The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-05

John NJ. schoheld is a native of the Empire
Commonwealth He was born in the town of
Gerry, Chautauqua county, NY. Sept. 90. 1881.
His father was the Rev. James Schoflcld, who
was then pastor OF tho Baptist Church in Sin
clair, but, In lS43. removed to Illinois,
where. as n home missionary. he engaged in
organizing new churches and building meeting
houses. During his childhood and youth Gen.
Schotleld had what he considers the best OBJ
portunities Of education in excellent public
schools, where the rudiments of English
were taught with great thoroughness. At
l6 years OF age he spent thrco months In
surveying public lands in the wilis OF north
crn Wisconsin,. and at II taught a district
school in the little town of Oncco. BY that time
he had chosen the law for his profession, and
was working hard to complete his preparatory
studies at his own expense. The winter school
term in Oncco having closed early in the spring
of lS49, young Schofield returned to Freeport.
Ill, and resumed his study of Latin. Then an
unforeseen event turned the course of his life,
He received an appointment to W est Point and
reported at the academy on Juno 1. ls49.
being then II years and 9 months old. His
experience in West Point did not differ in
many particulars from the general average
of cadet life. 1t seemed to him at tho
time. he tells us, that a great part of his waking
hours could have been better employed in get
ting the education he desired by the study of
law, history, rhetoric. and general literature.
He would not be misunderstood, however, as
disparaging the West Point system of instruc-
ton. He believes that. as it was and Is now,
there is nothing equal to it anywhere in this
country. He considers its methods o dcvelopinS
the reasoning faculties and habits of indepcnd-
ent thought the best ever devised. The West
Point training Of the mind is pronounced prac-
fipallv narfept Tts unporal 1iu,ipl;,o 100 ,,--
cellent and Indispensable in the military service.
Even In civil life Gen. Schofeld thinks that
something like 1t would be highly beneficial. In
his own case he recognizes that the discipline
was even more needed than anything else. The
hardest lesson he had to learn. he tells us, was
to submit his will and opinions to those of an
accidental superior in rank whom he imagined
to be his inferior in other things. Experience
In war has taught him that nothing is more alb.
solutely necessary for II good soldier than per-
feet subordlnation and Jealous service TO him
whom the national will may have made the of.
fetal superior for the time being.
schoaeid to duty at Fort M]onitris, South FFaro.
lima, as Breyet Second Lieutenant in the Second
Artillery. 10 notes the interesting fact that
he had no d fhcnlty IN getting his ray account
fore the Civil War an officer in the army needed
no indorser anywhere In this country. which
has hos, not 9sb been Go the case an o since , trew WA" ,io Il W Dsrg IN:
t''N fR'FN VS. NhRf'A vi wv f'N w
%pnrtment announcing young Schotleld's mp.
pOintment rs Second Lieutenant in the First
Artillery, and directing him to Join Battery ! at
Fort Capron, Indian River. Fla. II is character
istic of the author that he took with him to
Florida some law books. Blackstone. Kent. and a
few others, SO few. indeed, that he. learned them
nearly nll by heart; then, for want OF something
better, no read over the entire code of the State
OF Florida. lie mentions that, several times in
after years, he found il necessary, in order to
save Time. to repeat to great lawyers the exact
words OF the Constitution of the lnited States,
but he regards ms much wiser he lIHbi! of mem
bers of the bar not to burden their memory with
those things which they have only 10 open n
book to Ind out. During. his sOJourn in
soGthern Florida, which lasted for some
years. Lieut.. SchOfcld was Frustrated with
Inalarial fever. and was still seriously i'll when
no received orders promoting him TO First Lieu q
tenant, and detailing him for duty ~ West
Point. lie came North with A, J.. Hill, after
wards Lieutcnant-GGncrRl In the Confederate
service; anu, having had n relapse, lie WAS
taken TO the house OF Hills father NJ CulunppeI'
Court House In Virginia. We are told that
he recovered rapidly under the benign influence
or u mint julep brought 10 his bedside every
morning by his host. When the lrcst was
well enough TO Journey. Schniicld and Hin went
loycther to West Point. where, in December,
ls5b, they parted, never to meet again. hen,
In the spring OF 1863. the tidinGs arrived from
virginia that pence VAS made, Their" came TO
Schoheld, then In North C1rolinH. the report that
Licut-Gen. A. l.. I'LL had been killed in The last
battle OF Petersburg. At West Point. Schoheld
VAS assigned TO duty in the Department of Phi,
! losophy. anu he had, he tells us, the great good