Gilpin observer., 1909-03-18

conflict, Captain Palmer was assigned
to most dangerous and delicate spe-
cial duty inside the enemy's lines, un-
der General Mcclellan, and 1t was
while carrying out his instructions on
this mission that he was captured by
the Confederates and held prisoner un-
til January, 1863. Upon his release he
Joined General Rosecrans in Tennes-
see, where he was made colonel and
took command of his regiment in the
Chickamauga campaign. The mart he
took in the battle of Mission Ridge and
| in the Longstreet campaign during the
| winters of 1863 and 1864 forms one of
the most notable portions of his mill
tary career. 1t was exceeded in bril-
lancy, however, by his achievements
in the Atlantic campaign Immediately
following, during which he followed
General Hoods army north from
Lookout mountain. harassing him in
every way possible. Supply trains
were destroyed, the headquarters
pontoon bridge burned, and finally
the Confederate cavalry forces under
Generals Russell and Lyon was COM
| pletely routed.
Promotion to the rank of brigadier
general came as a reward on the heels
of this meritorious service, and Pal
mer moved to greater triumphs across
the Great Smoky range in North Caro-
lima. When General Johnston surren-
dered General Palmer was placed i'll
charge of a division and set on the
trail Of Jefferson Davis, who was then
endeavoring to make his escape to the
gulf. General Palmer was close upon
him when the Confederate leader was
captured by Wilson, and this ended his
remarkable career as soldier.
During his four years service ne de-
veloped high qualities for command
and learned how to unite daring, eau.
tion and skill in way that won vic
tories and rarely met with defeat. He
won for himself reputation as lex
icon of the geographical conformation
of the country, and his minute knowl-
edge of all the roads, trails and by
ways was of invaluable aid in the NOV.
ing of troops.
Upon taking off his uniform, Gen
eral Palmer resumed his former posi-
ton as confidential secretary to Pres
ident Thompson of the Pennsylvania
and soon afterward was made secre
tary of the Kansas Pacific railway
through the influences of his patron
who had large interests in that enter
prise. He was soon advanced to the
position of director of the road and
finally to the responsible position OF
managing director in charge of the
construction from Kit Carson to Den
| yer.
Despite the fact that the road had al
that time neither ties nor rails for
this division, and no grading had beer
done, General Palmer took hold of the
work AMI accomplished the seemingly
impossible feat of grading, bridging
and tracking the hundred and fifty
miles of interval in just $50 working
days.
General Palmer was now fairly
launched on his career of empire build
ing in the great West. His first visit
to Denver occurred in 1867, wien, in
company with Col. l.. II. Eichoiz. his
the survey of the thirty-second parable
route to the coast. on which the Kan
sas Pacific had first intended building
During the construction of the latter
road TO Denver, General Palmer ant
General r. E. Carr often came to this
city, and it was during one Of thesf
visits that they made the acquaintance
of ex-Gov. A. c. Hunt, who first out
lined to General Palmer the advan
tages of railroad from Denver to L
Paso, with branches into the mountain.
of Colorado practically as they exis
today. This was the beginning of tn,
Rio Grande system, and in this connec
tion, the following, from Halls histor,
, of Colorado, gives the clearest idea o
: the stupendous difficulties attaclict
and overcome by the indomitable az
gressiyeness of Genera! falmer:
THE system of railways that ha
j exerted the greatest influence upon tn,
Internal economy of our state. espe
cially the southern and western divis
? ions, Is that which was conceived an,
for the most part executed by Gen. VIII
J liam j. Palmer, seconded and faithfull
= supported, from first to last by corp
Z of young and able coadjutors. as d c
. Dodge. w. s. Jackson. William Was
D ner, r. F. Weitbrec, A. c. Hunt. Col
9 w II. Greenwood and J. A. McMurtri.
D The all-pervading and controlling spiri
n of this stupendous enterprise. however
was its originator.
e "As bis purposes unfolded to publ
view, and as their beneficent influ
C ence upon the settlement and progres