The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-01-26
MEXICAN WAR vgreaAna
Twenty-Five OF Thsn Are Still - IL,
Army Retired Let


Army Retired List.
II 10 interesting TO note that of the
officers who took part IN the Mexican
war there arc still twenty-five on the
retired list OF the army at the present
time. says the New York Post or this
number seven ars West Point gradu-
ates. and the other fifteen were either
appointed from civil life or served In
the ranks during that conflict and
later were given commissions.
Capt. Napoleon J. 4. Dana has the
honor OF being the Oldest graduate OF
the Military Academy now on the re-
tired list having entered that insti-
tuition In 1893 He is followed by
Maj.-Gen. Thomas j. Wood, who en-
tered In 1871; Brig. Gems. James
Cakes and Marcus ID. l.. Simpson.
and Lieur-col. Henry ID. Hender-
shott. who entered In 1872; Maj Gen.
Orlando Is. Wilcox and Brig Gen.
Horauo g. Gibson. who began their
service In lss3. All OF those officers
served with credit IN the Mexican war.
and received an advance In grade this
year for ciyil-war service. with the
exception OF Capt. Dana. who resigned
from the service IN 1855 as captain
In the quartermasfer's department.
and who. through Congressional legis-
iation. was resppointed an assistant
quartermaster with the rank OF cap
tain. August 2. 1894, Nine days later
he, was placed on the retired list. and
therefore does not receive any benefit
from the law passed this spring. lie
also served throughout the civil war
IN the volunteer service. receiving the
rank OF major general.
MAJ. Gen. Lawrence r. Graham is
the oldest officer in point OF service
on the restired list OF the army. hav-
Ing been appointed n second lieutenant
IN the Second Dragons. October H.
1897. that is. no less than siriy-seren
years ago. He Is closely followed by
MAJ.-Gcn. Daniel H. Rucker. who was
appointed a second lieutenant IN the
FIRST Dragons fifteen days later. Gen.
Rneker is older IN years than Gen
Grsham. having been born In 1911.
aud the latter In 1915. Then follow
Lieut-Col. Thomas ]. Eckerson. who
was q private from 1885 until 1858.
when he was appointed military store
keeper quartermaster. with the rank
OF captain: Maj.-Gen. Robert Murray
and Brig. Gen. John y. Head. sur
geons. 1876: Maj .-Gen. Richard 9.
Drum. who. was a private IN the vol
unteers In issa. and who was appoint
ed second lieutenant OF infantry in
IssT: Col. Edward Collins. who was
private from 1870 10 1851. when be
WAS commissioned nrst lieutenant OF
infantry: Col. John Green. who was
a private from $40 TO 1855. when he
was appointed second lieutenant IN
the Second Dragons: Maj. William
Fletcher. who WAS a private ia the
volunteers and regulars from 1910 I'M
III 1901. being appointed a second
lieutenant Of infantry in that year: /
Col. George u. Dandy. who was
private IN isf7 and 1915. then = ca
Diet 81 West Point Until 1852. again
private from 1854 until 1857. wheffs as
was appointed second lieutenant Of
artillery, Brir.-Gcn. Elisha /. Baily.
surgeon. 1877. Lieut-col. Albert b.
Kaufman. who was a private from
isss until 1868. being then appointed
a captain OF volunteers and made a
nrst rcutenan, OF cavalry IN 1906:
Maj. John Miller. who was a private
In the volunteers and regulars from
issT until 1862. when he was commits
stoned second lieutenant OF infan-
try: Brig. Gems. John L. Summers and
John Campbell, surgeons. isss.
All OF the officers were on duty dur
ING the Mexican war. Col. Kaufman
served sixteen years In the ranks be-
fore being commissioned. II Is sell
iom nowadays that an enlisted man
who succeeds In getting a commission
has served over eve years ia the
ranks.