Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-05-01
Col. HENRY @. MERRIAM,

and Camp Chelan and Fort Spokane,
Wash which duties occupied his time
until 1880. He commanded Fort Col
vile, Wash, and Fort Spokane until he
received his promotion to colonelcy in
1885.
For his arduous services on the from
tier and for his firm and successful man
agement of the various Indian tribes of
the northwest, through which they we're
all peaceably gathered upon their present
reservations, and for opening that vast
area to settlement, Colonel Merriam re-
ceived the highest official commentator
of his department commanders, Generals
Howard and Miles as we'll as that of the
state and territorial authorities.
He became colonel of the Seventh in
fsntry July 10, 1885, succeeding General
john Gibbon, the famous commander Of
the Iron Brigade. He Joined the regi-
ment at Fort Laramie, Wyo., and since
1889 he has been in command of Fort
Logan, Colo.
During the Sioux campaign of the
winter of 1892 he commanded the
troops Oh the line of the Cheyenne river
in South Dakota. The troops in his dis
trict successfully intercepted and dis
armed the Sitting Bull band of hostles
and prevented them from joining the
main body near Pine Ridge.
Col. Merriam's record in the army is
one that he may view with just pride, not
only on account of distinguished gallantry
in war, but also on account of great use
fitness in time of peace.
| Dol. Merriam, himself a remarkable
- 4 -. a. - lxon l. Ia 10
ment to the highest state of efficiency in
target practice. As disciplinarian and
tactician he has no superior in the army;
the result is that his regiment is one that
attracts the notice of the lay visitor as
we'll as the critical eye Of the military Of
fetal. The reports on file in the inspe,-
tor generals office as to the state of eff
cheney of his command are not exceeded
by any other regiment.
Col. Merriam is the inventor of the
army pack which bears his name, and it
is better known and more highly appre-
ciated in Europe than in this country. 1t
is especially popular with the national
guard of the large states.
For thirty years Col. Merriam has
served continuously in the west. His four
years service during the war was marked
with conspicuous gallantry. His services
have been such that no other nation in
the world would have allowed them to go
unrewarded. In our army he has received
bv the slow process of OUTLYING his SEN
iors the rank of senior colonel In the
army. The time has now come when his
friends hope to see him rewarded with the
generals star in place of the colonel's
eagle. No officer of our little army has a
record in war or peace that ia superior to
that of Col. Merriam, and none deserves
better of his country.
Col. Merriam comes of sturdy old New
England stock and he is the eighth gem
GRAFTON of the family which settled at
Concord, Mass, in 1886 The family has
borne it's share in all our wars from the
beginning of our history and the name Of
Merriam is oft repeated on the rolls of the
revolutionary war.
All the great generals who held high
command in the late war have either re-
ceived promotion or have left the active
list. Those still remaining are lees dis
tinguished only because their field of &C.
ton WAS more limited.
The gallant act of the colonel of regi
ment leading it to victory over the works
of an enemy bristling with bayonets and
pouring forth hail of death is no less
glorious than the swift ride of 20 miles of
the general of an army to turn by his
magic presence the tide of battle and win
splendid victory.
The hope of Col. Merriam's friends for
his promotion lies in no sentimental
groove, but his claims are based upon the
efficiency, energy, success and care with
which he has performed every duty for
nearly 40 years.