Arizona republican., 1896-05-31
GORDON OF THE SIXTH. Distinguished Soldiers Retirement. He Rose From the Ranks to Be
 Colonel. We'll Known Throughout the West. A Sketch of Ills
 Career.

IWlIu lue TellTeu6ul Ol OOlOuel DdFlu S. Gordon of the Sixth cavalry, the United States army loses one of the ablest soldiers who have ever held con- mand within it and the west feels the loss of a commander who against the Indians was ever active and ever sue cessful. He was we'll known in Ari- zona where he held command of sev- eral forts, and son, c. H. Gordon, an attache of the Maricopa & Phoenix Railway company, is now one of the most esteemed of the citizens of Phoe- nix. In connection with the retire ment of Colonel Gordon the Washing ton Post has the following interesting matter:
 Col. David s. Gordon, Sixth cavalry, commander of Fort Myer, will be placed on the retired list of the army today, having reached the age limit.
 Col. Gordon takes formal leave of his command in a general order issued from regimental headquarters under date of May 23, which reads as fol- lows:
 By operation of law, the under signed hereby relinquishes command of the regiment and post. In so doing he desires to express to the officers of the regiment, and particularly to Lieutenant Wilcox, regimental and post adjutant, and Lieutenant Cruse, regimental and post quartermaster, and A. c. S., his appreciation of the manner in which their duties have been performed and their efforts to promote the discipline and efficiency of the regiment.
 Tt is with heartiest regret that the necessities of the service compel him to sever his social as well as official re- lat1ons, which he has so much enjoyed since assuming command nearly four years ago.
 Tn thus severing his connection with the officers and enlisted men of the regiment, the commander assures them that it is with sincere pride and satisfaction he can turn over to his successor an organization that bears such creditable record for zeal, disci- pline, and other soldierly qualities, and particularly the squadron at Fort Myer, Va, which he is proud to con- mand, and believes has no equal in the service; as an evidence, out of nearly 300 men present, not one of them in thO uOuS6.
 "The gallant services rendered by this regiment during the war on the plains and in the late riots in Chicago is sufficient evidence that it will ever maintain it's proud name in the fu- ture. The regimental commander fur ther deeply regrets that the eXigencies Of the service left the organizations so scattered that it had been his misfor- tune not to have met some of the off cers belonging to it, but begs the off, cers and men of the regiment to ac- cept his hearty good wishes for their prosperity, welfare, and happiness.
 ID. s. GORDON, Colonel Sixth Cavalry Commanding. D
 Col. Gordon's retirement is followed by the promotion of Lieutenant Col. Sumner of the Sixth to the grade of colonel and he will succeed to the com mand of Fort Myer Col. Sumner is now at Fort Leavenworth, and until he shall have been confirmed Mai. Lebs will have command of the post.
 Col. Gordon was born in Pennsyl- vania May 23, 1882, and was living at Leavenworth, Kan, when the war broke out. He joined company orga- nized for the defense of Washington by Senator James H. Lane of Kansas and was elected first sergeant. The company numbered about 150 men, As first sergeant of said company he was assigned to duty in the executive man.