Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-22
Origin of His Illness.


Gen. Estes, who was in his sixty-first
year, is understood to have contracted a
cold while returning from the annual BAN
quet and reunion of the Department of the
Potomac. G. A. R., on the evening of Feb
ruary s. The cold developed into pneumo-
MIA with the fatal result stated. On that
occasion he was elected senior vice COM
mander of the department, and had he liv-
ed until next year he would doubtless have
succeeded to the commandership.
Gen. Estes is said to have had a premo-
milton of his approaching dissolution soon
after the encampment. While referring to
the death of a Grand Army comrade he Is
reported to have said:
1.-THE comrades are fast going away. Per-
haps | will be the next
Gloom settled over the weekly meeting
of the department last night when the an
nouncement of Gen. Estes death was made,
and steps were al once taken to arrange
for the funeral, with Adjutant General AL
bert Scott of the Medal of Honor Legion in
charge. The obsequies will be held tomor-
row and the burial will be with full mill
tary honors at historic Arlington.
Record of His Affiliations.
Besides being senior vice commander of
the Department of the Potomac, General
Estes commander of the Medal of
Honor Legion. president of the Cavalry AS
ISOLATION of the Armies of the United States
and vice president of the Society of the
Army of the Potomac. In business he
the manager of the local affairs of the
American Herb Company, with offices at 18th
and G streets northwest He is survived by
his widow, who was Miss Whiting of New
York, and by two children, l.. Whiting
Estes. also in the drug business in the city,
and Mrs. Robert Parker.
President Roosevelt Is reported to have
said that he would rather have Gen. Estes
war record than be President of the United
States. 1t is stated that by heroism and
Oh s1n hn%E
from private in Maine regiment to be
brevet brigadier general in the civil war
before he was twenty-one years of age.
Such record has made him a prominent
figure ever since. and President Roosevelt
but crystalliZed into words the general re-
gard and esteem in which his record has
been held since the war. In that record
the suffering of five wounds and participa-
ton in 12l engagements, the capture once
of his own captorS and the saving of
burning bridge for the Union troops stand
out as the most conspicuous of his exploits.
Native of Maine.
He was born in Maine and lived there
until he enlisted for the civil war. His
capture of his captors in May, 1863, was his
first feat to attract attention. At this
time he had risen to a position on the staff
of Maj. Gen. Fitzpatrick with whom he
served until the war was over. He was
later to become chief of staff and assistant
adjutant general. He was taking a mes
sage from his commanding general to Gen.
Hooker when he was captured. His guard
started with him for Richmond, but while
they slept he gave the signal to his fellow
prisoners, and, turning the tables on them
started the march in the opposite direction.
At Failing Waters, in July, 1853, he took
advantage of a diSmounted charge made
by one of Kilpatrick'S brigades against the
center of Gen. Pettigrews line of battle,
rode ahead of his comrades, secured the
confederate flag from the bearer and bore
1t into his line. Afterward he sent it home
tc his mother
Gen. Estes was given a medal of honor
for bravery displayed on August 80, 1864.
when, with scarcely $50 men. he drove q
stronger force of the enemy four miles, The
enemy, in retreating, tore up the planking
of the bridge over Flint river, Ga, and set
fire to 1t. Leading his men. he rushed over
the burning bridge and drove the enemy
from the bluffs, thus permitting Howard,
with the Army of the Tennessee to cross
the river that night. an advantage of great
Importance. This daring exploit FASTENED
the fall OF Atlanta, 1T is said.
Gen Fitzpatrick said that Capt. Estes and
the ODD Illinois are alone entitled to all the
praise for this successful exploit" Later
Gen. Howard said of the deed 1.-The man.
ner in which Capt. Estes performed his
duty, for which he volunteered, struck me
at the time, and remains in my mind as
one of the most gallant acts OF the war"
far with so small a force, has been pro-
nounced by Gems. Sherman and Fitzpatrick
as remarkable.
Gen. Estes was in the advance OF Sher-
mans army. and was tho first man to