The record-union., 1898-05-29

| quarters at Fort Leavenworth, and
! subsequently at ST. Louis. many So
called experts in military matters
! thought it hardly fair to bestow SO
great an honor-to shower the golden
stars of war-on the youngest Brigadief
General Immediately following his pro-
/ motion. :.
General Merritt's military career, in
! closely contested engagements, in great
and hazardous campaigns, was always
/ that of a soldier and hero. He was
! graduated from West Point July i,
/ 1860, just before the rebellion, and
! reached a Captaincy in the Second CAY
| airy April ), 1862. and was Brigadier
| of volunteers June %, 1868
A SOLDIER AND HERO.
/ In the Army of the Potomac. on the
staff of General Cooke, and later with
General Stoneman, in his famous raid
toward Richmond he won renown. In
command of cavalry he crossed the
/ Rappahannovl and surprised the enc
my, but for hours was nearly surround
| ed and once on the point of being cap
tured A Confederate officer gave him
! a savage saber cut on the head, but
he continued fighting gallantly. leading
his men and winning an amazing VIC
tory. 1t was for this bravery that Cen
/ eral Buford complimented him. follow
/ ing it by recommending his promotion.
Later. General Merritt succeeded Gen.
eral Buford in command of cavalry.
operating in Central Virginia. He was
/ in the Richmond campaign in 1S64.
fighting with Sheridan at the head with
/ his columns in his historic ads through
! the valleys always closing in on the
armies of the dying Confederacy. His
division (the FirsD composed of sew
enteen regiments of cavalry. embracing
General Clusters command, won him
honor for the mastery celebrity in which
he drove Early and his troops whirling
through Winchester.
Merritt's next brilliant achievement
was at Cedarville, on the Shenandoah
This was followed by his glorious vic
i tory at the battle of Cedar Creek
where. without infantry support he
made incessant cavalry charges-tre-
mendous, Overwhelming. The enemy
could not survive his assaults of tornado
impetuosity. With Sheridan Merritt
displayed a distinguished part in fore
| ing the surrender of Lee. On that
memorable occasion, so graphically de-
scribed by Grant and Sheridan. General
Merritt was appointed one of the three
commissioners to carry out the terms of
| the treaty.
And now in a new and globe encir-
cling war this brave. sagacious and
competent man of the people, who in
his turn was farmers boy. typesetter
publisher, editor, lawyer, cadet, soldier,
and then a victorious and always con-
| of
the war. is again wanted at the front.
Those who know him best agree that he
has a judicial temperament and is en-
inently fitted for action in civil or mill
itary affairs requiring wisdom and jus
| tice. In appearance Merritt looks
much like a distinguished Judge.
1t is a singular commentary on the
fortunes of war and public life that in
the Army of the Shenandoah was
modest, fearless Major known as Nc
Kinley He is now President of the
United States and has appointed 'the
General" to carry peace and reform to
! the Philippine Islands. General Mer-
ritt's friends say he is a man fully
equipped for the great mission. On his
return from Washington he remarked:
| II always liked Mckinley. I knew him
in the war, and when 1 met him in the
! White House yesterday / was pro-
foundly impressed-most favorably i'm
pressed-with all his views of what is
most needed to establish good govern
ment in the Philippines The President
is a fair minded, honest man, and it is
| a pleasure to serve under him in an en-
terprise of so vast Importance to our
country and the world
HIS MILITARY HISTORY.
Wesley Merritt began is cadet life
at West Point on July /, 1880. Five
years later he became brevet Second
Lieutenant of Dragons, United States
army, and was appointed to frontier
| duty at Fort Crittendon, Utah, on jan
uary 2S, 1861.
May 13, 1S61-First Lieutenant, Sec
| ond Dragons.
June 9th to August Sth-Assistant
Adjutant General of Utah forces.
July /, 1861, to January 1, 1S62-Ad
jutant of Second Cavalry.
October l, 1861, to March, 1S62-In
defense of Washington.
February to September, 1S62-Aide-
/ de-camp to Brigadier General Cooke,
| commanding cavalry of army of Po
| tomac headquarters of defenses of
! Washington.
I April ;, 1S62-PromOted Captain, Sec
ond Cavalry.
September, 1862. to February. 1868
| In department of Washington
| February l, 1866, and on July 2Sth-
| Mustered out of volunteer service;
made Lieutenant Colonel of Ninth Cav
airy.
October, 1866, to February, 1S67-On
inspection duty at headquarters of de-
! partment of Gulf.
February, 1S61-In command of regi-
ment at New Orleans
April, 1867, to September 3, 1S69-On
! frontier duty at San Antonio and Fort
! Davis, Texas.
! To December, 1S70-Member of Gen
eral Tactics Board at ST. Louis.
April, 1872, to May Is. 1S74-Com-
manding regiment at Fort Stockton, at
| Fort Clark and Fort Concho. Texas.
To June %. 1ST6-Inspector of Cav
airy at headquarters of division of the
| Missouri.
| July, 1S76-On frontier duty, in COM
mand of regiment. scouting in Wyom-
| ing: also participating in the action of
Indian Creek.
| July 1, 1ST6-Colonel of Fifth Cavalry
Big Horn and Yellowstone expeditions
| and battles.
November II, 1876. to May %, 1873
! Commanding at Fort D. A Russell,
| Wyoming.
To October, 1S7S-Scouting for In
! dians
| To February is, 1SI6-On Reno court
of inquiry at Chicago: the Custer mas