The National tribune., 1904-05-05

Last OF the Adjutant-Generals of the ARMY
OF the Potomac and Chief Staf Under
Hooker and Meade Dies at Last Of His
Wounds.
The three bullets that he has car
ried in his body ever since GETTYSBURG.
Williamsburg and Fair Oaks, in each of
which battles he was badly wounded, final
ly caused the death of Brig-Gen. Joseph
Dickinson, April rs, at his home in this
city. He was the last of the Adjutant-
Generals of the Army of the Potomac, and
when his soul left the poor, old, wornout
body, there died one whose career was as
brilliant as was developed during the war
OF the rebellion. For 20 years Gen. Dick
inson had been an Examiner in the Pen
sion Office. During his later years he
had many high hOnors heaped upon him,
but he always considered that the very
highest honor that could come to him came
when he served as Chief of Staff under
Gen. Hooker and Gen. Meade, Commanders
of the Army of the Potomac.
Gen. Dickinson was native of Pennsyl-
vanla. where he was born in 1880. He
came of Revolutionary stock, and his an
cestOrs were also in the War of 1872 Nine
members of his family served in the war of
the rebellion. 1t was he who blew the
bugle which assembled the 26th Pa, the
troops which came to Washington with the
9th Mass, and had such memorable pas
sage through Baltimore.
On Aug. 22, 1861, President Lincoln
made him Captain and Assistant Adiutant-
General United States Volunteers Then
began a record in the Adjutant- Generals
Department in the field which is probably
without parallel. Having entered the sery-
ice as Adjutant of his regiment, he arose
to be Adjutant-Gen of Brigade, Divi-
sion, Corps, Grand Division. and of the
Army of the Potomac. His promotions
which followed were to Major and Assist
ant djutant-General, Aug. %, 1862 Lieu.
tenant Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-
General, Nov. 10, 1862. He was breyetted
Lieutenant-C Colonel, Colonel, and Brigadier-
General for gallantary and meritorious
service at Williamsburg. Antetam. and
Gettysburg, respectively. He was assigned
as Assistant Adjueant-General and Chief of
Staff on the staff of Gen. Joseph Hooker,
on Aug. %, 1861. and when that General
took command of the Army of the Potomac,
he desired to make Dickinson his Adjutant-
General. with the rank of Brigadier-Gen
| eral, but he declined for the reason that it
would have kept him in camp when Gen.
Hooker was on the field of battle Upon
the retirement of Gen. Hooker from the
| command of the army and the succession
of Gen. Meade, at urgent personal solici-
tation of the latter, Gen. Dickinson rema in
ed on the staff.
In the Fall of 1863, being incapacitated
by wounds for service in the field, he was
assigned to inspection duty at Washington,
and resigned Jan. "A, 1864, on account of
wounds, being hOnorably mustered out.
One of the most daring exploits of his
service occurred at charlottesville Dur
ing the battle there he. at great risk to life
and of being captured, rescued IS women
and children from the burning Chancellor
house, which was destroyed by the burst
ing of shells.
For several years Gen. Dickinson suf-
fered from rheumatism, and about three
months ago he was seized with an attack
of rheumatic govt that forced him to take
to his bed. The disease resulted from the
wounds he had received in battle. The
right side and hand through the wrist of
which a chain was blown in the battle of
Gettysburg, grew stiff and atrophied. His
heart action became weakened by the dis