The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-06
GENERAL sCHOFIELD TO RETIRE.
1t will be Made the Occasion for q Social
Event.


New York, Sept. Our little army
has a sever loss in store. On the Goth
of the present month is commanding
officer, Major General John NJ. Scho-
field, retires on account Of age. He is
practically the sole survivor of the
present active list of the band of war
heroes who really saw service in the
hisotric engagements of the war.
1t is no disparagement to the veteran
now in active service-and there are
very few of them just now-to say that
not man among them has helped TO
make history to quite the extent ii has
been the privilege of General Schofield
to do.
The president has written personal
letter to the general to express 10 him
the sense of loss which will be felt at
the necessity of his retirement. In
truth, this old warrior is still an active
man and his iron constitution has en-
abled him TO escape most Of the disa-
bilities which make the age of the veter
an period of infinite trial.
AS il is, preparations are now being
made in the war department and throu
ghout the army, for leave taking of
the general that is likely to be an event
in the social history OF our military
Establishment. He will receive more
tokens of esteem than have been pre-
scented to any officer Of high rank for
years, on the occasion of his retire
ment. Among them is an exquisite
gold watch and diamond hilted sword
1t is not necessary to indulge in any
obituary notice of the departing war
rior. His record is we'll known. A
few of the leading incidents deserve
curSory mention, however, for they
are part of our national history. Gem
eral Schofield is native of Canadai-
qua, Chautauqua count, New York.
His graduation at the Point occurred
in 1853. Seven years later he was made
professor Of physics at Washington
university, st. Louis. In 1863 he was
made brigadier-general of volunteers,
and a year later was promoted to a
ma jorgeneralship.
General Schofield took part in the
leading engagements Of the Atlanta
campaign, and after the capture OF the
city of Atlanta he was placed under
General Thomas in command of the
forces which opposed the movement
Of General Hood toward Nashville. He
was made a brigadier-general in the
regular army. and efterward major
general AS commander of the dapart
ment of North Carolina, he took posses
sion of Wilmington. He commanded
the victorious army at the battle or
Kingston, after which he advanced TO
Goldboro, where, on March 90. 1855, he
made the memorial junction of his |
forces with those of Genaral Sherman |
General Schofield was secretary of war |
from May IS. 1863, to March /, 1869.
Such an outline of his career as this /
gives no idea whatever OF the person
atty of the man. An incident that !
first called attention 10 this quality in |
the man occurred when the future sol |
der had barely taken a regiment to |
the war. He and his men We're resting |
after a skirmish in Southern Tennessee.
Schofield happened to be raising a tin |
mug full OF water to his lips, when a |
bullet sped through il. The men sprung |
TO their feet but Schofield paid not the |
slightest attention to he incident. The |
water trickled through the hole made |
in the mug. and Schofield quietly drank |
off the liquid. That was cool courage.
Schofelds favorite military hero is |
Hannibal. As a tactican General Scho- |
field deems Hannibal a genius OF the |
highest order. His standing "gloriously |
az bay" in Southern Italy IL an event |
he agrees with General Dodge in be- |
'ieving a magnificent object lesson 10 /
all soldiers.