Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-04-26
RECOGNITION OF MERRITT.
Words That Fittingly Apply to the
Three Last Regular Army
Promotions.
Military Records of Generals Merritt,
Bliss and Coppinger-Something
to Be Proud of--Cengratu-
latory kilograms.

latory kilograms.
A Washington dispatch brings the fol
lowing news of important regular arm.
promotions, which may have much to d.
with the hoped for restoration of For
Marcy at Santa Fe as a permanent mill
tary establishment:
The president has made the following
appointments in the army: Brigadie
General Merritt, to be major general
Colonel Zenas R. Bliss, Gath infantry, tc
be brigadier general; Colonel John ]
Coppinger, 23d infantry, to be brigadiel
general.
GENERAL WESLEY MERRITT.
The army records of the distinguished
soldiers yesterday promoted are as fol
lows:
Wesley Merritt, graduated at Wes
Point in the class of 1861; second lieu
tenant of I'd dragons July l, 1861; sec
ond lieutenant January 20, 1861; frs
lieutenant of I'd cavalry May ID, 1851
promoted to captainoy Of same regiment
September 8, 1861; lieutenant colonel 9tf
cavalry July 20, 1856; colonel of 9Th cay
airy July l, 1876; brigadier general Apri
16, 1887. He made splendid record al
a volunteer cavalry officer during the
civil war, repeatedly distinguishing him
self as division commander under Gen
eral Sheridan. He was appointed briga
der general of volunteers January l, 1868
breyeted major general October 10, 1864
and was honorably mustered out as full
major general February I, 1866. At the
time of his promotion he was the senior
brigadie general in the United States
army in command of the department OF
Dakota with headquarters at St. Paul
When Gen. Schofield retires in Septemb er
he will probably succeed Gen. Ruger in
command at Chicago.
GENERAL BTss.
Zenas R. Bliss was appointed from
Rhode Island as a cadet at West Point
July l, 1850; gradRted July l, 1854, and
appointed brevet I'd lieutenant of LIST in
fantry; I'd lieutenant of 9Th infantry
March 3, 1855; 1st lieutenant October II
1860; captain of 9th infantry May IA
1851; major Of 39th infantry August g.
1866; transferred to 25th infantry March
Is, 1869; lieutenant colonel of 10Th in.
fantry March 4, 1879; colonel of Gath in
fantry April 20, 1856. Before the war
he served very many years on the Texas
frontier and made fine record as
a gallant and intrepid volunteer officer
in the army of the Potomac during the
civil war, being colonel of the 10th Rhode
Island volunteers in May, 1862, and after
ward colonel by transfer of the 18th Rhode
Island volunteer infantry. He was hon
orably mustered out of the volunteer
service June 9, 1865. For gallant and
meritorieus services at the battle of
Fredericksburg he was breveted major
in the regular army December 10, 1862,
and, for similar services at the battle of
the Wilderness, he was breveted lieutenant
colonel of regulars. He is about 81 years
old. At the time of his promotion he
was colonel of the Gath infantry with
headq oarters at Fort Bayard, where he
has been in command since 1883. Prob
ably no man in the army is more familiar
with Indian character and Indian war
fare than Brigadier General Bliss and his
multitude of friends and admirers In this
region earnestly hope that he will sue
coed Gen. McCook as commander of the
of the Colorado.
GENERAL coPPINaER.
j.. j. Coppinger was born in Ireland;
was appointed from New York as captain
IN the 14th infantry September 80, 1861;
to ed infantry September 81,
1865; major of 10th infantry March 20,
1879; lieutenant colonel of 18th infantry
October 81, 1888; colonel of 23d infantry
January Is, 1891. During the war he
CALAMITY served az colonel of the 18th
New York volunteer cavalry and was
nonorably mustered cut of the volunteer
service June II, 1865. When promoted
le was colonel of the 23d infantry with
leadq quarters at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Brigadier General Coppinger married one
If the daughters of the late James G.
Blaine, and, since her death several years
,go, has been widower.
CONGRATULATORY TELEGRAMS.
The following oongratulatorY telegram
vas sent this morning:
3rigadier General 2. K. Bliss, U. S. A., Fort
Bayard, N. M.
Santa Fe, N. NJ, April 26, 1s95.-Sir:
The Santa Fe Board of Trade sends its
hearty congratulations on your we'll merit
ID promotion to the rank of brigadier
teneral in the United States army and
cells that New Mexico has been highly
IGNORED thereby.
SANTA FE BOARD OF TRADE,
BY l.. BRADFORD PRINCE, President.
Attest: GEO. w. KNAxBEL, Secretary.
Other kilograms of similar import,
'igned by Gov. w. T. Thornton, United
States Marshal E. L. Hall, Surveyor Gen.
,ral and Mayor Chss. 3. Easley, Gen. E.
L. Bartlett and Col. T. M. Jones, were also
,ent to Gen. Bliss soon after the news of
lis appointment was received. Col. Jones
vas olass-mate of Con. Bliss at West
Point.
ROUND ABOUT TOWN.