Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-09-24
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria easette.l
WASHINGTON, Sept. "a.

on the committee to investigate the
conduct Of the American-Spanish war
he could make no selection that would
receive more of the appreciation OF the
country than to appoint the hero OF Fort
Fisher, Col. William Lamb of Norfolk,
Va. l was in front of Fort Fisher"
continued the veteran, land went
through the shower of shot, shell and
musketry that rained from the we'll d.
rected guns on that fort to reach its
walls. have the scars on my body to-
day that bear silent witness of that
memorable charge. 1t has been my
pleasure since the war to form the &C.
ouaintance of Col. Lamb, and from his
high sodierly character | know that no
report, either good or bad, would re-
ceive his approval unless the facts sus-
tanned it. He would 'hew to the line
let the chips fall where they may"
1t is reported here that number of
eX. Union and eX-Confederate soldiers
have requested the President to invite
Col. Lamb to accept a position as a
member of the investigating commits
sion on the conduct of the American
Spanish war. Col. Lamb has been at
i the departments here in conference
with the chief officials.
Tue members of the commission ap-
pointed by the President to investigate
the commissary, quartermaster and
medical departments of the army call
ed at the White house this morning.
They were General Granville NJ. Dodge,
Colonel James a. Sexton, Captain Evan
p. Howell Colonel Charles A. DENLY,
| ex Governor James A. Beaver of Pa,
General Alexander Mcdowell McCook,
retired msjor-general Of the regular
army, ex Governor Urban A. Woodbury.
of Vermont, and General J. NJ. Wilson,
chief of engineers. 1t is expected that
the ninth member will be appointed
and ready for service when the work of
the commission begins. The commits
sion met this afternoon and organized
By electing General Dodge chairman
and Major Charles II. Mills, of the
army, recorder. Richard c. Weight
man, was, at the suggestion of the
president, chosen secretary. 1t has
not yet been determined whether or
not the sessions Of the commission shall
be held in secret.
The following appointments were
announced at the White House this
morning: Roswell X. Colcord, of Ne
vada, to be superintendent OF the mint
at Carson; Elery a. Wilson, of Rhode
Island, collector of customs at Provi,
dence, +. l.; Daniel II. Moody, OF
Maine, collector of customs at Wis.
casset. Maine; Commander Charles II.
Davis, to be captain in the navy.
Neither the State, War nor Navy
Department has any official informa-
lion regarding the report that the Ger
mans are preparing to send numerous
trading vesse to the Philippines, aud
that quietly something like 10000 ma
tives are to be armed to uphold Ger
man interests in the islands. The latest
advices from Admiral Dewey and Gen.
Otis indicated that they apprehended
no trouble from any source.
Camp Meade, in Pennsylvania, will
be abandoned. The bulk of the SOL
diers will 60 to Columbia, S. c., and it
is probable some will be transferred to
Huntsville and Admission, Ala. The of.
fcals say the climate is too severe at
Camp Meade to keep the troops there
in winter.
The following promotions were an
nounced at the War Department TO-
day To be Brigadier Generals of vol.
unteers for service in the Santiago cam
pain-Lieut.- Col. Charles B. dele, Col.
William NJ. Wherry, Col. John H..
Page, Lieut-Col. G. S. Carpenter,
Lieut. Col. J. II. Patterson, Lieut.. Col.
4. 3. Diggett, Lieut.-Col. &. F. Hum
phrey and Col. J. F. Weston. To be
Brigadier General on account of serv-
ices at Porto Rico-Col. Willis 81. Hui
ings.
DR.. ]. s. Conner, of Cincinnati, has
been appointed member OF the COM
mission to investigate the administra.
ton of the War Department.
The Weather Bureau says very
heavy storms are PREVALENT in
North Carolina, but they have no
reports of cyclone there ow
ing to the TACT that the wires are all
down. 1t is impossible, therefore, yet
awhile, to tell whether or not the tan.
merry OF the Messrs. Smoot of Alexan-
dria, at Wilkesboro in that State, re-
ported to have been destroyed by
storm, is true or not.
A large clog of wood cut from
the Tree under which General
Shafter and the Cuban Gener-
al met after the Santiago fight
is now on exhibition here. There was
no trouble in transporting such freight
here, but it was exceedingly difficult to
transport food and medicine to soldiers
in Cuba: and then too, as in the case of
the log at the army museum here, cut
down by 'rebel" bullets, under which
General Miles stood at the Bloody
Angle" though it is g we'll attested
fact that the tree was cut down by fed
eral bullets, Northern accounts Of war
must be picturesque.
It's now said here that the famous Col.
Roosevelt swore he was not citizen of
New York, in order to avoid paying the
tax on personal property, and that
when in Washington he swore he was
citizen of the District of Columbia. If
this be true, he is ineligible to the Office
of Governor of New York, for which
some of the republicans of that State
want to nominate him. But the old
standby republicans of that State still
say that Gov Black will receive the re-
publican nomination.
There is no doubt of the fact that
Sou hern republicans are not in high
tepute at republican headquarters
| here, where their congressional candi-
y I,e- ,,sl.
and denied any pecunisry assistance,
| -, IL.