The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-04
ISSUED THE ORDER
WAR DEPARTMENT FORMALLY
TRANSFERS BRIG. GEN JOHN r..
BROOKE TO CHICAGO.
SUCCEEDING GEN. MERRITT,
WHO GOES TO NEW YORK BY VIR-
TUE OF THE SAME
ORDER,
NOT SURE ABOUT ooPPINGER,
Gen. Brooke Says He Does Not Know
Who VIII Succeed Him at This
Station.

A telegram received last evening stat
ed that a formal order had been issued
by the war department transferring
Gen. Wesley Merritt from Chicago to
New York, and Gen. Jonn r. I;roOlIe
from ST. Paul to Chicago, consequent
upon the retirement of Gen. Ruger
Army officers last evening showered
their congratulations upon Gen.
Brooke, as he will be placed in COM
mand Of the second department in i'm
portance in the country. Gen. Brooke
himself received a telegram confirm
ing the report yesterday afternoon.
Gen. Brooke says he has no idea who
will succeed him in St. Paul and AYERS
that because he was transferred from
Omaha to ST. Paul 1t rs no evidence
that Gen. Coppinger will follow the
same route in promotions. The gen.
eral declares with some spirit that the
statements made in the press that
there was rivalry for the different as
signments was all bosh.
Brig. Gen. Brookes departure will
cause universal regret in ST. Paul,
where he has made many military and
a host of social friends. He is now the
senior brigadier general and will be-
come major general May g. and will
remain in command of the division of
the Missouri with headquarters at Chi
cago, which is a major generals sta
ton.
Gen. Brooke was born in Pennsylvania
about fifty years ago. He became captain
in the Fourth Pennsylvania infantry in April,
1861, and was honorably mustered out in
July. In November of the same year he
entered the service again colonel IN the
F1fty-third Pennsylvania infantry, and in
May, 1854, was commissioned a brigadier
general for distinguished services during the
battles Of the Old Wilderness and Spottsyl-
yania Court House, Va. He was three times
breyetted, first in March, 1867, to the rank of
colonel, for gallant and meritorious services
in the battle of Gettysburg Pa. next in the
same month as brigadier general for gallant
and mer!torioQs services in the battle of
Spottsylyania Court House. and again as
major general for gallant and meritorious
services in the battles of Tolopotomy and
Cold Harbor Va.
He resigned from the volunteer service in
1866 and In the same year entered the perma-
nent establishment of the army as lieutenant
colonel of the Thirty-seventh infantry. He
was transferred to the Third infantry in 1859
and became a colonel and was assigned to
the Thirteenth regiment Of infantry In 1879.
Soon afterward he was transferred back to
| the Third infantry. In April, 1888, he rose to
his present rank. His latest commands have
| been the department Of the Platte at Omaha
and the department OF Dakota at St. Paul.
sired to be located in Chicago. He is a
! tall brigadier, of commanding presence, a
! large, horid-faced man. with broad shout
! ders and well-developed chest. His gray
hair and mustache denote his many years in
! the service.
| In Omaha Gen. Brooke became very popu-
| lar, particularly In social circles, and soon
| established reputation as entertainer,
| which he maintained In st. Paul His wife
| shared the honors in this respect. When he
| was transferred to st. Paul the Omaha club
| gave him a farewell banquet. 1t Is thought
| he will assume his duties at Chicago within
| ten days.
Gen. Merritt'S record is one Of distinction.
| He served on the frontier for years. His
! daring achievements in the civil war earned
! him a commission major general. In 1887
! he was rewarded with the appointment OF
! brgadier general In command of the depart
ment of Dakota. and April 1, 1895, he was
promoted to the rank of major general. When
J he leaves Chicago for New York Lieuten-
! ants Strouther, Hale and Mott, his aids, will
| accompany him. His headquarters were also
/ in st. Paul.
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