Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-05-18
A new COMMANDMENT.
kennebec Arsenal To Be Commanded
by Major D. N. Taylor.
MAJOR Butler Assigned TO Command the Re.
sponsibIe New York Arsenal.

Inc newspapers are ahead Of the
routine of the war department as the
journal learned upon visiting Major
Butler the commandant of the Ken
nebec arsenal. Wednesday. 1t was an
nounced from Washington by The AS
Soclated Press. Tuesday night, that
Major Butler of this arsenal. was to be
put in command of the New York ar
senal and Major Daniel NJ. Taylor was
to be transferred to the command of
the Kennebec arsenal. from duty at
the Springfield arsenal.
Major Butler said he had not been of
ficially notified Of the changes, and did
not expect his letter from the adjutant
general until Friday, but he had no
doubt about the authenticity of the
report. He said it was all brought
about by the death of General Flag
Ter, the commander of the ordnance
department. and by several subsequent
changes. This brought promotion and
transfers as a matter of course. In
some cases there are but one or two
transfers. but this one brings more.
II shall in a way be benefited by the
change" remarked the major, but
dislike greatly to leave Augusta and
the friends | have formed while here.
| have become to feel very much at
home in this city and in this arsenal.
and my family like very much. We
shall dislike to leave, but of course
We must go"
The command that Major Butler
goes to is that Of the ordnance de-
partment at Governors Island. and is
one of the most important of the de
partment Of the East. His Augusta
friends are offering their congratula-
tions. though it will bring the major
more cares than here at Augusta The
major according to the army register.
is we'll up in the list of majors, and
stands very near the head in seniority.
and it Will be no surprise when Au-
gusta friends learn of his promotion
1t requires several days and often
weeks for the changes to be made. and
it is likely to he a month or more be-
fore Major Butler and his family leave
Augusta.
Major Daniel NJ. Taylor, who is to
succeed Major Butler. is a graduate Of
West Point Military Academy, as is
Major Butler. He is a man about 50
years Of age, and has been in the
ordnance department since 1874. He
was born in Washington. D. c.. and
was sent to the military academy
from that place. entering the academy
in July, 1865, and graduating in June
1869. He was a once commissioned
second lieutenant and assigned TO duty
with the 1st Artillery stationed at
Fort Schuyler, n. Y, where he re-
mained until October, 1870. During
this time he conducted recruits from
the fort to Dakota. He was in the
garrison at Fort Hamilton, n. Y, from
October, 1870. to August. 1872. From
that date until January 10. 1876, he was
stationed at West Point. where he was
the assistant instructor in French.
and during a part of the time assistant
intructor in artillery tactics. His
promotion as a first lieutenant at
tached to the ordnance department,
came while he was in West Point, in
1874. From February. 1876. to August,
1873. he was assistant ordnance officer
at the Rock Island arsenal, III. He
was chief ordnance officer of the de-
partment of Missouri. and in command
Of the Fort Leavenworth Kansas
ordnance department from August.
1878. to October "a 1888. 1t was during
this time in 1881 there he was given the
commission Of captain.
During 1882 he was absent in Europe
on professional duty. He was an aide
de camp on the staff of Major General
Pope from June, 1881, being the as
sistant adjutant general, division Of
Pacific and department of California.
until March 16, 1856. He was then
placed on special duty in the adjutant
generals office at Washington, d. c.,
and was temporarily detached in the
office Of the secretary of war. At the
same time he was the recorder of the
| board of ordnance and Notifications
until 1891 when he was assigned for
duty at the national armory a Spring
| field. Mass. where he remained until
| 1895. He was in command at Augusta.
! Ca. arsenal from 1895 to 1898, when
he was returned to the National arm
| DRY. He was promoted to the rank Of
major. July :. 1895 He is married and
| has several daughters, one Of whom
| is married.