The National tribune., 1901-06-13
PERSONAL.

Past Commander-inC Chief John S.
Kountz has sustained n terrible bereave-
ment in the death from pneumonia of his
son, Capt. Fred. J. Kountz, who served
as Captain in the Spanish War, much
Of the time on the staff of Gen. Fred. D.
Grant. He was expecting an appoint
ment in the Regular Army. and was a
man Of the greatest promise.
The comrades can rejoice that another
veteran has by his own merits won his
way to high rank. Gen. Geo. B. Davis,
who has Just entered upon his duties as
Judge-Advocate-General of the United
States Army, is Massachusetts boy, who
volunteered in 1862 in the 1st Mass. Cav,
Co. L, and served with that splendid regi-
ment till the end of the war. He became
Sergeant in his company, then Quarter
master-Sergeant of the regiment, and was
discharged at the close of the rebellion as
q Second Lieutenant. He was in all the
fighting of the cavalry OF the Army of the
Potomac from the Wilderness to Ap-
pomattox- He was given an appointment
to the Military Academy, and graduated
with hOnOrs from there in 1871, and was
commissioned Il Second Lieutenant in the
9TH U. $. Cav, in which he served cred
iiaDIy aSdllst tne lHdldHS, untl fec;llIed
to West Point as Assistant Professor of
Spanish, French, Chemistry. MineraIogy
and Geology. He then took another tour
of duty with his regiment against the In
dians, but in 1883 was again recalled to
West Point as Assistant Professor of
History and Law. He was appointed to
the Ju6geAdvocate's Bureau, with the
rank of Major, in 1888. Since then he
has been constantly engaged in duties of
the most responsible kind. He was the
head of the bureau for the publication OF
the war records for some years, and has
conducted a number of very important
courts-martial. He was Recorder of the
Court of Inquiry into the beef scandals
of the Spanish War. In everything he
has demonstrated learning and abilities Of
the highest order, and his promotion to
Judge-Advocate-Ge General meets with the
entire approval of all who are familiar
with army matters. He is generally rec
ognized as an authority on all questions
of military Jurisprudence. Among the
standard works of which he is the authe:
are Military Laws Of the United States"
Elements of International Law" and
Military Law and Practice and Proceed
ings of Courts Martial"
Commander Taggart, of Ohio, has made
a fine start toward a successful admins
tration by appointing as his Assistant Ad-
jutant-General, Maj. Fl. A. Kasson, Of
Akron. Comrade Kasson is a bright,
capable man, and a most Jealous comrade
of the Grand Army.
Brighter. Frederick Funston has been
assigned to command of Fourth District
of the Department of Northern Luzon,
with headquarters at San Iriso.
Maj. Randolph Norwood, U. S. A, re-
tired, died at his home on the Blue Ridge,
near Hagerstown, Nd. May "a, aged II.
He went into the army as a Second Lieu
tenant in the 1st Nd. Cav, and was mus
tered out as a Captain. He then entered
the I'd U. S. Cav, became a Captain, was
breveted Major for gallantry in the In
dian wars, and retired in $50.
The veterans and the people generally
Of Vermont are in deep SORROW over the
Principal of the State Normal School at
Castieton. VT The funeral, which took
place June 7, was very largely attended
from all over the State. Castleton Post,
No. 10S, the W. r. c., Sons Of Veterans,
Normal School Guards, and other organ
izatiOns attended in body. The Buriing-
ton Free Press says of him:
But few soldiers Of the war of 1861
'66 were as fortunate as was Capt Abel
f.. Leavenworth, commander Co. K, 9th
VT, for after a continuous service of al
most three years, he had the great honor
to command the skirmish line Of the Union
army on its advance to the capture Of
Richmond, Va, April 3, 1865. In this
he was most ably assisted by First Lieut..
Joel G.. Baker, now of Rutland, and Sec
ond Lieut.. Bushnell Cowdrey, now of
Bradford, and about 300 men, mostly Yer
monters. This command led the Vermont
troops in the grand entry of the Confed
crate capital that morning. the story of
which is well known. Capt. Leavenworth
was after the capture of Richmond As
sistant Provost Marshal of the city. As
soldier in the ranks and as commits
stoned officer he was always true and
faithful in action, gallant and brave. and
at all times and places he was ready to
do his whole duty as patriotic soldier
serving in the defense of his country's
flag. As a teacher and a citizen of Yer
mont he will be greatly missed, and many
pupils will always bear him in fond re-