 1865
he was brevettcd major general of the
regular army. Ills commands and ser
vices during the civil way may be sum
married. as follows:
In McClellan's campaign of 1852 he com
manded brigade and fought at Gaines
| Mill and Glendale, South Mountain and
| Antietam, for the latter receiving the
brevet of lieutenant colonel in 1862. He
| commanded "a division at fredericksburg
and also at Gettysburg and received the
brevet of colonel in 1853 for his services
during the latter engagement. He was in
command of the First corps from July to
| December, 1853 and the second division of
tho Fourth corps during the invasion of
Georgia from May to September, 1S6i, He
was engaged at Rocky Faced Ridge, Re
SAGA, Dallas, Kcnesaw, Peach Tree Greek
and Jonesboro. and the siege and capture
Of Atlanta. From October 1864, to June,
1865, he was in command of the district OF
Key West and Dry rortugas, For his ser
vices at Atlanta and Peach Tree Greek he
was hrevetted brigadior general and at
the close Of the war major general of the
United States army.
Besides his great engineering work at
He'll Gate, he had much to do with the forti,
flcatlons In the vicinity OF New York the
construction of the fort at Sandy Hook,
etc In 1879 he was advanced to the rank
of colonel and in 1854 to be chief OF en-
gincers with the rank of brlgader geNcral
Upon his retirement from the army he
was made commissioner of public works
of the city of New York by William r
Grace, then mayor. Aftor his term of serv
Ice in this Office he was angaped in vari
ous engineering works of Importance In
1SsS he was Innae president OF the Panama
Railroad company, and held that position
up to the time Of his death.