The National tribune., 1895-05-02
IMPORTANT CHANGES.
The Secretary OF Wars Order Recognizes
the Services of Prominent Comrades.

The Secretary OF wars Order Recognizes
the Services of Prominent Comrades.
Gen. Wesley Merritt. appointed Major Gen.
eral of the Army to succeed Gen. McCook, re-
tired, was born in New York and entered the
Military Academy from Illinois in July. 1855,
graduating July ], 1860. In the Spring of 1862
he was ordered to Washington as Aid del Camp
to Gen. McCook, and later to Gen. Stoneman.
Theuceforth he served with the cavalry of the
Armies of the Potomac and the Shenandoah to
the close of the war, occasionally on the staff
of the Commanding General of cavalry. and
took an active part in all the raids and battles
in which the cavalry of those armies was en-
gagged.
He was comm ssoned Brigadier- General Of
Volunteers juno 20. 1863, and given command
of the Regular Brigade of Cavalry, which he
commanded in the operations in central Vir-
ginia, and fought the actions of Rappahannook
Station, Aug. /, 1863. In November 1863, he
was given command Of tho First Cavalry Divis-
ion, which he led in the battle of Culpeper
Court House, Nov. 8, 1863, and Bsrnetts Ford,
Feb. 8, 1864.
He took part in Grants Richmond campaign;
in Sheridan's raid to the James, Ia May, 1864;
in Sheridan's raid OF the Virginia Central Rail-
road. in August. 1864. He joined the Army OF
the Shenandoah and took part in no less than
20 combats between Aug. 10 and Oct. 49,
Rejoining the armies operating against Rich
mond. he was in all the cavalry actions in that
campaign; was present with his command at
the capitulation of Gen. Lees army Mt Apo
mattox Court House, April 8, 1865, and was
of the three Commissioners appointed to
range the terms of surrender. He was Chief
of Cavalry of the Military Division of the South
west to July, 1865; in command of the Cavalry
Department of Texas TO Nov. 8, 1865; Chief OF
Cavalry to the Military Division of tho Gulf to
Dec. 81, 1865, and honorably mustered out Of
the volunteer service Feb. 1, 1866.
Rcverting to the command of his regiment,
the 9th Cav, he served successfully in Lousi-
ana, in Texas in the Big Horn and Yellowstone
expeditions in 1S76-77, and was engaged at
Indian Creek, Wyo., July II, 1876 and Slim
Buttes, OAK. Sept. $40, 1876. and also in the
Ute expedition in 1879. He was Superintend-
eDt OF the United States Military Academy
from Sept. 1, 1882. to June 30, 1887. and was in
command of the Department of the Missouri to
July, 1891, and of the Department of Dakota,
which command he holds at present
Gen. Alexander McCook, who has Just re-
tired, entered the late war as Colonel of the LIST
Ohio. He was at Bull Run in 1851; he was
made Brigadier General. He received favor
able commentator at Shiloh from Gen. Sber-
man. He became Major General and corps
commander in 1862. He was through the
series of battles around Chickamauga and after
ward was engaged in the defense of Washing
ton. In the early part of 1865 he was in COM
While being promoted in the volunteer armies
he received a succession OF brevet ranks in the
Regular Army for gallant and meritorious
services beginning with Major and ending
with Maior-General.
In 1867 he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel,
and served from that time until 1874 in the De-
partment of Texas. in 1875 he was appointed
Abide Camp to Gen. Sherman, with the rank |
of Colonel, and subsequently much service |
in the West. Promoted to be ajor- General |
in November. 1894, he continued in this COM |
mand, now known as the Department of the |
Colorado until tho hour of bis retirement.
In closing the order Announcing the retire. |
ment, the Secretary says: Z" He is the last sur |
vivor. but one, of gallant family which gave
a father and every son9to the military service
in defense of the country. and lost four upon
the battlefield" IIs5
Zenas r. Bliss, appointed Brigadi er- General,
has been Colonel of tho cath Inf. at Fort Bay
ard, N. NJ. He graduated from West Point in
1854. AS Second Lieutenant he served on
frontier duty in Texas until 1861. In 1860 he
was made First-Lieutenant of the 9th Inf, and
in 1861, while Captain of the same regiment, he
was surrendered to the Texans under Gen.
Van Dorm and remained 8 prisoner of war
until April 5, 1862. He was engaged in the
defense of Washington as Colonel of the 10th
X. /. in 1862. He was at Falmouth, Rappahan.
mock and Fredericksburg, and went to Vicks-
burg in July. 1863 He was also in the expe-
diton to Jackson. Miss. and afterward partici.
pated in the battles of Spottsy lvania, the
Wilderness and the siege of Petersburg. He
was breyetted Major at Fredericksburg and
Lieu tenant Colonel at the Wilderness for gal
ant and mertorious service. and became Colo
mel April 90, 1886.
John J. Coppingcr was born In Ireland. and
served in the Regular Army as Captain Of the
18th Inf. until he was appointed Colonel of the
18th N. Y. in 1865. He was made Major of the
10th Inf, Regular Army, in 1879; Lieutenant
Colonel of the 18th Inf. in 1883. and Colonel,
I'D Inf, in 1891.