New-York tribune., 1907-06-04
GENERAL RUGER DEAD.
Former Superintendent of Vest
Point SuccumbS to Heart Disease.
GRv Telegraph to The Tribune. J

Stamford. Conn. June 3.-Major General Thomas
Howard Ruger died here at o'clock this afternoon
from heart disease. He stricken on Friday
evening while escorting his daughter home from a
social gathering. He leaves a wife and two daugh-
ters. Mrs, T P. H. Hay. of Easton. Penn. and
Miss Anna Ruger, of this city The burial will be
at West Point
General RUger had long and brilliant record in
the army. He was a native of New York, having
been born in Lima, Livingston County. on April 2.
1898 Removing TO Wisconsin a boy, he was ap-
pointed to the Military Academy at West Point by
Representative Orsamus Cole. and graduated
third in his class in 1854. Among his classmates
boys who were later to become Generals o. O.
Howard II. L. Abbott and Stephen II. Ward. or
the United States Army. and G. w. Custis Lee
j E. B. Stuart. S. D. Lee and William d. Pender.
of the Confederate army. His high standing in his
studies got him an assignment to the Corps OF En-
gineers as a brevet second lieutenant, and he was
an assistant engineer IN the New Orleans district
for nearly year.
He resigned however. April 1. 1855. and took
UP the study of law AS he was admitted
to the bar he began the practice of his new pro-
fession GAINESVILLE, WIS., and continued there
until the outbreak of the Civil War. He re-entered
the army as lieutenant colonel of the Sd Wiscon-
sin Volunteers IN June. 1861 The following Sep
tember he promoted to the colonelcy or ms
regiment, and in November 1862, he was commits
stoned brigadier general OF volunteers As colonel
of the Sd Wisconsin he saw service In the Shenan-
doah Valley and in the Northern Virginia and
Maryland campaigns. taking part in the battles Of
Cedar Mountain and Antetam. Upon his promo
tion he commanded brigade In the Rappahannock
campaign. taking part in the battle of Chancelors-
Vile and being advanced to the command of the
First Division Twelfth Army Corps. the field
of Gettysburg. winning the brevet of brigadier
general in the regular army for his services in that
battle. After Gettysburg General Ruger was or
dered to this city TO aid in suppressing the draft
OF
plshiug his uncOngenal task he assigned 70
duty with the army of General Sherman, and took
part In numerous battles of the Atlanta campaign.
After the fall of Atlanta General Ruger. with his
division OF the Twenty-third Corps attached
TO the command OF General Schofeld. whom he
aided at the battle of Franklin, Tenn in defeating
General Hood and in turning back what had
threatened 10 be serious invasion Of Northern
RTeer received the breret Of Tnaior general OF vol
ments that resulted In the final surrender or
Johnston's army April 25 1865. and he was for
n time in command of the Department OF North
Carolina after the close OF the war
Having taken rank in the regular army whie , ne
was In command Of volunteers, he was, upon being
OF 1866 commissioned as colonel or the $50 lnlahtry
I'm the regular service lie served with his reBl-
was transferred to the Department OF Chatta-
nooga, Tenn. His distinguished services. demon
iesFT TeTk w Wbie I'm command of the
Governor OF Georgia from January to July. and
in command OF the District of Alabama until
February. 1859
lie was then transferred 70 the 18th Infantry
and received command of the Department of the
South. This service was terminated only when he
detailed superintendent OF the United States
Military Academy West Point. where he re-
rnalned fer five years lie then returned 10 the
command of tho Department OF the South In 1878
he was ordered to command the Department OF
Montana whore he rendered valuable service in
the various Indian campaigns occurring during his
seven years in that department For a year ne
was In command Of the infantry and cavalry
school at Fort Leavenworth. and upon receiving
his commission hrigadier general in the regular
establishment. in 1856 he assigned TO the COM
mand OF the Department OF Missouri Later he
commanded in turn the departments of Dakota.
Missouri and California
General RugAr's promotion 10 major general on
the nomination Of President Clevel land, came IN
lSa5 and in October Of that year he took command
OF the Department OF tho East. relieving General
Miles who went Washington TO take command
Of the army General RuRer made many friends IN
this city during tho two years that elapsed before
his retirement fqr age In 1897. A man OF much
humor and sympathy, we'll as OF acknowledged
ability, he achieved great deal of popularity
and favorite guest at important public ban
Quets where hs always happy in his remarks
when called on for a speech. While at Governor s
Island he FOR time engaged IN the revision
~ be infantry drN regulations