Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-09-06
GEN. FORWOOD RETIRES.
Surgeon General Of the Army Reaches
Age Limit.
COL. 0'RlellY SUCCEEDS HIM.

Washington, D. c., Sept. 6.-After a
Ions and DISTINGUISHED military record,
covering a period of more than forty
years, Surgeon General William h.
Forwood of the army will be placed on
the retired list tomorrow by operation
of the age limit. General Forwood
succeeded to the head of the medical
department of the army three n
ago on the retirement of Brigadier
General Sternberg. He is a native of
Delaware and a graduate of the e
ical department of the University OF
PENNSYLVANIA. In 1861 he was appoint
ed a surgeon in the regular army, and
his service in the civil war was mark
ed not only by his skill and devotion to
his work, but by dash and %gallantry
that won the admiration of all those
with whom he served His c~oolnesss
under fire was remarkable. and it is
said of General Forwood that he ad-
ministered to the wounded when shot
and shell were falling around him with
as much skill as though he were be-
hind the walls Of a hospital.
At the battle of Gaines Mill, Va,
Lieutenant James F. McElhone was
shot down by the enemy outside the
union lines. DR.. Forwood saw him fall
and, marking the place by a huge tree
that stood near by, determined to
bring back his comrades body at the
first opportunity. When night came
the young surgeon, with two volun
teers, crept across the enemy's lines
past the pickets on guard and to thu
spot where McElhone fell. He was no
dead. as they supposed, but seriously
wounded, and with great difficulty ant
at the risk of capture they succeeded
in getting the suffering officer back t
camp. His recovery was slow and te
dious, but he was finally restored t
health, and lived many years to tel
the story of his dramatic rescue b,
Surgeon Forwood.
One of the most interesting incident
of General Forwood's career is hi
capture by Mosby's men. 1t happene
near HARDWOOD church, when Surgeo'
Forwood, with the regimental con
mander, Captain Cram, and two order
lies, was riding to General Burford'
quarters, a mile and a half distan
from their camp. On the way the
were suddenly surrounded by abou
thirty of Mosby's men. who seemed
spring up from the ground, and, wit
carbines cooked, compelled a surrel
der. since the little party of unionist
was not armed. The prisoners wer
conducted to a house some distance |
the woods, the headquarters of tn
guerillas evidently, and shortly afte
arriving there were released on parol
after being deprived of their horse
and equipment. and started back
their camp. Surgeon Forwood, HOY
ever, would not accept the parole, d
manding to be released according
his rights as a medical officer. ]
this demand his captors paid no attic
ton, and since he persisted in his 7
fusal to sign the parole, the young dc
tor was turned over to a guard, to
sent to some interior prison. The pr
oner was placed on foot, betwe'
mounted men in the front and re;
and in the middle of the night the pl
cession started out. In passing throu
a dense forest Of young pines Forwo
broke away from his captors and ma
a dash for liberty, and, despite the ia
that every effort was made to captu
him, succeeded in getting away un
jured by the fusillade of shots Il
were fired into the woods he travers'
To superb physical courage Gene
Forwood unites that higher quail
moral courage. He has never kno
the fear of contagiOn, but has expos
himself rather, and again and agi
has sought opportunities to study
scourges that have visited this co
try. When the epidemic of chol'
broke out at Fort Riley in 1868 he v
the only medical officer at the pc
and his untiring efforts and the 81
with which he confined the disease
a certain area viii always be REM
bered by those who served with /
during that terrible period.
The New Head.
Washington. ID. c., Sept. 6.-The I