New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-09-14
THE t'..f'';>> PRESIDENTS CAREER
WILLIAM WK1NLEY THE BEST REPRESENTA- TIVE OF THE
POSSIBILITIES OF AMERICAN LIFE.



marching toward the front. Every village and
hamlet sent its quota. Poland was not behind
the rest. In June. 1851. mass meeting was held
at which some stirring speeches were made
and at its close a company was enlisted Gen.
eral Fremont inspected and mustered in the re-
cruits- He examined young Mckinley. pounded
his chest, looked into his eyes, and said You'll
do That was perhaps the prOudest moment
the boy had yet known. TO be thus treated by
the famous Pathfinder of whose adventures
he had read with so much zest. The company
was made Company of the I'D Ohio Regi-
ment of which William s. Rosecrans was colo
mel, Stanley Matthews Northumberland and
Rutherford B. Hayes major
For fourteen months Mckinley carried a mus
ket in the ranks. He good soldier INTEL
ligently obedient to his superior officers and
genial and generous TO his comrades There was
no more popular man in the regiment and no
harder fighter Nor there any lack of fight
ing to do. Six weeks after it left Columbus
the regiment had its baptism of fire at Carnifex
Ferry. Then it had to chase the rebel raiders
back and forth across the mountain ranges WAS
drenched by incessant rains and was almost
famished at times for lack of food. The young
men from Poland thus had their fighting Oualt
ties put to hard test But they stood it admit
rably. The regiment was soon ordered to Wash
ington. and was there made part of the Army Of
tns fOlOnnac, or which Mcclellan COM
mander. Then came AnJietam in which con-
hict the soldier boy bore himself with a veter-
ans valor, and at the end left the ranks with a
lieutenant's commission. Never was there a
more popular promotion in the Fighting Twen-
ty-third," and never one more fully deserved or
more modestly borne. II always look back with
pleasure on those fourteen months I served in
the ranks" said Mr.. Mckinley not very long
ago. They taught great deal l was but
a schoolbOy when l went into the army. and
that year a formative period in nv life
during which learned much of men and affairs.
have always been glad that 1 entered the SER
vice as private
After Antietam came active and rapid work
in the West Virginia mountains. and then a
quick march into Pennsylvania and back again
One day the regiment had breakfast in Penn
sylvania. dinner in Maryland and supper in Vir-
ginia. period of rest followed from Novern-
Der, 1862. 10 July. 1869. Indeed. there is no
record of a serious engagement until April
1864. when General Crook made a raid upon the
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. Battles were
fought and victories won at Clyde Mountain and
at New Bridge. In June the regiment Joined
General Hunters command and suffered & re-
pulse at Lynchburg. In July came the battle of
Kernstown. Winchester. in which the
Union forces were also repulsed after a hard
struggle. During this battle Mckinley made
himself conspicuous by his daring execution of
an order. One of the regiments was posted in
orchard far in front. When the rest of the
army was compelled TO fall back 1t was left
there unsupported. apparently forgotten by the
commanding officer. Finally General Hayes.
discovering the oversight. directed Mckinley to
carry an order to the unfortunate regiment TO
retreat 1t seemed certain death to go, but the
young soldier started his errand without a
|
pected 10 him alive again. but in short
time he returned safe and sound with his errand
accomplished. .
Another striking incident occurred in the hat
tie at Opequan. near Winchester. in September.
1864. when Mckinley was a member of General
Sherdan's staff. Mckinley was sent with a
verbal order to General DuvaI. directing him TO
move his command quickly to another position
General Duval. on receiving the order, not
knowing the lay of the land, asked Mckinley,
( by what route shall 1 co. Mckinley knew
little more of the country than did Duval but
he had been observing keenly all day and he
, unhesitatiugIy replied. L would go along this
! creek" DuvaI hestated and finally said, 4
will not go at all without positive orders as 10
! the route Then Mckinley. knowing that the
/ fate of the battle was perhaps trembling in the
/ balance. said peremptoriIy; General this IS a
/ case of great emergency l order you. by com
mand of General Crook. to move your command
! Immediately along this creek to position on
the right of the army" Duval obeyed, and eN-
/ ecuted the manpuvre in safety. In short
time he had his division in place. charged the
enemy and drove them from their works the
movement was a brilliant success, thanks 10
McKinley's judgment and decision The young
soldier also distinguished himself az winchester
. and other engagements in that campaign
For gallant and meritorious service at the
battles of Opequan Cedar Greek and Fishers
HILL" reads McKinley's commission as mayor
and the document is signed, a. Lincoln he
had been made second lieutenant in September
1862, at nineteen years of age; first lieutenant
just after his twentieth birthday, in Feoruary'
1868. and captain in July. 1864 After Cedar
Creek he saw little more fighting; but ne re
, manned with his regiment until the end OF tne
war and was hOnorably mustered out Win II
on July % 1S6j-Major Mckinley, -FOUR years
! veteran, twenty-five years of age.