Evening star., 1897-03-04
President McKinley's Brilliant Serv-
ice in the Army.
A SOLDIER OF RARE CAPACITY
Took an Active Part in More Than
Thirty Battles.
CONES OF FIGHTING STOCK

The unbounded love of the old soldiers of
the country for the incoming President is
abundant evidence that his record was
clean. Mckinley came from a fighting
family. The grandfather of William Nc
Kinley, sr., was revolutionary soldier
named David Mckinley. His record is in
the pension office. He was for long time
on the revolutionary pension roll The ma
ternal grandfather of the elder Mckinley
was a soldier, but because of his ability as
a metal worker was sent to his home ear
ly in the war to make bullets and cannon
for the patriots. James and William Nc
Kinley, who founded the two branches of
the Mckinley family in this country, came
from the north of Ireland. and were Of
Scotch-Irish ancestry. James Mckinley,
the great-great-grandfathe of the new
President, settled in Pennsylvania, while
William Mckinley, his elder brother, found
a home in the south.
Mckinley was boy of seventeen when
the war broke out. He had imbibed the
strongest convictions on the subject, and
was eager to do his duty for his country.
He was then living at Poland and was
teaching q country school to help himself
and family along. Mckinley was among
the raw recruits who volunteered at Po-
land. After the recruits had been got In
shape they were formed into Company +
of the famous 23d Ohio Regiment, the name
and deeds of which are closely linked with
the country's history. The regiment bore
upon its rolls the names of many men who
afterward became illustrious The first
colonel was William S. Rosecrans. after
ward major general and commander of the
armies of the Tennessee and Department
of the Cumberland. The lieutenant colonel
was that splendid soldier Stanley Mat
thews, who, after the war. became sena-
tor and then justice of the Supreme Court.
The major was Rutherford B. Hayes, after
nf
and nineteenth President of the United
States.
President Hayes Story.
McKinley's enlistment dates from June
IL. 1861. Ex-President Rutherford B. Hayes
tells of the young soldier in the following
words:
I'm this regiment Major Mckinley came
the boy l have described, carrying his
musket and his knapsack. In every COM
pany Of that regiment Gen. Rosecrans and
Col. Matthews and myself soon found there
were young men of exceptional character
and promise. l need not go into any detail
of the military history Of this young man
1 have described. At once 1t was found he
had unusual character for the mere busi-
ness of war. There is a quartermaster's
department, which is very necessary and
important department., I'm every regiment
in every brigade, in every division, in every
army.
young as he was. We soon found that In
business. in executive ability, young Nc
Kinley was a man of rare capacity. of un-
usual and unsurpassed capacity, especially
for boy of his age. When battles We're
fought or service was to be performed In
warlike things he always took his place.
The night was never too dark; the weather
was never too cold: there was no sleet, CT
storm, or hail, or snow, or rain that was
| in the way of his prompt and efficient per-
| formance of every duty.
when l came to be I'm command of the
regiment he soon came to be upon my STAFF
| and he remained upon my staff for one or
| fact know him like book and loved him
like a brother.
Earning q Promotion.
From that time he naturally progressed,
for his talents and capacity could not be
| unknown to the staff of the commander of
the army of West Virginia. George Crook.
a favorite of the army he commanded. lie
wanted Mckinley, and, Of course, 1t was
| my duty to tell Mckinley he must leave me.
The bloodiest day of the war, the day on
| which more men were killed or wounded
| I don't say than any other battle, stretch
| ing over many days, but any one dey-was
| the 18th Of September. 1862. in the battle
| of Antietam. ....
! daylight men were In the ranks and pre-
! pairing for 1t. Without breakfast, without
| coffee, they went into the tight, and 1T con-
| tinued until after the sun had set Early
In the afternoon naturally enough, with
| the exerticn required OF the men, they were
| famished and, thirsty, and to some extent
| broken in spirit. The commissary depart
| ment of that brigade was, under Sergean:
| McKinley's administration and personal
| supervision. From his hands every man In
the regiment was served with hot coffee
and warm meats. thing that never had
| occurred under similar circumstances ir
| ouy other army in the world. He paSSed