The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-27
THE GENERAL AND STATESMAN NOW
INMATE OF INSANE ASYLUM.
Once a United States Senator Talked
eryvard IL Rebel Commander.

MORGANTON, N. c., Sept. 26.-General
Thomas L. Clingman, ex-United States SEN
ator, whose name, thirty-five years ago, was
every tongue in this country, was adj
mitted to-day to the state asylum for the
insane in this city. General Clingman does
not become an inmate of this institution
because of any acute arrangement of his
mind, though his intellect shows little evil
dence of it's former activity and ability. His
case is one of mere senility. 1t is against
the policy of the institution to receive such
inmates, but in this case-that of a man
who, as a member of the lower house of
Congress, Is United STATES senator and Con-
federate general. has rendered the State
such conspicuous serVice-it was felt that
an exception might well be made Aged
poor, intrm, mentally and physically the
state offered to care for the once great
statesman, and during the remaining years
OF his life it Will extend to him the most
tender care a state government can be-
stow-a home and a protecting hand.
General C1lngman as born elgnty-one
years ago IN this State. Few men to-day
realize what political factor he was during
the quarter OF q century ending with the
surrender of Lee. Looking upon MIN to-day
bowed with age, eXpressIonless from mental
lnhrmlty, depressed from poverty, few peo-
PIE would recall without surprise the record
ne maze StaIeman, orator, legislator
warrior, deultst and scientist. Few men in
the history OF the Union before the war
made remarkable a record as a pubic
deDater 1t recalled that during the
slavery debate in Congress his speeches
were null OF Southern IRE and enthusiasm
and his fame became International because
OF his aggressive attitude toward the Gay
ton-bulmer treaty. one speech, on the
causes of Henry Clay'S defeat, led to a duel
with William Yancey, of Alabama.
Tine political career OF General Clingman
began when, in 1850, then young lawyer
n N a nh
Wing to the State Legislature from Surry
county. He became a leader of the Wing
party, and in 1S43 was elected to the ma
tional House of Representatives, and
tinued in office until June a. 1858, with the
exception of the Ihirty-ninth Congress. In
1858 he was appointed to fill the vacancy
in the Senate lett by the resignation of Asa
Biggs AT the end of his term he was re-
elected. On Jan. q, 1861 General Cling
man withdrew from Congress, with the
other Southern members, and in May was
sent to the Confederate Congress to give
assurance that North Carolina would sup
port the cause of the South. He entered
the Confederate army as colonel OF the
Twenty-hfth North Carolina Regiment, and
served with such daring and brllIiancy that
in eight months time he was made briga-
der general. He was in command of the
defense of Goldsboro, and held Sulivan's
island and Battery Wagner during the at
tack on Charleston. He led the attack on
NeWberne in February, 1864; broke Buffers
lines at Drury's blum May 10, and forced
him back to Bermuda Hundreds was
wounded at Cold Harbor; repealed the at
tack on Petersburg June II; attacked the
enemy near Petersburg Aug. 10, defeating
them with a small force and capturing 2, 100
In this conflict he was severely wounded
and was only able to rejoin his command
few days before Johnsons surrender at
Greensboro in April, 1860
General Clingman was delegate to the
national Democratic convention held In 1865.
Since that time he has studiously avoided
politics, and began a few years ago to de-
vote the remainder of his life to science.
AS a scientist he made important conrri-
buttons TO SulliVans Journal and other pub
locations. He explored the mountains of his
native State, discovered that they contained
the Hottest peaks of the Appalachian range,
the chief one of which was measured by
him in 1855, and now bears his name; opened
the mica mines of Mitchell and Yancey
counties; made known the existence in the
State of corundum, zircon, rubies and other
gems. He published several volumes, in
Guiding Speeches and "Follies of the
Positive Philosophers.