The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-06-16
MEXICAN WAR vETERANa
Twenty-Five Of The8 Are Still ON thu
Army Retired List.

Twenty-Five Of Then Are Still ON the
Army Retired List.
It II interesting to note that Of the
officers who took part in the Mexican
war there are still twenty-five on the
retired list Of the army at the present
time, says the New York Post OF this
number seven are 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. Il. Dana has the
honor of being the oldest graduate of
the Military Academy now on the re-
tired list having entered that inst-
tuition in 1888. He is followed by
Maj.-Gen. Thomas ]. Wood, who en-
tered in 1871; Brig. -GeEa James
Cakes and Marcus D. L. Simpson,
and Lieut.-Col. Henry D. Hender-
shot, who entered in 1872; Maj Gen.
Orlando B. Wilcox and Brig. Gen.
Horatio G.. Gibson, who began their
service in 1S43. All of these officers
served with credit In the Mexican war,
and received an advance In grade this
year for civil-war service, with the
exception Of Capt. Dana, who resigned
from the service in 1855 as a captain
in the quartermaster's department,
and who, through Congressional legis-
lation, was reappointed 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. He
also served throughout the civil war
in the volunteer service, receiving the
rank Of major-general.
Mat.-Gen. Lawrence P. Graham Is
the oldest officer in point Of service
on the rest1red list Of the army, hav-
ing been appointed a second lieutenant
in the Second Dragons, October 16,
1887, that is, no less than sixty-seven
years ago. He is closely followed by
Maj.-Gen. Daniel II. Rucker, who was
appointed q second lieutenant in the
First Dragons fifteen days later. Gen.
Rncker Is older in years than Gen.
Graham, having been born in 1911,
and the latter In 1916. Then follow
Lieut-Col Thomas J. Eckerson, who
was a private from 1888 until 1853,
when he was appointed military store
keeper Quartermaster, with the rank
Of captain; Maj. Gen. Robert Murray
and Brig. John b. Head, sur
geons, 1S46; Maj.-Gen. Richard q.
Drum, who was q private in the VOL
unteers In 1846, and who was appoint
ed a second lieutenant Of infantry in
1S47; Col. Edward Collins, who was
q private from 1916 to 1861, when he
was commissioned a first lieutenant of
infantry; Col. John Green, who was
private from 146 to 1855, when he
was appointed a second lieutenant In
the Second Dragons; Maj. William
Fletcher, who was q private in the
volunteers and regulars from 1916 I'M
til 1861, being appointed second
lieutenant Of infantry in that year,
Col. George B. Dandy, who was a
private in 1s47 and 1S4S, then a ca
Diet at West Point until 1852, again a
private from 1854 until 1857, when he
was appointed q second lieutenant of
artillery; Brig.-Gen. Elisha I. Baily,
surgeon, 1S47; Lieut.-Col. Albert B.
Kaufman, who was a private from
1S47 until 1858, being then appointed
captain Of volunteers and made a
first lieutenant Of cavalry in 1868;
Maj. John Miller, who was a private
in the volunteers and regulars from
1S47 until 1862, when he was commits
stoned a second lieutenant of infan.
try; Brig. Gems. John E. Summers and
John Campbell, surgeons, 1s48.
All of the officers were on duty dur
ing the Mexican war; Col. Kaufman
served sixteen years in the ranks be-
fore being commissioned. It is sci.
dom nowadays that an enlisted man
who succeeds in getting a commission
has aarvod over five voara in the