The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-02
COL. JOHN ". APPLETON.

Sksteh Of tie Career Of West VIrEInla's
New AdjataMt General - A Thorough
Military Man.
General John W. Appleton, appointed
adtutant general of West Virginia. Is a
member Of wen known New England
family. having been born in Boston,
Mass. in 1872.
Having strong iHcliuation5 toward
military matters, ne pursued such stud
les In his youth, drilled with different
commands OF the active militia, finally
becoming a member OF the famous INDIE
pendent Corps OF Cadets OF Boston. an
organization formed in l7I5.
As an expert swordsmnn, he. was
member OF the "TurRgemeinde OF Bos-
ton" In the earlier days OF the great
war Of the rebellion he was engaged In
drilling large companies Of patriotic men
in various cities and towns In Massachu-
setts. In May. 1853, he was mustered
IntO'the service OF the United States US n
private soldier In the Fifth Company,
First Battalion, Independent Corps OF
Cadets, and at the expiration OF the term
OF service for which the corps was held
he was honOrably discharged.
Early IN 1865, when volunteer enlist
ments dragged, and the prospect OF Il
draft was threatening the north. Cover
nor Andrew, Of Massachusetts. obtained
permission from Secretary Stanton to try
the experiment OF enllGting colored men.
To accept commissions was like volun-
teerins in forlOrn hape. as the confed-
d
sured the hanging IT captured officers OF
such ColOred troops. The first man TO
volunteer vas Appleton, He was ap-
pointed February Ith, 1868. rs second
lieutenant, thus holding the first COM
mission Issued to any officer In the well
known Fifty-fnurth Massachusetts In
fantTy. In April. 1858, Lieutenant Ap-
pletou was promoted to be captain Of
Company A. Leading his company, Cap
tain Appleton was In the front line In the
second assault on Fort Wagner, July Is,
1868, and he was on the rampant, but
short distance from Colonel Robert G.
ShaS, when Shaw was killed. He him
self was very severely wounded In this
action and iolt fnrty-three ont Of sixty
seven men, but gained his majority In
the regiment. Recovering from his
wounds he served with his regiment in
South Carolina, during the long siege OF
Charleston and took part in the CAM
palgn in Florida. and was again severely
wounded In action in South Carolina.
July End. 1864. This wound was sup
posed to be mortal, bu: Il strong conSti-
tuition pulled him through, 1fter months
OF suffering.
He resigned his commission in this reg
iment, finding that his wounds untitled
him for duty In the field. Governor An
Nratus In mi k1V,gs ssaIaNfIan IhA fNfIi.
GERS Of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts,.
said that no regiment In the state went
into the field with such carefully chosen
body OF young gentlemen, selected from
the very best families, and oil We're men
OF exemplary habits
The experiment OF using colOred men as
soldiers was successful. though costly In
blood, and the end OF the war In 1865.
found 100000 colored men wearing blue
and bearing arms under the stars and
stripes. There was no general draft at
the north, Recovering somewhat from
his wounds Major Appleton returned TO
the service as Major Of the first battalion
heavy artillery and was ordered 20 join
| his command nj Fort Warren, Boston
harbor. The battalion was to be united
with another and the major. as colonel
OF this large regiment OF near 1000 men,
was TO be sent tn the Potomac but the
| fan OF Richmond ended the war.
During his command at Fort Warren
| there were many Confederate prisoners
confined there, high In rank. 1m9hS them
| Alexander II. Stephens and Judge Rem
gan. and many generals. They be-
| came warm friends OF their post COM
mandcr aud he hAS been heard to say
that when he Just came to Kanawha. in
1865, that Major Cars greeting, We
have heard OF you; you were good to our
prisoners" was very pleasant to him.
Major Appleton. after living In Kama
| wha eoBnty some years, took an active
| interest In improving and strengthening
our active militia, and after several fu-
| tile efforts did. In association with Major
| Peter F0ntalne and Judge c. J. Snyder.
succeed In organizing an excellent COM
| pany In Charleston, which took the name
| Of the "Kanawhn Riilef." AS captain,
he had command OF this company until
the battalion was formed, when he was
| elected major OF It, The battalion grew
| into regiment. OF which he was made
colonel This commission he held for
several years, and the adJutnnt gcnerafs
reports FOR those years Will show the ma
| ture Of the services performed.
Colonel AppletOn'9 interest In military
studies and in the National Guard OF his
| state has never relaxed, and he Is con-
slant reader ~ literature relating TO
military subjects AS GdIutant general
| his Efforts viii be directed towards max
| ing our national Guard one of the best
| In the United States. General Appleton
| d. . ,,,n,hnT If the I aynl Legion and