El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-10-06
JOSEPH FRANCIS BENNETT.


CA pm ohc vi ooT EaTIy Clt1-
zens.
Joseph Francis Bennett. saws the
TWO Republics, in SIX ten of the life
of the new consul general to Mexico.
was born in Putnam county. New York.
November 4, 1880. He received an
education afforded by the common
-choo's and graduated at Milv lie acad-
envy. Orleans county. New York. In
1919 he accompanied his parents to
GAINESVILLE. Wis. In 1858 he emigrated
to CalifOruia and British Columbia.
going by the Isthmus of Pa anna, in
which countries he was actively en-
gagged in mining. until the bre liking
out of the war of the rebellion. when,
on the call OF President Lincoln for
1000 volunteers frHm California, in
June, 1861. Col Bennett was one of the
trst on the Pacific coast to respond to
the call; ling at he time in S IN Fran
cisco he Immediately left for his noun
tain home and commenced the organi
zat1on OF company among his old min
ing associates. brought them to the
Preside, near San Francisco. largely
at his own expense, where they were
mustered in as &c" company. First
California infantry. volunteers. in
which company he was mustered as a
sergeant. In the winter of 1861. he
was sergeant major of the company.
and in April, 1862. was comm ssioned
Sc cond lieutenant of "I'' company by
Governor Leland Stanford. of Califor-
nil, and assigned by General James II.
Car etoD as assistant adjutant general
of the column from California. at his
headquarters in Santa Fe. New Mex
leo
Upon the recomme adation of Maj.
General James II. Carleton and Briga-
der General Joseph r West, Lieu en-
ant Bennett was commissioned Cap.
and Asst. Adjt. General U. S. Vo's., by
President Lin DIN. and was assigned to
duty on the staff of General West as
adjutant genera, of the district of Ari-
IONA. In August. 1863. Capt. Bennett
made his famous ride On the ''JOrnada
del Muerto''-iourney of death-of $50
miles in 81 consecutive hou"s. accom-
panied by but one man. Cherokee Bob.
recovering and bringing to district
headquarters the remnants of the mill
ssry mail. the stage-cOach having been
attacked but few hours ahead of him
by large band of renegade Apaches
and the mail and all other availa BILE
articles thrown from the coach the
better to anahle the party of seven to
make their escape from the Indians.
Capt. Bennett participated in many
OF the campaigns against the
Apaches in New Mexico, Ari-
IONA and western Texas. in
1868, and in February, 1874, under or
ders from the secretary of war. report
ed for duty to Maj. General w. S.
ROsecrans, then commanding the de-
partment of the Missouri, with head
quarters at ST. Louis, where he partic-
ipated in the memorable Price cam
paign and Invasion Of Missouri in the
autumn of that year, and was twice
bl evetted as ma or and lieutenat colo
nal for gallant and meritorious SER
vice during the war;
Early in March, 1865, Col. Bepne tt
was sent by Maj. General Granville M
Dodge, then commanding the depart
ment OF the Missouri, into Arkansas
to offer terms of surrender to Brig.
General Nj. jeff Thompson, of the Con-
federate army, than OPP rating in the
northern part of that state, where he
re ceived the surrender and p rolled the
ommand, numbering nearly 5000
men. In the summer and autumn of
1850, Col. Bennett accompanied Cen
neral Dodge in campaign against the
Indians in the northwest, at the time
of the com biued uprising of nearly all
the tribes west OF the Missouri river,
and upon his return early N 1856 upon
his own request, was ordered to report
at his home to await his order of muster
service at Ell Pasc, Texas, in June, 1866.
having served throughout the rebel
lion, and having declined to accept
commission as major in the regular
army.
Col. Bennett comes of revolutionary
stock, his grandfather, John Bennett,
having b. en- captain in the revOlu-
tionary army, and one of five broth
theirs who fought throughout that
Struggle for the independence of the
colonies. Col. Bennett was also one of
five brothers who fought on the union
side throughout the war of the rebel
lio'. AT the close of the rebellion he
cast his lot in the sou Invest locating
at Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he
engaged. in mining and mercantile
busiress and where he has repeatedly
osen ho2ored by Offices of trust and
responsibility, having been appoint
ed by President Grant as consul of the
United States at Chihuahua, aud has
Sc rived as probate clerk; Judge of prb-
bate, clerk of the Unit States is
trict court; commissioner of the court
of claims: United States commissioner,
and Indian agent for the Mescaler O
Apaches. He has always taken an
active part in the politics of his adopt-
ed territory but having resided within