New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-14
GENERAL ABBOT PREPARING TO MOVE
CAREER OF COLONEL. HENRY MARTYR ROBERT.
HIS SUCCESSOR AS PRESIDENT OF THE
BOARD OF ENGINEERS.

CAREER OF COLONEL HENRY MARTNN ROBERT,
HIS SUCCESSOR AS PRESIDENT OF THE
BOARD OF ENGINEERS
General Henry L. Abbott and his aids in the big
Army Building were busiy engaged yesterday
clearing out bookcases in order to make way for
the Generals successor engineer in charge OF the
Northeast Division General Abbot said he had as
yet learned nothing to his successor In the Board
OF Engineers He remarked that there Is no i'm
mediate necessity for filling the vacancy In this
Board all of Its work is In forward condition.
The General will leave .he city for the West to-
morrow to look over the ground at Manitowoc
once settled there he WILL in all probability. make
his Headquarters In Milwaukee. as the scene or MS
labors will be hardly more than thirty miles
distant He will return here in September to close
up his affairs for final removal West lie has re-
ceived many letters Of regret from old comrades
In arms and felowoficers to which he referred
yesterday with strong feeling.
He also took occa sion to speak In high terms OF
his president Of the Board or Engineers
Co.one; Henry Martyr Robert, who was graduated
from West Point only three years later thah 1Ee
General himself Colonel Robert who has his
headquarters In the Army Building. Is native OF
South Carolina having been born at Rooertvile. IN
that State on May 2. 1887. He comes OF good Oh
Huguenot stock. the family having descended from
old Pierre Robert. who was born near Hase. Swfz-
erand In 1866 Colonel Roberts father removed TO
Portsmouth Ohio. when the son was fourteen years
Point through the friendly Intervention Of Thomas
Corwin who was then Secretary OF the Treasury.
During his student days the Coonei acted as assist
ant professor Of mathematics and was afterward
returned the institution as assistant professor of
mathematics and experimental philosophy. From
1858 TO 1860 he served with General Harvey in Oregon
and Washington Territories: and was engineer N
charge OF the dcfences OF San Juan Island during
the controversy with Great Britain about the
boundary line During the war he was In turn as-
sistant engineer OF the defences about Washington
and experimenting engineer OF the defences at Phil
ade.phia. and constructing engineer OF the works
In the harbor at New Bedford. Mass. The close OF
the war found him once more back at West Point.
In charge OF the 'rtment Of practical military en-
cheering and as treasurer OF the academy He was
promoted to be major in 1861 Then he
turned to California chief engineer OF the Mill
tary Division OF the Pacific and served there
the stats OF Generals Hal.eck. Thomas and Scho-
field til April 1871 Then he ordered TO Port
land In charge of river and harbor improvements
and lighthouses In oregon and Washington Terri
tories. Subsequent years were passed on the lakes
in various localities until 1885. when he was sent 10
Philadelphia TO take charge OF lighthouses and the
League Island Navy Yard and river and harbor
impro yements including the Delaware Breakwater.
Colonel Robert Is known as an au'hor his Rules Of
order" having reached a sac OF ia 900 copies.