New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-25
OBITUARY.
COLONEL CHARLES MKNIGHT LEOShh.

COLONEL CHARLES VI HNlHiii
Colonel Charles Mcknight Leoser died al ms ho'''o
a.. Larchmont Manor Sunday at II p H. nc to
tired in good health apparently at O'CLOCK An houi
,,tor he was hoard 10 breathe In labored ana I'M
natural way and was found to be In sinking coi-
dition from which he never rallied. . ,s,o
Colonel Lesser was born at Reading rehii'' IA io,y
His father was officer in the ISL reni''' 49,
Volunteers in the Mexican War HIS gree. si".u-
father and great-great t. grandfather loue"' '''0'
Washington in the Revolutionary ARMY. 49,.
AT the age of sixteen years he entered west RUM
and was graduated in the class Of May. lsel re was
assigned to the I'd United States Cavalry. ino i"e"
bers Of the class were taken at once TO asniie'o"
and pat on duty drillmasters for volunteer tioP
The Fire Zouaves of this city, enlisted by CoIo'o
Elmer E. Ellsworth, fell to Lieutenant l-eoser' i"eS
had a hard name. and he undertook the tash ~
brave spirit. But he soon popular WIN .'e
fremen although he started the first real discip,'e
they mad known. They made him rcgren'ai auJu-
tant first and when the regular Organization e"
they elected him major next in rank after Coionei
Ellsworth TO Icutcnant-Colonei Moan l.. i' H'.'''
When Ellsworth lost his life at Alexandria at inc
hands of the traitor Jackson, and farnham became
Colonel Leoser WAS advanced to the post or ncuteh-
ant-colonel and after Farnhams death at Bun KUN
Ieoser was unanimously elected colonel CT the reg
iment.
Colonel I.eoser said not long ago, in speaking Oh
Eilsworths murder, that ne had earnestly pleaded
with his madcap colonel to risk his life IN per-
sonally taking down the flag which Jackson ha'
been planting his hotel in sight OF the "n"e
House. and which Ellsworth had promised MIS-
Lincoln should pot annoy her longer
1t was my purpose" SAID Colonel Looser' -
send up a small guard IN advance to prevent Jus'
vbo, hanpeneG But Ellsworth refused to listen to
such \ precau..on Old Abe tod me- ne sad' thdt
| II ia BRING that flag to him he'd make me Dris-
! adlcr-generai and going to do H.
After the battle Of Bull Run the regiment was re-
| turned TO New-York for reorganization anu .I.e"
sent 10 Newport News. Finding that General Ac-
(Ie,lan dd not propose to include II In the makeup
~ the ARMY of the Potomac, owing to the tough
character II possessed Colonel Leoser peremp'oriy
resigned and went back to his o~n regiment i" ''o
regulars Returning to the rank OF lieutenant
he Joined his regiment on the day Oh the D"',,e
WILLIAMSBURG and remained with 1t through al ''e
vjclssl,udes OF the war except when wounded OF
| prisoner W., ,
| He fought with distinction at Malvern ma a""
in all the battles of the Peninsula campaign AZ
the battle Of Brandy Station June D. 1901 ne w.
shot through the body and so severely iHJuie' nc
he was reported MORALLY wounded The man "''o
shot him fired from behind tree at eHre'H' ,
snort range Lieutenant Devices OF the same reS'-
| mon, caueht sight OF the man, AMI when he low
| cred his musket to reload. before the Confederate
| could bite A fresh cartridge Devices gaEopcd upon
him and severed his head from his body WIN d
! sabre cut.
Mr. reoser recovered sufficiently to rejoin MS
command at Culpoper the same fall. being then
promoted TO captain When Grant took command
| ~ the Army OF the Potomac in the spring OF lS5i
Iooser's regineat opened the Battle Of the Wider
| ness for him. Captain Leoser was IN Sh'r!idi :
famous raid during which the cavalry fouSht hihe-
| teen battles In sixteen days. 1t was during t''s
great military movement that 400 mounted men Of
| three Union regiments. the ID United states OdV-
airy. Clusters Michigan regimen, and the lat New
York Cavalry, checked and put 10 flight the wHoe
Of McIaw's Confederate division.
At Trev.lian Station Captain Leoser was captured
| and confined In Southern prisons at LIBBY. IN HcA-
| rond Salisbury. Macon and Charleston lie "is
exchanged after many months OF hardship return
ing TO his reg ment in the Shenandoah Naiey' Dur
Ing the war ne took part in forty battles. ana re-
ceiye brevets In the Regular Army In all the grades
I'd 10 the rank OF colonel
| Colonel Leoser stood high in Grand Army circles
| Uo v,as the first commander OF Noah Il. FarnAam
| post No ass and was reelected for many success
sye terms and until he positively declined an ~.
| Tr.clectlon lie had been a delegate 10 many state
and departmcnt cncarnpments. and always had been
pr0m.n ut I'm the councils or ne IN. trai com,
ralttee grand marshal for the parade on Menloiiai
! Day. ana discharged the duties w.tA exFAotu.ha'!
Colonel i.e.ser resigned from the Army after re
VIZ To- 20 INTO bushes; II ms ~ ,orts We
| ana s.. r., Circular" and retained the supervision
| lie VAS an active member Of the New YORK
| Cor.nthian i.archmont and Amerl an yacAt eiIDs.
/ He was owner OF the slOOp ydcht IFll re "aS
! m ode a member Of the New-No Yacht 'luD Vc-
15er o. is.i and ;or several years VS. member =,
OF tho Committee on Admiss.r:s, place Ae ne q
/ when r. died. lie an cnthuslnstc yachtsInhn
! and one OF the most popular members of me cIho.
! The nag of the Ncw-iork Yacht CluD was as
| played at haii-mast yesterday over the cIu'H~'Se
on account o, Colonel Leoser's death. .so r.,
Colonel I.ocser was also a neinpeF OF tHe NJ,
versity Manhattan. Reform, Groiier and Lawyers
! clubs and OF the Loyal Legion.
lie had unusually large number OF frienas;;
| c1mpan!onsh!n For several years he had occupied!
| the od Manor House at LarchMont Ills second
| VIC survives him. well az two aons-Thomas
| Smith Ieossr and Charles Mcknight !eoser. Jr,
! who T. now in Europe. having sailed two weeks
! ayo las, Saturday for short trip to London ana
| Paris. - -. -.
| announced.