The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-10-19

convaisscin6 hs was very active IN or.
ganixing new regiments to meet Lees
raid into Pennsylvania. Hts first duty
after rejoinine his regiment was to
cover the retirement of the Army OF
the Potomac and the Second Corps. and
save the wagon train at Auburn Mills,
Oct. II. 1883. just before the battle
OF Bristow Station. which duty he per-
formed with such skill and firmness
as to win Gen. Warren's earnest thanks.
Col Beavers greater service came when
he led the regiment to which he had
devoted himself so unsparingly in MAX
ing a perfect lighting machine into the
great struggle Of the Wilderness. That
awful ordeal showed that 1t was q regi-
ment which could be trusted morn. noon
and night, wherever 1t was placed and
whatever dangers assailed. May Is,
1854, while the Spotsylvania campaign
was in progress, Col. Beaver was as
signed to the command Of a brigade
the Third Brigade, First Division, Sec
ond Corps. Col. Beaver was much
praised for the success with which he
rescued his regiment when IL was sur
rounded by the enemy on the River
Pc. In the famous charge at Spotsyl-
der Of Gen. George II. Stuart, COM
handing a Confederate Brigade. and
sent him back to Gen. Hancock
BY the time the 14Sth Pa. emerged
from the Spotsylvania campaign for the
march to Cold Harbor the 800 bayo-
nets with which 1t had crossed the Rap
idan had been reduced to 500. with
nearly 400 killed, wounded and miss-
ing. In tie terrific charge at Cold Har-
Dor, Gen. Brook, the Brigade Com
mander, was struck by q canister shot,
and Col Beaver. taking his place, push
ed on against the works with what Gen
Hancock pronounced "a gallantry rare
ly exhibited" Early in the day Col
Beaver was struck by a spent ball,
which had already passed through the
body OF his Aid, and later az he sat
talking to Col. Morris, Of the 7th n. Y,
he learned that the latter's commission
was senior to his, and began an apol-
ogy for having taken the command Of
the brigade. While they were talking
together Morris was shot through the
heart, and Beaver was again in COM
mand of the brigade.
Gen. Beaver led his brigade in the
charge upon the works in front Of Pc
tersburg, June 16. 1854, but as 1t SEEM
ed on the point Of carrying the fort a
shell struck at Gen. Beavers feet, in
ficting severe wound and throwing
him high in the air, from which he
fell apparently dead, and the brigade
retreated. In spite Of the disabling
character of his wound he did not want
to leave the front, but Gen. Hancock
insisted. and he went home for a few
days, but came back before his leave
Of absence expired to receive the day
after his arrival a wound that ended
his fighting days.
OF the many brilliant achievements
OF Gen. Hancock it is believed that
nothing surpassed his management Of
the fight at Ream's Station. He had
come thither with two divisions to tear
up the Weldon Railroad, and was car
rying out this work when the Confed-
/ fc.c T..
overwhelming force. Just before the
assault began Gen. Beaver arrived in
an ambulance. eager to take part in
the battle. Gen. Hancock welcomed
him. pointed out the position OF his
brigade and ordered him to it to take
command. Beaver mounted horse he
obtained from Hancock and reached
his brigade IS the heavy skirmishing
began. While he was surveying the
position he was struck in the right leg
by bullet, which shattered the bone
and made amputatiOn necessary BY
the greatest skill, accompanied with a
display of personal heroism remark
able even for Hancock, that General
| succeeded in extricating his command
from the overwhelming forces which
surrounded 1T, bringing with him most
of his wounded and recapturing one of
the two batteries lost earlier in the
fight. Gen. Beavers disablement was
the SouTCe OIL the strongest regret or
every one from his regiment and bri-
gade up to the highest officers in the
| army, and they all expressed this
| strongly and feelingly. The culmina-
| ton Of this was the following highly
gratifying letter:
WAR Department, Washington, Nov.
10, 1884.
"Sir: You are hereby informed that
the President of the United States has
appointed you, for highly meritorious
the campaign, particularly for valuable
service at Cold Harbor, while COM
handing brigade, a Brigadier-GeneraI
Of Volunteers, by brevet, in the service
Of the United States, to rank as such
from the 1st day Of August, 1864
Should the Senate, at their next session,