The Irish standard., 1898-07-30


For nine years he served in Texas with
his regiment, and participated in sew
eral scouts against Indians. notably that
against the Kowas and Comanches un-
der Gen. Mckenzie in 1874. He was also
in the expedition that entered Mexico
from Fort Clark, Texas, under General
(then Lieut-Col.) Shatter, in 1876, when
it was momentarily expected that the
two republics would declare war
In 1878 his regiment was transferred
to the great lakes, and he served five
years at Fort Brady, Michigan, as post
commissary and quartermaster. The old
post, since abandoned, was very much
renovated and improved during his
regime. In 1884 the regiment was trans
ferred to Texas and New Mexico. He
took station in Fort Union in that ter
ritory, but in September of the same
year was promoted to be captain, and
Joined his company at Fort Bliss Texas.
In 1887 he was sent on recruiting
service, and spent year in Milwaukee
and another in Buffalo on this duty. In
October, 1889, he returned to Fort Union,
New Mexico, where his company was
stationed, and was afterwards trans
ferred to Fort Wingate, New Mexico.
In January, 1894, he was appointed
military instructor at St. Xaviers col
lege, New York city, where he remained
ho lot NJ T1o1,
ruary.
At the time he was relieved from this
duty Capt. Drum was seriously consid-
ering the advisability of retiring from
active service, as he might have done
with the consent of the president, hav-
ing served more than 80 years in the
army, but the outbreak of hostilties with
Spain put an end to this notion. He
Immediately Joined his company at
Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and went with his
regiment first to Mobile, thence to
Tampa, and finally on the, to him, fatal
expedition against Santiago,
Capt. Drum was a thorough soldier,
and in love with his profession. He was
especially successful as a drillmaster
and as a disciplinarian. Gen. Chaffee,
who at present commands one Of the
brigades in Skaters army, about six
years ago when he was inspector gen.
eral of the department of Arizona, stated
in an official report that Capt. Drums
company of the 10th infantry was the
best disciplined and best drilled that he
had ever inspected. His great influence
over his men was due to the fact that
he was always watchful Of their inter-
ests, particularly in the matter of food
On this account they loved him, and
were willing to work hard to perfect
themselves in their duties as soldiers.
He was a powerfully built man, about
5 feet inches tall, with broad, square
shoulders and deep chest. He had a
remarkable voice. one that could easily
be heard above the din of battle. In
fact, he was known among the Navajoe
Indians who were enlisted as regular
troopers at Fort Wingate, N. NJ, as
Thunder Voice."
Capt. Drum was we'll read man, and
a deep student of history. His wide ex-
perience throughout tho West had en-
riched him with fund of anecdotes,
which he told in such happy manner
as to make him a very pleasant conver-
sationalist.
He was member of the California
commandery Of the Loyal Legion, and
the Catholic Club, Of New York, and an
honorary member of the Mackenzie
garrison of the Regular Army and Navy
Division at Fort Wingate, New Mexico,
being the only commissioned officer
elected to such membership by the SOL
diers of this garrison.
Capt. Drum was well known in Bos-
and at present reside. He was married
in San Francisco, Feb. "a, 1868, to Mar
garet Desmond, a Boston girl, who,
with six children, survive him. The eld-
est, John D., is a graduate of Boston col
lego and of the Boston University law
school He is at present practicing law
in this city. The second son, Walter F.,
also a graduate of Boston college, is a
member of the Society of Jesus, and an
instructor at Georgetown college, Wash
ington, D. G.. The third son, Joseph c.,
another graduate of Boston college, is
an instructor at his alma mater. The
fourth son, Alphonsus L., graduate Of
the Massachusetts Institute of Technol.
ogy, is general manager of the munich
pal gas and electric plant in Middleboro,
Mass. The fifth son, Hugh A., is student
at Boston college. His only daughter,
Mary c., who is a graduate of Notre
Damc academy on Berkeley street, and
Of the Boston Normal school, is living
with her mother and brothers in Bos-
ton.
In the days when Capt. Drum first
entered the regular army, there were
few Catholics among the commissioned
officers. For many years he was the
only one in his regiment who professed
to be a Catholic. In spite of the many
temptations to become Indifferent, he
remained faithful and won the respect