The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-30
SHADOWS THAT FOLLOW WAR.
SIDNEY HERBERT WRITES OF HE
ROEs, HEARTS AND HOMES.

by CfviIinnS-NOt "A West Pointer I'm
the Last Batch of Promotions for
GaIInntry in the FioId-OId Fami-
liar Names working Themselves
Back Into the Regular Army-Gen.
Joe WheeIer's Great Grief in t.e
Loss of His Son.
Fort Mellon, Fla. Sept. 2S.-The last
batch of appointments of brigadier gem
erals by the President has created con-
siderable comment in army circles, al
though all of them were promoted for
gallantry on the field in the present war.
There is not a West Point graduate in
the lot, all having come into the regular
service from the ranks of volunteers in
the civil war, except Lieut.. Col. Charles
D. Velle of New York, who was appointed
from civil life in 1868, to a neutenancy in
First United States Infantry, and Lieut..
Col c. F. Humphrey of Kentucky, who
rose from a private in the regular army.
Daggett and Wherry were brevet brigadier
generals Of volunteers when the civil war
closed. Lieut. Col G. S. Car
penter of Ohio went into the
der and worked his way up to a commits
sion. Col. J. F. Weston of the subsist-
ance department is as Kentuckian, and
was In the cavalry of that state before
entering the regular service. Col John
H. Page of Delaware was first in the Hill
nois artillery. Lieut.. Col. John A. Patter-
son of New York was in the volunteer in
fantry Of that state.
Now these new appointments emphasize
the fact that in the present war the hon
ors have fallen largely to the civilian sol
diers. Gen. Miles and Gen. Shafter, and
Gen. Brooke and Gen. Merriam, and also
Adjt. Gen. Corbin. In fact, the majority
of general officers in This war were from
civil life, through the volunteer service or
from privates, originally in the regular
army. In nearly every instance, however,
these appointments have been given to
men who had made a good war record in
the field.
In correcting Wilson's article on Con-
federate generals l frankly stated that il
is very difficult to find out where the
survivors are, what they are doing or if
they are alive. Col Clifford w. Anderson
informs me that Gen. William Fitzhugh
Lee is dead. 1 had supposed that it was
his brother, Robert, who died few years
ago. Gen. Stephen d. Lee also writes
me that John r. Snead was in the North
ern army. l COMPOUNDED the name of
Abner Smead, in the Southern army, with
that Of John r. Smead which accounts
for the error.
Some old familiar names are getting
back into the regular army. Lieut. Joseph
Wheeler, Jr., and Lieut.. Fitzhugh Lee,
Jr., and Lieut.. Robert H. Anderson, Jr.,
are marked examples. A few years ago
there was a cadet at West Point named
David e. Twiggs, but he failed to grad
uate into the army, where he would have
carried name long distinguished in the
history of the United States army
L am gratified to see that my old COM
rade, Capt. Allyn Capron of the First
United States Artillery, has been accord
ed notable military funeral at Arlington
national cemetery. He was soldier
blunt, plain and heroic, a type not too nu-
merous. His revered father before him.
Capt Erastus A. Capron, of the same reg
iment, had fallen in battle in the Mexican
war, and in the first desperate fight at
Santiago, his noble son, Capt. Allyn X
Capron, fell at the head of his command.
But with his son dead on the field of bat
tie this brave soldier stood by his battery
in the hottest of the fight and did most
effective work. We who sit in our quiet
homes know little of the terrible scenes
of war. This stricken father did not fall
In battle like his heroic father and son.
but deadly disease laid its hand upon
him, and marked his doom. He came
home to his bereaved and heart-broken
little wife at Washington only TO die in
her fond arms. What a record three gen.
creations of captains dying in the service
of the country they loved.
Few people can understand the full
measure of fidelity that has marked the
recent military career of grand old Joe
Wheeler When he went to Tampa to take
command of the cavalry division he did
not locate himself at the Tampa Bay Ho-
tel, but put up his tent in the camp at
once, and not an hour of time was spent
in social pleasures. Al Santiago, in sick
oil -. - Ira.Nk r,N i
won victory where only defeat seemed at
one time possible. Back at Montauk Point,
in camp and hospital, he was the same
tireless and faithful worker And when
the terrible calamity, the drowning of his
idoliZed son, came upon him, he bore up
with the fortitude of a Christian martyr
at the stake. Buryiug his dead at the old
home in Alabama, he tarried not, but
hastened back to the living, who needed
his care, and resumed his duties as though
no dark cloud of sorrow and suffering had
crossed his pathway. In all this war
there Is no more pathetic scene amidst
the many terrible calamites that have
come on land and sea. Writing to me, his
bosom friend of years, Gen. Wheeler says:
mo one can possibly appreciate the
crushing and severity of the blow. AL
though my son was only 1712 years of age,
he was a strong, well-grown man. He was
good in all that word can imply, and had
SO lWHlSQ Himself dtOuilQ our tnaI
we all loved him with the tenderest devo-
ton Four of us, my daughter, my two
sons and myself were in the campaign,
and, although / had often thanked God
for letting us all come back, 1 fear l did
not feel as much gratitude as 1 should
for such a blessing; and l also fear / did
not feel the sympathy 1 should for others
who lost their dear one; but in the grief
1 now suffer I realize Il ALL"
In the heart and mind of this brave cd
hero stands foremost Gen. Robert E. Lees
sublime word, DUTY" 1t was this that
called Cen Wheeler into the service, made
him so faithful and efficient at Tampa, so
heroic and persistent at Santiago, and so
devoted to his comrades at Montauk
Point. No cloud of personal bereavement
can darken or obscure that word Duty
10 his clear vision. Sidney Herbert
-s-O-S
EDITOR MILLER SET RIGHT.
ASSERTS He Had Nothing to DO with