The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-30

What great generals of the Civil
war have survived to see this Memo
rial day? Upon the roll of lieutenant
generals but one is left, and he of the
gray army-Simon Bolivar Buckner.
Now in his eighty-seventh year, he is
passing the winter of his prolonged
and eventful life in retirement at his
old home IN Munfordville, Ky. When
this now hoary soldier was graduated
at The Military academy, back in IA,
Arthur Macarthur. the present lieu
tenant.general of our army. was not
born, and few, If any; OF our present
generals on the active list had yet seen
the light when young Buckner had re-
ceived two brcvets for gallantry in
three bloody battles OF the Mexican
war. More than three score years and
ten ago, before the birth of men now
living within the time allotted 10y the
Scriptures, this veteran had, with trus.
bloody struggle, wounded, though hon
ored. But many more strenuous dayS
were yet coming to him-days spent in
plotting the Civil war. as leader of
Kentucky's Knights of the Golden Cir
Gle, then exciting days Of fighting at
the head Of a brigade, long days in
prison at Boston in the spring and
division commander in Bragg's army,
and next as major general al Murfrecs
boro and thickamauga, finally as lieu
tenant general. lie fought TO the last
ditch, through The last battle of tho
civil struggle, giving MP his sword only
al the surrender of Kirby Smith, the
final surrender Of the war, AT Baton
Rouge. May 26, 1865. And aster thc
struggle he was one of the first OF the
Confederate generals 10 work for a
noTe closely cemented nation. and he
had the grace 10 act as ono of Grant 5
pallbearcrs. In 1887 he was elected
governor of Kentucky. and nine years
later, when Bryan and Sewai were
nominated by the silver wing OF his
party, he was tho choice OF thn gold
wing for vice president on the ticket
headed by his old-time war enemy,
General Palmer.
Osterhaus at Eighty Six,
There arc but fourteen Civil war ma
iorgcperals left. seven of the blue aud
seven of tbe gray army. The oldest
of tho Union side Surviving is Peter
Joseph Ostcrhaus. who is in the eighty
seventh year of his age. and is now liy
ing upon his native soil, back in Ger
MANY He was born in Cobleutz, be.
came an officer in the Prussian army.
and AT tho age OF 24 came to America
with those PIussian cXiles who formed
q colony IN Missouri and helped 10 keep
that state in the Union. When the
war broke out be was ready with tyustv
blade, and the Union forces were glad
TO take him in as q MAJOR, lc became
a brigadier general of volunteers in '62.
and a maior-gcncra in Ga lie had
commanded n division at Pea Ridge,
Nicksburg, Chattanooga and Atlanta.
After the war ended and before enter
ing the regular establishment he served
as our consul at Lyons. Later he was
engaged in the manufacturing business
at Mannheim. Four years ago congress
expressed the nation s gratitude TO the
distinguished soldier by placing him on
the retired list of the regular army.
with the rank Of brigadier general. He
was still living at Mannheim when the
war department heard from him, about
month ago.
Sickles at Eighty-Three,
The next oldest of the surviving war
major generals Of the Union side Is
Daniel E SIcllles, now eightv-three. but
still very much alive. He is one of
only four corps commanders living,
and few Americans have had careers
as varied and exciting as that of this
wonderful man, who has played upon
the stage of life the respective roles
of printers devil, lawyer, state legis-
lator, congressman, soldier and dlplo.
mat He had served as secretary of
our Iega tiou IN London and had been
in congress two years when he shot
Philip Barton Key, in 80, being ac
quilted on an 'unwrittcn law plea.
He had just finished hls second term
in congress when the Civil war broke
out, and, entering AS the colonel of a
New York regiment, he was briga
der general the next year. and with
in less than another year he was major
general. 1t was he who gained the
first success at Charlottesville, and he
left leg on the field after a bloody
fight against overwhelming numbers at
Gettysburg. Then, at the close of the
war. he went on a diplomatic mission
to South America. entering the regular
army as colonel upon his return. 1t
was forty years ago when he was re-
tired as major general Of regulars.
Since then he has bees minister to
Spain, a member Of congress, sheriff