Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-09-14
GEN, MARTHUR
TO HEAD ARMY
Distinguished Milwaukee Soldier Will Be
Promoted September Is
Succeeds Gen. Corbin.

Arthur Macarthur, the Milwaukee
schoolboy of 1861, will reach the highest
rank in the United States army on Sep
TENDER 10. when he will be commits
stoned lieutenant general, succeeding
Gen. Henry G. Corbin, who on the same
day will be placed ON the retired list,
having arrived at the age limit, GA.
The appointment of Gen. Macarthur
is not only high honor to i nest wor-
thy soldier, but honor and distinction for
Milwaukee and Wisconsin. Ours is the
seventh state to contribute lieutenant
general to the United States army, the
others being Virginia, Massachusetts,
Ohio. New York, Pennsylvania and Mis-
souri,. Washington and Scott hailed
from Virginia. Grant, Sherman, Sheri-
dan, Chaffee and Corbin from Ohio,
Young from Pennsylvania, and Bates
from Missouri.
A Native of Massachusetts.
The new lieutenant general is 4 native
of Massachusetts, but came to Milwau-
kee IN infancy and grew UP III this city.
attending the public schools. He was
not 16 when the Civil wax began, but
was determined TO enlist as i private i'll
the First Wisconsin, which was organ
lied at Camp Scott under the direction
of Gen. John G. Starkweather, but his
father, the late Judge Arthur MacAr-
thur, lieutenant governor under Bar
stow and governor for five days after
BarstoW stepped out, withheld his con-
sent. In August, 1862, at the age of
II, the yOungster was made first lieu
tent and adjutant of the TWenty-fOurth
Wisconsin, largely made up of Alllwau-
kee men. Col. Charles II. Larrabee OBJ
jected to a boy, whose voice had not
changed, for so important a position as
adjutant but Gov. Solomon said that he
must give him a trial. For year the
young man had been watching squad
company and regimental drills, noting
dress parade and studying tactics, ana
it was not long before he was recognized
as irst-class adjutant, and had won
the respect and confidence of the col
onel and the other officers.
Receives Medal of Honor.
In the battles of Perryville and Stone
River Of that year the boy adJutant OF
the Twenty-fOurth distinguished himself
by his bravery and military skill. At
the battle of Missionary Ridge the color
bearer fell. The adjutant sprang to his
side, caught up the colors and led the
regiment in the charge. and was the first
man to mount the works and plant an
American flag. For that act OF bravery
IN great DattIe ne WAS gwen d hleddl
of honor
Upon the resignation of Maj. Charles
Baumbach. Adjt. Macarthur was made
his successor, vaulting over the heads
of all of the captains. On the Sth OF
June 1864, he was commissioned lieu
tenant colonel and the following May
was commissioned colonel. lie was
twice brevetted for bravery i'll battle,
once as lieutenant colonel and then as
hancn will no that tbIG
Milwaukee schoolboy between the ages
of II and 20 had won a medal OF honor,
four commissions from the governor OF
his state, two from the general govern
ment, and came home at the head OF
his regiment which he had commanded
from Chattanooga to Atlanta and back
again to Nashville. His last fighting in
the Civil war was at Franklin and Nash
vile. He was twice wounded.
Enters Regular Army.
In February, 1866, Col. Macarthur
entered the regular army as a second
lieutenant. was a captain six months
later, a major twenty-three years later
lieutenant colonel in 1896, brigadiCl
general in January, 1900, a major gen
eral February ). 1901, and on Saturday
of next week will reach the top of the
ladder. IN the Spanish-American wal
he held commissions as a brigadier and
a major general, serving III the Philip
pines from 1898 until July, 1901. He
has commanded the division of the Phil
ippines, the Department of the Lakes
the East and California, and is now in
command of the division of the Pacific
During a part of the war between
Japan and Russia, Gen. Macarthur was
one of Americas representatives with
the japanese army, and was then sent
to South Africa and various other parts
of the world for observation.
Will Retire in 1909.
Gen. Macarthur will retire for age
June ., 1909. He has a son who is a
lieutenant in the United States navy
and another who is a first lieutenant in
the engineer corps, now serving on his
fathers staff As the general will con,
tinue to command the division of the
Pacific, it is likely that Lieut.. Douglas
Macarthur will be given the rank OF
lieutenant colonel while serving on the
staff of the lieutenant general, as thai
officer is entitled to two aides bearing
that rank.