The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-23

Williams The famous Lafayette
Post, G. A. r., Of New York city has
recently unveiled a handsome memorial
tablet at the United States Naval Acad-
envy in honor of the late Rear Admiral
Richard w. Meade, U. S. N, a member
in life of that post. And yet it is very
seldom that the G. A. R. or the U. c. "
honors the naval branch of the service
Just before his death movement was
started to elect Admiral Meade as Com
mander in Chief of the G. A. r., no naval
officer ever having filled any high office
in that organization or in the U. G. v.
Only last year, l think was the custom
inaugurated of strewing flowers upon the
ocean waves in memory of naval heroes
dead.
I had supposed that George p Harri-
son, Jr., old Savannah boy, colonel
of the Thirty-second Georgia Infantry
and hero of the battle of Olustee, Fla,
was the youngest Confederate brigadier
general, but North Carolina now claims
that honor for William p Roberts,
colonel of the Fifth North Carolina Cav
airy. The same state also claims in
Robert F. Hoke of the Seaboard Air Line
Railway the youngest Confederate major
general. Capt. King, U. S. A."
is the way some newspapers report the
Mobile case, which does injustice to the
teer, as were most of the officers in the
Philippines, who were also guilty of
frauds. There is a vast difference be-
tween u. s. A. and u. S. ", and yet it
is hard to make newspaper writer's I'M
derstand this. A Georgia paper tells of
young lady who has been visiting her
brother, Capt. -, u. S. A." when, in
fact, he Is only an assistant surgeon OF
volunteers on contract service Such err
rOrS re- Of daily occurrence
Mai. Gen. Oliver o. Howard, U. S. A,
(retired) is giving some very interesting
sketches of his early career as a SOL
der. He came from Maine to West
Point In 1850, a green, awkward country
boy, and this is what he says about
Transforming a Monkey into a Mani at
the Military Academy: "One day my
corporal with despair in his voice, cried
out: Why don't you stand up like a
man and not look so much like mon
keyr How 1 bore all this without re-
sistance l can hardly tell; perhaps it was
because l had made to. my good mother,
before l left home peculiar promise
which l was trying to keep; though un-
der this promise couldn't fight, l would
have sold myself about that time for a
sixpence. Perhaps in my awkwardness
l could not have brought even that price
Now when 1 hear the words 'braced up or
'bracing up applied to cadets hazing
/ always think of the corporal and myself
when he was trying to transform mon
key into a man."
Confederate generals have been highly
honored as members of the board of visi-
tors to West Point Military Academy. In
1886, Gen. Frank Il. Nichols was Dresi-
dent, and Gen. George Il. Cosby. secre-
tary of the board, and Gen. Randall l..
Gibson, member. In 1879 Gen. John b.
Gordon and Gen. Robert II. Anderson
served, and In 1881 Gen. Phil Cook and
Gen. Alfred M. Scales. At other times
Gen. S. Il. Buckner (president of the
board). Gen. John I. Morgan. Gen JOS
eph Wheeler, Gen. Robert II. Anderson,
Gen. Edward A. oNeal, Gen. Samuel b.
Maxey, Gen. Fitzhugh Lee and Gen.
Daniel Ruggles Ga Northern NAM were
on the board. And more than this the
sons of Confederate generals, many
through West Point and others from civil
life. have been given commissions in the
regular army. l might mention CARING
ton. Anderson, Wright, Robertson, Ha-
good. Butler Cheatham, Clayton, Lee,
Wheeler, Longstreet and others. And
yet. in the West Point register of 1877,
this rule for admission of cadets is print
ed: mo person who has served in any
capacity In the military or naval service
OF the so-called Confederate states. can
be appointed" This. therefore. is one in
stance In which the sin CD Of the father
Is not visited upon the son.
The death OF my old associate, ex-Gov.
Richard Mccormick OF New York, takes
from a long and useful career in public
life. once bright young journalist. born
the same year ] was dS32). and for a few
years my companion In literary work. He
weut into the Civil War as a war cor
responient-one Df the beat--and was
with me IN che battles OF Backburns
Ford and Bull Run. where he showed a
courage that won him high commentator
in army circles. The was over. ne was
appointed Ooyernor 81 Arizona, and later
aaaistan4 Secretary OF tho United States