The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-07-09
The Brilliant Career of Mai. Gen.
Wesley Merritt.
GONE TO PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
Gallant and Meritorious Services
at Gettysburg.
DREW SHERIDAN'S ATTENTION.
Splendid Cavalry Charge Against
the Cheyennes.

Tue lHeyellneS.
No American soldier ever won his
spurs more bravely than did Wesley
Merritt, now major-gcneral of the
United States army, military governor
of the Philippine islands, and at present
in command of the troops that recently
left San Francisco. A fearless fighter,
a dashing cavalry leader an efficient
department commander, and military
tactician of extraordinary ability, he
has by virtue of gallant deeds performed,
engraved his name on his country's
honor roll for all time. Side by side
with Sheridan he fought in the civil
war, and that famous soldier was proud
to claim Wesley Merritt as his friend.
1t was due to Gen. Sheridans recon-
mendation that the younger soldier was
a brevet major-general at the age Of 2S
years.
Few military records made during the
war of the rebellion show such a rapid
succession of promotions for gallant
and meritorious conduct" as does that
Of Gen. Merritt. Bervetted major
for bravery on the field of Gettysburg,
he was made lieutenant colonel by
bervet a year later for efficient SER
vices at the battle of Yellow Tavern;
bervet colonel on May 2S, 1864, just
after the battle of Hawes shop, Vir-
ginia, and brevet major general Of
volunteers on Oct. 10, 1864, in recogni-
ton of daring achievements at Winches-
ter and Fishers Hill, Va. After the
battle of Five Forks he was brevetted
brigadier-general of the regular
army, and at the close of the campaign
which terminated with the surrender
of Gen. Lee at AppomattoX he was
made brevet major-general Of the
United States army. Gen. Merritt's
career during the civil war was one of
ceaseless and useful activity.
Wesley Merritt was born in the city
of New York, at 81 North Moore street,
on Dec. /, 1885, His father, John Will
lis Merritt, was a practicing lawyer at
that time, but four years later, finding
the law not sufficiently remunerative to
supply the increasing needs Of a large
family, he gave up his practice and
bought farm in Illinois near a small
place called Belleville. Unlike most
distinguished soldiers, Wesley Merritt
is unable to recall any boysh dreams of
a military career Until he was Is
years old he had nc idea of being SOL
dier, his train of thought up to that
period having been mainly in the dircc-
tion of the law. Although obliged to do
more or less work on the farm during
his boyhood, his father required him to
take advantage of all Of the educational
opportunities that that section of the
country afforded. Though not Catho-
lie he attended the Catholic school until
he went to West Point. The elder Mer-
ritt was man of education and literary
instincts, and he conscientiously de-
voted as much of his time as he could
spare to the mental training of his
sons, of whom there were eight After
the family had become comfortably set
tied in Belleville and the boys had
shown themselves capable of running
the farm, Mr.. Merritt started local
daily newspaper, which he subsequently
supplemented by weekly paper loca-
ted in another town. Both publications
were Democratic in politics Wesley
newspaper work, and within a short
time relieved his father of much of the
detail. He took turns with his broth
ers in looking after the business office,
and at the same time he acquired con-
siderable skill as printer. When about
16 years Of age Wesley began the
study of law. He secured the privilege
of reading in the law Office of Judge
Haynie in Salem, and he was congratu-
lating himself upon his advantageous
start in his chosen profession when his
father broached the subject of his going
to West Point.
A military career was not to young
Merritt's taste at that time, but in COM
pliance with his fathers wishes he con-
sented to accept the opportunity to ELI
ter West Point which was offered him
by the congressman from the Belleville
district. His five years experience as
a cadet in the military academy was
neventful-except that he belonged TO
the first and last fve-year class at West
Point He was graduated July 1, 1860,
and was assigned to the dragons.
After serving for a short period at Fort
Crittenden, Utah. he was promoted, on
May 13, 1861, to second lieutenancy,
and soon afterWard he became the ad-