The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-12
Like a Romance
An American Soldiers
Career and Ills Exploits.

AdISSI dilu ItD LAptOiS'
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A special to the New York World says:
To be a d Artagnan once more instead Of
a mere millionaire. Major George Armes.
Is about 10 command an expedition to the
Trsnsva2l
Desperate achievement In battle nouT-
ished mis- youth and early manhood.
Official resurrection almost comparable 70
that Of Dreyfus tempered his moral fibre
as fire tempers steel. The resultant com
bination of qualities enabled him 10 q
mass wealth as successfully as ne had
received and given wounds.
But adventure claims him At the last
He is scanned and grzzled. He is al an
age when a million dollars might vel
lul man into inactivity. Still. the spir-
il OF this modern d'Artagnan leaps with
in him at the distant clash Of arms.
Major Armes denies that he will visit
the Transvaal as sort Of nineteenth CEN
fury freebooter, saying that United
States army officer who engaged in any
thing bur strictly commercial venture
in South Africa at this time would be
court-martialed.
perial policy?" he was asked by a sun
day World representative.
The Major smiled grimly. Two gen
erations back" said he my ancestors
dissented from 1t forcibly. I am still al
American"
II was gathered that the expedition i
backed by New York and Western cap
itahsts. and that the members OF the par
ty will sail thoroughly equipped for pro-
tecting themselves and for mining. Tho
trading company which Major Armes
will represent will probably pro-
ably provide that not the slightest
violation of the neutrality laws shall take
place The expedition will probably land
on Portuguese territory.
George A Armes was born in 1874 at
Anandale. Fairfax County.Va- At school
he was known as a leader and fighter
When Virginia seeded in 1850. Armes'
who was only sixteen. announced his in
tenton OF throwing his fortunes with the
Union, and set out for Washington.
one afternoon as he was standing IN
front Of the Kirkwood House. Secretary
Seward passed by. Armes asked to be ap-
pointed a messenger in the State De-
partment.
Young man. you are stranger to me-
said Seward. Go back 10 Virginia and
get some sort OF an Endorsement; II you
see anything going on let me know"
Armes returned to Fairfax Court House.
and Gov Thomas gave him letter OF rec
ommendation. Capt. Jackson added his
Endorsement. signing his name James W.
Jackson. and then in bold letters adding
''Secessionist''
Returning to Washington. Armes was
arrested on his way to Stewards house,
and taken to old Wizards Hall, where
Cassius NJ. Clay was drilling the famous
Home Guards. Clay asked him his bu-
siness Armes declined to state ii.
He was searched and when letter Of
recommendation was found on his person
with the names OF two prominent Secs
sionists signed 20 1t a rope was put a
round his neck.
'Now. will you state your errand here
young MANI" said Clay.
you may hang me or bayonet me- but
I shall tell my business 10 Secretary Sew
ard alone" said Armes.
He was turned over to Ward II. Lam
man. marshal Of the District. and taken
before Seward. who read his letters and
showed them afterward to- President Lin
coin, who laughed heartily over Jack
sons signature.
Seward learned from Armes that raid /
was intended that night by secessionists /
on the Capital All available troops were /
a dusk to the Chain Bridge. the /
Long Bridge and the wharves. Armes /
received his appointment.
As Stewards messenger. the boy was /
soon known to all the leading men Of the 4
dav. When the Union troops moved on 1
Alexandra he was granted three days alb (
sence from the department 10 accompany /
them.
His knowledge Of the country made him /
extremely valuable to the expedition. At .
Four Mile Run. Col. Wilcox placed a par +
~ Of a hundred men under MS guidance, /
their orders being to capture Capt Sail /
and his volunteer cavalry company. OF /
which Arrnes had been member
Wilcox sent along an additional hun (
bred men from the First Michigan I'M /
der Capt. Buttreworth. Under Armes' /
guidance they not only succeeded IN tax /
ing prisoner Capt Ball. but burned a /
bridge and captured a supply train which
was just preparing to pull out for Rich
mond.
Within a few days Armes induced Lieut.
c. II. Thompkins (since Gen Tompkins) 20 /
make raid on Fairfax Court House IN
der his guidance. While leading a squad
Of soldiers through the town Al O'Clock I
IN the morning he was shot from hts sad
die by a bullet which pierced his right
hrraSt.
When ne had recovered from his wound
ne led a party Of 30 Federal soldiers p
miles within tie Confederate lines and 1
brought them safely out after capturing
provisions and horses.
As a stout young Arr1ss accompanied
MeDoweTs army in the march on Rich
ro1d which ended IN tbs hattie % Bull
Run In the fight he was wounded In the
knee. On his recovery he requested 70 be
allowed TO accompany the Army % the
Potomac in the PENINSULA campai IN In
the fight AZ Williamsburg he was shot
through the groin. He went 70 Iowa 20
regain his shattered health.
HIS restless disposition would not allow
him 20 remain Idle IN the spring u ISL
he enlisted in the Sixteenth Virginia rex
.meat o. volunteers commanded By CD.
C.ose. who rec1mrssn-s5 him for com
n ssion IS second lieutenant
When ne -sporte5 A. washington Tor er-
animation he was singled out a. public
By President Lincoln Tor -
Decsa4 congratulati1u-
Secretary % War Stanton. n 1ssa. had
some important messages g transmit 70
Ger. Grant. Their at Fr>l-irksburz Va
he intrusied the task 70 Lieut. Ar-nes
and ordered him 20 repp-t 20 Cen Grant
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