Evening star., 1901-06-28
FAMOUS WRITER AND ARTIST
JAMES z. TAYLoR's DEATH RECALLS
HIS ACHIEVEMENTS.
Was War Correspondent In Early
Sixties and Tainted '1The Last
Grand Review"

James E. Taylor. the famous cor
respondent and artist of the rebellion, who
died Saturday at his home in New York
city, was we'll known in Washington, where
he executed one of his most famous paint
inssr The Last Grand Review painted
for General Sherman, depicting the victori-
Gus Union troops wheeling into 18th street
from Pennsylvania avenue, May u, 1866
The plates of this picture We're stolen, and
copies of it were widely sold throughout
the United States and Europe. Mr.. Tay-
lor was sixty-one years of age, and a bach
elCr- His death resulted from a complica
tion of diseases. He was born in Cncin-
natl Ohio, and carly showed remarkable
skill with his pencil and brush. He was
educated at Notre Dame du Lac University
at South Bend, Ind, and upon graduating
from there painted a panorama of the
American revolution. At this time he was
only eighteen years of age, and his work
and perseverance attracted the attention of
the late Rev. Henry W. Bellows, ID, of
All Souls Church. New York. DIR. Bellows
advised the young man to go to New
York and study art, and offered to assist
him during his first wears course. The
offer was accepted. and the young artist
arrived at the great metropolis in 1860 de-
termined to make reputation for HIM
self, but the war fever seized him, and
lie eDlSteO with the ibtn New YORK NOlun-
teers of National Zouaves and went to the
front with them. He made good use of his
spare time, and prepared a number of
sketches of camp life and the stirring Incl
dents of the opening of the rebellion.
With Sheridan's Army.
After serving two years and reaching
the rank of sergeant, Taylor decided to
enlist again, but advised to apply for
position as war correspondent. The very
first man he went to-Frank Leslie-en-
gagged him, and published the sketches he
had made and assigned him to follow Sher-
idan's army. He remained with Gen. Sheri-
dan during his entire campaign in the
Shenandoah valley, witnessing all the prin-
cipal engagements and Little Phirs' ia
nous ride. With the close of the cam
paign in the valley, in December, 1864,
when the main body of Sheridan's army
departed to reinforce Grant at Petersburg
Taylor was ordered to Gen. Buffers front
on the James river, and remained there, to
picture his dusky friends and bluecoats,
until after the blowing out of the bulkhead
of the Dutch Gap canal, which incident
he constructed from a sketch he made of
the canal under fire when it was being
dug. After the explosion he went to Ma
tanzaS by steamer, and thence to Port
Royal, to again join Sheridan's army, then
about to leave Savannah on its march
through the Carolinas to menace Richmond
and aid Gen. Grant in its capture. He
made the journey or LOO miles on horse
back with the 17th Corps, and finally ar
rived at Richmond, after many exciting
incidents.
At the close of the rebellion he went
south to portray the negro and the Indian
for IeSlie'S. and continued with that maya
zine till 1888 He was the detailed artist
to the peace commission with the Indians
that held council at Medicine Lodge creek
in 1861, and was sent to Santo Domingo
with the annexation commission in 1870.
n a6 fnf I frc.fi on,
beard the frigate Tennessee, which vessel
was reported lost, as it was missing for a
week.
Mr. Tavlor retired about five years ago
and spent much of his time in travel. He
was buried Monday from his late residence,
14GO Lexington avenue, New York.