New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-27
MKINLEY'S WAR RECORD.
THE FIRST OF TEN SOLDIER-PREsI-
DENTS TO ISSUE CALL TO ARMS.
HIS EXECUTIVE ABILITY DEMONSTRATED AND
HIS PERSONAL COURAGE UNwAvERING
on THE FIELD OF BArTT.E-A
BRILLIANT RECORD.
rsr TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BuxEl

Mckinley is the first 10 call the Nation to arms
Nine men who had active military SER
vice have preceded him as Chief Executive OF
the Nation. several Of them serving two terms
Yet IT reserved for this man. who entered
the service Of the Nation a private soldier at
the age of seventeen. and rose step by step as
result Of active and gallant service upon the neId
Of battle, thus realizing the full meaning OF the
step to issue the first soldiers call to war
Washington. Jackson. Harrison. Taylor. Pierce
Grant. Hayes. Garfield, and Harrison. former
occupants Of the White House. were all MILL
tary men. oil Generals. yet not one Of them was
called upon TO assume the responsibility ana
duties which now devolve upon William
Mckinley. private soldier Sergeant. Lieutenant.
and, at the close OF his service, Major
Every war which has heretofore been entered
upon since the organization ~ the Govern
ment. begun under the administration Of a
man without military experience. whether II he
the war with the Barbsry States In 1903 and
again In 1919: the war Of 1912: the war with
Mexico. or tho war OF the Rebellion
| a PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE OF WAR.
| Possibly President McKinley's practical knowl
edge Of war and of the losses Of life and all the
sorrows which accompany H.. may have had
something to do with his Willingness anxiety.
! indeed-to bring the questions which have been
before him constantly since his inauguration 70
/ a peaceful solution n this he true, It was ne
cause ~ this practical knowledge ~ tho horrors
If war and the suferinGs It must bring. for
there is nothing in william McKney's personal
record in the field 20 show lack ~ courage or
hesitation before entering upon tho struggle
which must result in loss of He and endanger
all those participating II is Interesting AT ms
time and under these circumstances to recall
4 49, hietN M
of this soldier President. who now becomes the
Commander in chief Of tho Army and Navy nj
tho time when tho Nation is entering upon
actual hostiliies
/ It was in June 1861. AZ Poland. ohio. his boy
hood home. that. seyenteen-year-old boy. ne
volunteered and entered the Nations service as
a private soldier. The record OF his early mill
iary service is told by that earlier Ohio Presl-
dent General Rutherford Il. Hayes. who said
Of William Mckinley.
When I nrst made his acquaintance h" was a
hoy Just past the age 81 seventeen. he, WIN
; me- entered uuon now and strange liic-the
/ life Of a soldier in the time Of actual war II
was soon found that he had unusual character
/ FOR The business Of war. Young as he was. ""
/ soon found m him executive ability, and an un-
J usual and unsurpassed capacity. Whon ha'u's
I were - he fought or s'rNlc" i"ri"rn'I j" W
/ Ike things he always took his place. Tn" nicht
was never too dark the weather never TOO coln'
/ for prompt and efficient Performance ~ his duiy.
/ Whom I became commander or mo regiment II"
soon came to be upon my stan. ana l"afh"u
! to know him Ike book, ana love MN I'M
/ brother He naturally progressed. Tor ms la'u'
and capaclfy could not he unknown Inc blood
lest dav - Tho war tho day on which more men
were XII 81 and wounded than any other Gay OF
the September Il. ISL In me nat PAY,
of Antletarn. That battle began AT dayhgh'.
4 without breakfast without coffee. the men went
into the nsht and continued until AFTER IN"
sun went down Early in the afternoon Inrg
were famshed and thirsty The CommissaTy
j Department % the brigade was under Sergeant
/ Nick nley's administration. From ms hhnds
everv man IN tho regiment was served with not
canoe and warm meats. thing that has never
. occurred under similar CIRCUMSTANCES IN any
other army In the world He passed under hre
/ and delivered with hs own hands those th'neS
/ so essential for the men FOR whom he was Ia
/ boring
PROMPT ACTION IN EMERGENCY
When in later years Major McKinley's quail
1 tiles as "A manager ~ important undertakings
were called into question by somebody. the reply
was made ~ familiar record. a man who. be
fore he had attained the age Of twenty one. kept
m the supplies Tor the Army OF General crook.
in active service in the field. il not lacking In
business ability" That his action In emer-
gency and under great stress OF circumstances
IS prompt and wise IS shown hy an incident
occurring during Sheridans great battle AZ
Opequan CAPTAIN Mckinley. as aide -de-camp
on tho STAFF OF General Sheridan. brought yer
| bal message 10 General Duval. commanding inc
/ Second Division. TO move his command quickly
/ 10 a position to the right OF the sixth corps
the First Division having previously been or
! dered 10 that position General Duval on re-
ce,vjne the order asked. by what route shall
! ,nova nv cornmand?" captain Mckinley know
,rc M more about the country than did Gen
o,sl ruval and without definite orders replied.
81 ,ynuld move NJ this creek" 10 when DuNai
o,s,.crod. 81 viii not bulge without Definite
orders"
Cantain Mckinley replied: This is a time Of
great emergency. General order YOU pY ON
mand Of General Crook. 10 move your ~
' ,bis ra,ine 10 y position on the right ~ The
General DuvaI obeycd. and moved on the route
! indicated hv the young aide-d"- camp. attained
10 roeition charged the enemy and drove them
! in confusion from their works as m" result on
| the responsibility taken by Captain Mckinney III
| TINS critical moment
THE PRESIDENTS Personal COURAGE.
OF his personal courage in battle. historian.
writing Of the Battle Of Winchester July -
1864 says.
When II became necessary to fall back II was
discovered that one Of the regiments was sun
NJ tho point where il was posted at the begin
ming of the battle. General Hayes. turning 10
| IIoutenant Mex inlcy. directed him To- go and
| hiring away the regiment II 1t had not already
fallen back. Mckinley turned his horse and
kcenly spurred II, pushing at a fierce gallop
!
! look came over General Haycs's face az he saw
This gallant young boy push rapidly forward
In almost certain death. None Of us
| pectcd 10 see him again as he pushed his horse
| through the open fields over fences, over
bitches while well-drccted fire from the
! envy was poured upon him. with shells explod-
! ing around. about and over him. once he was
completely cnVclopcd in the smoke Of an ex-
plodlnc shell. and We thought he had gone down.
but out Of this smoke emerged his Wiry little
! brown horse with Mckinley still firmly seated.
ms erect hussar. He reached the regiment
and gave the order to fall back. The colonel in
reply said. II ready to go wherever you
shall lead. but. Lieutenant, believe ought 10
J give those fellows vollcy IT two before GO"