New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-10


LOOK part In the great battle Of Antietam. where
Mckinley his first honors After that bloody
experience 1t went back to the mountains Of West
virgin An order came to hurry on to Pennsyl-
Vania 1t was obeyed with memorable alacrity. On
this trip breakfast was in Pennsylvania din
ner ir Maryland and supper in Virginia
period OF rest followed. From November 1862
to July Of the following year. the 23d lay In
CAMP taking part only In the movements against
Morgan This period Of comparative inactivity
was followed by another. which lasted until April
1864 when movement made to a point few
miles above Brownston the Kanawha. prepara
tory to Joining forces then gathering under General
Crook for a raid the Virginia and Tennessee
Railroad. This expedition. a relief from the long
inaction. was undertaken with cheerfulness and de-
termination. After toiling for days rugged
mountains and through dense woods they finally
countered the enemy May g. at Clyde Mountain
on the next day there was another battle at New
Bridge. AS on the day before. the enemy
driven back.
Early in June the 23d Joined General Hunters
command At Lynchburg they encountered the en-
envy. but the rebels had been heavily reinforced
from Richmond. and they obliged to retreat;
The fighting wos all done in dense thcket. I'M
pervious to the sunlight The men without
food or sleep for two days In July came the
battle OF Kernstown. Winchester, In which the
National forces defeated. after a wel-con-
tested fight frcm early In the morning until late
at night The 23d lost In this engagement over one
hundred and fifty men and officers. The Union
forces were commanded by General Crook, and the
confederates by General Early. who had been menac-
ing Washington.
DARING PIECE OF WORK.
When this baltic at It's height. Mckinley made
himself conspicuous by the daring execution OF an
order. One of the regiments had been posted in
an orchard far In front. when the battle opened
As the Union forces fell back before Early this
body left unsupported. The commanding Of
fcers had forgotten It, No order Of retreat having
been given, the maintained their first position
This was perous in the extreme. On discovering
the oversight, General Hayes directed Lieutenant
Mckinley TO carry the order Of retreat to the un-
fortunate soldiers. 1t seemed certain death
go. but without a moments hesitation he started
off at full speed. He given up for lost, but
he came back uninJured from his dangerous mis-
sion which he successfully accomplished. As he
drew up by the side OF Hayes to make his verbal
report the General said to him: Il never expected
to you in life again"
sheridan's great battle a, Opequan fought
near Winchester September 49, 1854. An incident
happened there which illustrates one striking trait
OF McKineys character. 1t is thus recorded;
Early in the morning the Sixth and Eineteentth
Sson, a ,ss the wi r v nnd shh
Corps being held IN reserve About 10 SclOSk Cap
esa order to s
commanding the Second Division. TO move his com
sS the to & bV0 ON
been ordered to that position. General Duva. on
ply ny, OF the country asked the Young aide;
Captain Mckinley knowing no about tho
country than did Duval. and without definite orders
to the way to be taken. replied; Il would move
up this creek
Duval then said: Il will not bulge without def
mite orders"
Mckinley replied: This is a OF great emer-
gency, General order you. by command Of General
Crook to move your command up this ravine 10 a
position the right OF the army.
General Duval obeyed and moved on the route In
dicated by the aide-de-camp In a short time he
had his division In position on the right and ga'-
lantly charged the enemy in their fortified position
on their left flank and drove them In confusion
from their works and by a movement which was
made on the judgment and. 10 him. perous dis
erection OF Captain Mckinley. who took the RESPONSE
bi,y OF giving the command. Had he been mis-
taken, and the movement resulted disastrously
McKineys career would probably have Deen cut
short at twenty years OF age.
Another incident that illustrates his inspiring
leadership occurred In the retreat from Winchester
A battery OF artillery. consisting o, four guns with
their caissons had been abandoned by the enemy
But, owing to the exhausted condition OF the men.
II did not seem practicable TO carry them away.
Mckinley went to General Hayes and insisted that
these guns should be allowed 10 fall again into
the hands OF the enemy He added that his regi-
ment would aid In their transfer. The General
smiled and tod him to ask them. He DID so, going
first TO his old company. In response TO MS call
for volunteers every man stepped forward The In
lection spread throughout the whole regiment and
the guns and cassons were hauled on In triumph
ant procession.
SHERIDAN AND MKINLEY.
ceneraI sheridan in his memoirs alludes 10 the
fact that he me. Mckinley the day Of his famous
ride from Winchester. AT Newton he says i
as obliged 10 make A circuit to the lei'' 10 get
around the village. could not pass through H. the
s,r,ets were so crowded. but meeting on this detour
Mckinley OF Crooks staff. he spread the news or
nv return through the motley throng there
Hts association with Sheridan is one OF the Majors
most delightful "reminiscences He has frequently
declared that Sheridan never looked more IKE
soldier than he did that day at winchester, "heh
he rode down the line amid the huzzas OF the
troops.
Their last engagement OF National importance
which practically closed the active history OF the
23d Ohio was the famous battle OF Cedar Creek
At the age of twenty-five Mckinley found himself
back in Ohio. MS military career over and civil lie
again confronting him He entered the law office
OF Judge Charles F. Gdden. He supplemented
office work with a brief course at the Albany Law
School In 1867 he admitted TO the bar IN
like some quartermasters he had come out or the
army as poor as the day he entered II. and he be-
gan his practice with scarcely dollar OF capital
Canton. where he opened his law ONCE, was then
place Of about 5000 Inhabitants. 1t Is now -four
ishing manufacturing centre OF between 800" ana
IS 900 inha b!tants It's growth and development our
ing the last twenty-eight years under the stimu-
lating influence Of protective tariff have been one
Of the most striking object lessons TO him OF the
benefcent results OF the Republican policy
He took active part in politics at once stark
County then supposed TO be hopeiessiy Demo-
cratic. Republican nomination was looked upon
as an empty honor. This fact probably accounts
for the ease with which Mckinley became his partys
ilafe for IA