The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-09-05
COL. ]. s. PETIT DEAD.
FORMERLY PROMINENT MAN AT
 TALE.

Was Professor of Military Science and
 Tactics-Distinguished Services as [
 U. s. Military Omcer--seryed in the
 Geronimo Campaign.-Was Military
 and Civil Governor of District Oi
 ManzaniIIO-His Services in the Phil
 ippines.
 Wilmington, Sept. 4.-Lieuenant Colonel Jame s. Petetit, Eight infan- try, died at his home in this city to- day. He had been in i'll health for a number of years.
 Tn the death of Lieutenant Colonel Petit, the army loses one of it's bright est officers, and one who showed great capacity in whatever duty he was asked to perform. Born in Ohio, Aug ust f. 1856, he attended the High school in Lisbon in that state, and aft CT graduating he received an appoint ment to West Point, becoming a sec ond lieutenant in June, 187S His first service was on frontier duty at Fort Sully, Dakota, from October 8, 1878, to August "A, 1879, and he then went to Fort Meade and Fort Randall in that state. He also served on escort duty during the construction of the military telegraph line from Fort Meade to Deadwood City He was transferred to the Third artillery on June fl, 1873, but the transfer was annulled at his own request July 1, 1879. After being on duty for a rew months in 1880 at San Antonio, Tex, he became assistant professor of drawing at the Military academy, and two years later became assistant professor of tactics at that institution, After being relieved from that duty in June, 1883, he was again assigned to frontier work, being at Fort Grant, Arizona, in camp at Lang S Ranch, N M, and again in Arizona, this time at Fort Bowie until August, 1SS6 He was made a first lieutenant in was acting assistant quartermaster and acting commissary of subsistence, and was in command of the supply depot for troops in the Apache campaign of 1885, During the time his regiment was in Arizona Lieutenant Colonel Petit, Colonel Marion P. Maus, Twentieth in fantry, and Major Samson l.. Faison Twenty-fourth infantry, who were then lieutenants in the first infantry, rem dered valuable service in the field dur ing the Geronimo Indian campaign.
 Lieutenant Colonel Petit returned to West Point in August, 1888, as assist ant professor of natural and experi- mental philosophy, remaining there for four years when he was detailed to Yale university as professor of mill itary science and tactics. While at Yale he was one of the three men to be elected to honorary membership in the Quinnipiack club, as he was to a similar position to one of the secret so- cieties of the scientific department Berzelius. He served four years at that place, and then went to Benicia Barricks, Cal In the meantime he had been promoted to captain, and in May, 1S9S he was offered the position of assistant adjutant general of volun- teers, with the rank of major, but he declined it. A week later he was ap- pointed colonel of the Fourth United States Volunteer infantry. an immune regiment, and was on duty in the camp at Fredericksburg, Va. from June un- til August 17, 1898, engaged In organiz- ing and drilling his regiment. He then went to Jacksonville, remaining in camp with his men, and on October 10 In that year he sailed with his regiment for Cuba, where he acted as military and civil governor of the district of Manzanillo, where he achieved distinc- tion, until honorably mustered out of the volunteer service in June, 1899 His Dortratit in oil hangs in the city hall of Manzillo. Upon his return to this country, his regiment was reviewed by President Mckinley at his official re- quest, and declared to be remarkable one in every respect.
 In recognition of his merit and abil- ity he was chosen colonel of the Thirty first United States Volunteer Infantry in July, 1899, and was sent to the Phil ippines. This regiment was recruited in Ohio and Kentucky. After General Bates had made his treaty with the Sultan, Colonel ePttit's regiment was sent to Mindinao under instructions to