Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1897-05-24


until his volunteers were mustered
out and the war ended.
Last, and in many respects the abb
est, of this quartet whose names will
live as the history of our war survives
was Mackenzie. He was the young
est in years and service of them all,
as he did not graduate until 1862. But
though he came year later than any
of the others, in two years and little
more than six months of active SER
vice Mackenzie had won an honor
and achieved distinction never be-
fore or since attained by any officer
of our always gallant army. He had
won seven brevets, everything from
First Lieutenant to Major General,
each "for gallant and meritorious SER
vices"-not in skirmishes, either, if
you please, but such battles as Sc
cond Bull Run, Charlottesville, Get
tysburgh, Petersburg, Winchester,
Cedar Greek. That 18th of October,
1864, so often mentioned, must be not
ed again, for it was as fortunate for
Mackenzie as it had been for the 9TH
er three. For the most brilliant sol
dierly courage and daring Gen. Sheri-
dan recommended MacKenzie's pro-
motion to the rank of Brigadier GEN
eral, and his commission was given
him for specific distinguished services
at the battles of Apequon, Fishers
Hill and Middletown, and the recipi-
ent of these honors unequalled in
American history, was then but little
over % years old.
So closed the war records of the
four, for their years the most prom
inent and distinguished young men in
the United States army, records
equalled only by Gen. Miles and Cen.
Pennybacker of Pennsylvania, the
latter Brevet Major General long
before he was %. Upon the re- crea-
ton of the regular army, July %, 1866,
Merritt, Custer and Upton were made
Lieutenant Colonies. Mackenzie was
but Captain of engineers. General
Grant was President. He knew SOL
der when he saw him, and was de-
termined that so brilliant an officer
should not leave service which Mac
had very attractive position tender
ed him as chief engineer of a great
railway company. In March 1864 Mac
Kenzie was com missioned Colonel of
the 41st Infantry, where he ranked
the other three of the quartet, and
in 1869, when the army was weeded
and further reduced, Mackenzie went
to the Gath Infantry. But he felt that
cavalry was his proper sphere. The
Indians had become bold by remain
ing unchecked for five or six years,
and were seriously threatening our
southwest and northwest frontiers.
Gen. Grant knew that an officer of
MacKenzie's characteristic dash and
courage would be of the greatest use.
So when Gen. Lawrence P. Graham,
veteran cavalry officer, after long and
brilliant services was retired, the
command of his regiment, the 4th Ca
valry, at President Grants personal
request, was given to Mackenzie.
And how Jared they after the war
ended-this gallant four? Custer died
with the Indian war whoop as his
death knell, in a battle that will live
in history as the last stand made by
the great united tribes of the North
west against the overwhelming white
man. Upton, full Colonel of artil
lery-alas, that it should have to be
written-died with clouded mind by
his own hand. Mackenzie lived for
years dead to the world, and to the
grief and sorrow of those who knew
and loved him best. But the star Mer-
rit wore for years SO worthily-be-
fore he won those he wears today
cleaned on the gallant MacKenzie's
went out for him forever more. And
thus it is that Merritt is the only one
left of the four gallant young souls
whose courage and soldierly deeds
won the chivalric appreciation of
their own comrades and the admira-
ton and respect of those who had wit
messed and felt the might of their va
lor on twenty stricken fields. And as
he who is left recalls the past there
must come from his own knightly
heart sigh for their memory and a
prayer for the souls of the gallant
brave, who have gone across the
River of Death.
One of the quickest passages of
law on record was that appropriating