The National tribune., 1900-12-06

trigues of his INSCRIPTIONS favorite, Man
uel de Godoy. Between the years 1902
and 1906 he advanced, in his private Ca
pacity, the Spanish Government nearly a
half million of dollars in money and pro-
visions, which debt was assumed by the
United States Government upon the ced-
ing of Florida by Spain, and up to this
time has never been paid.
While yet an infant, his parents re-
turned to Philadelphia, where most of his
youthful days were spent. When boy
he attended a school in Georgetown, ID c.,
at that time taught by Salmon 2. Chase,
afterwards Secretary of the Treasury I'M
der President Lincoln, and Chief-Justice
of the United States Supreme Court. The
parents had three sons, Richard WOrsam,
the subject of this sketch, and Robert.
The elder was educated for the navy,
which he entered in 1926; Robert became
a civil engineer while George eventually
destined for the Army, entered the Mill
tary Academy at Mount Airy, near Phila
delphia, and on Sept. j, 1881, was APP
pointed to the Academy at West Point.
He graduated with honor on July 1, 1885,
being number 10 in a class of &C. He
was at once appointed n Brevet Second
Lieutenant of the Sd Artillery, and at the
end of the year became full Second Lieu
tenant. He served with his regiment in
the Florida war against the Seminole In
dams, and is spoken of by his brother
officers as being at that time an intelli-
gent, polished and witty young officer.
On Oct. %, 1886, he resigned his COM
mission in the Army and retired from the
service, becoming a civil engineer in the
Government service. In 1878 he was
engaged under Capt. TalcOtt, of the Corps
of Engineers, upon an elaborate survey
and investigation of the delta of the Mis-
sissippi River, in which the facts elected
by some of his original experiments, many
-nF
of the law governing the formation of the
bars and shoals at the mouths of that
river, from which the most important con-
sequences have followed for the improve
ment of navigation. From 1893 to 1910
he was engaged in the survey of the Texas
boundary, and from then until 1912 in
the survey of the Northeast Boundary line
between the United States and Great
Britain.
While in the civil service of the Gov
eminent, on Dec. 81, 1910, he was mar
ried TO Margaretta Sergeant, daughter of
the Hon. John Sergeant, of Philadelphia.
by whom he had eight children. On the 18Th
estimable and honored citizens of Phila-
delphia, by whom he had eight children,
i've Of whom are now living. On the 18th
of May, 1872, he again entered the Army
as Second Lieutenant in the Corps of To
biographical Engineers. and in that capac
ity was continued on the Northeast bound
a. SUI hts anu llfIl Al the IlNtE anu udT-
Dor improvements until the breaking out
of the Mexican War in 1916. In this he
served as an officer of Engineers on the
staff of Gen. Taylor and Gen. Scott, and
was distinguished for his skill and intrep-
idity. He was engaged in the battles of
Palo Alto, Resaca de Ia Palma and Mon
terey, with Gen. TaylOrs army, and for
gallant conduct in these battles was bre-
vetted First Lieutenant. He was also en-
gagged at the siege of Vera Cruz from May
8 TO %, 1917. Upon the conclusion Of
peace and his return to Philadelphia he
was presented with a magnificent sword
by the citizens of that city. Subsequently
be was employed in supervising river and
harbor improvements and in lighthouses
ON the Delaware Bay, and he constructed
the iron screw pile lighthouse on Learys-
port reef, Florida. On August 4, 1851, he
was promoted First Lieutenant, and on
Nav 10. 1856, he was made Captain of
Typographical Engineers for IA years con-
tinuOus service. During the four years
preceding the Civil War he had charge
of the Geodetic Survey of the Great Lakes
in his conduct of which he added largely
10 his scientific and engineering reputation.
In these varied occupations he received
the training that fitted him for the great
part he was soon to fill.
EARLIER SERVICE IN CIVIL WAR.
At the breaking out of the rebellion Capt.
Meade was at Detroit, Mich, and was or
dered to report at Washington, ID. c.. On
August 81, 1861, he was appointed a Brig
adier-General of Volunteers and assigned
TO the command of the Second Brigade of
the Pa. Reserve Corps. then lying at Ten
nallytown, ID. G. No division in the army
was so splendidly differed as the Reserves
and with Mccall, Meade, Reynolds and
Ord to discipline and develop the fighting
qualities, it is not strange they should have
won a proud record during the war In
the Peninsular campaign under Mcclellan
he took part in the battle f Mechanicsville,
Gaines Mill and Glendale, in the latter of
which he was struck by a ball, which
caused a severe and painful wound. Re
turning TO the field as soon as the condition
of his wound would permit, he partici-
pated in the battle of Bull Run in Pope's
Army of Virginia, and on the assignment
of Gen. Reynolds to organize the Pennsyl-
vania Militia, on Sept. u, 1862, he sue
ceeded to the command of the Division of
Pa Reserves, which he conducted with
great skill and bravery during the Mary
land campaign, in which he took part in
the battles Of South Mountain and Ante