The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-03-20
GEN. WILLIAM ]. PALMER DIES
AT HIS HOME IN GLEN EYRIE
Great Soldier Railroad and Empire Builder Founder Of Cities Gene
and Far Seeing PhIanhrops SucCumbs 10 Effects Of
Injuries Received Two Years Ago

tbAi4tlr ApLIll -dtlllfT " dS ass Su''l
To a most dangerous and delicate spe-
cial duty inside the enemys lines, un-
der General Mcclellan. and II was
while carving out his iustruc ions on
this mission that he was captured by
the Confederates and held prisoner un-
til January, 1863. Upon his release he
joined General RdsecIaus in Tenues-
see, whore he was made a colonel and
took command of his regiment in the
th!CkanauSa campaign The mart he
took in the battle of Mission Ridge and
in the LongsiTest campaign during he
winters OF 1868 and 1864 forms one OF
the most notable portions of his mill,
tary career II was exceeded in bril-
lianCy, however, by his achievements
in the Atlantic campaign Immediately
following, during which he followed
General Hoods army north from
Lookout mountain. hIrassilt2 him in
every way possible. Supply trains
were destroyed. the headquarters
pontoou bridge burned and finally
the Confederate cavalry forces under
Generals Russell and Lyon was com
pletely routed
Promotion TO the rank OF bTigadier
general came as 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 vas placed IN
charge OF a division and set on he
trail OF jefferson Davis. who vas then
eudeavoring 10 make his escape 10 the
gull! General PalmeT vas close upon
him when the Confederate leader Was
captured by Wilson, and this ended his
remarkable career as a sol tier
During his four years service Ne lie
yeloped high qualities for command
and learned how to unite daring. eau
tion and skill In way hat won vic
tories and rarely met with defeat He
won for himself a reputation as a lex.
icon of the geographical conformation
OF he country, and his minute knowl.
edge of all the roads, trails aad by.
WAYS was OF invaluable aid in the NOV
ing OF troops
Upon taking off his uniform. Gen
eral Palmer resumed his former posi-
idenr Thompson of the PENNSYLVANIA
and soon afierward was made secre
tary OF The Kansas Pacific railway.
through the influences OF his patron
vhO had large interests in that enter
prise, He was soon advanced to the
position OF director of the road and
finally 10 the responsible position of
managing director in charge OF the
construction from Xii Carson u Den
yer
Despite The fact that the road lad at
that time neither ties nor rails for
this division. and no grading NIL been
done, General Palmer took hold Of the
work an ! accomplished the seemingly
/ impossible feat Of grading bridging
AMI trackin. the hundred and fifty
miles Of interval in just ljo working
days
General Palmer was now fairly
launched on his career Of ompir, build
ing in the great West His first yisi.
TO Denver occurred in 1861. when, in
company with Col L. II Fiehoiz. his
ehi@f engineer, he was returning from
the survey OF the thirty-secoud para'la,
route 10 the coast. on which the Kan
sas Pacific had first intended building
During tho construction OF the latter
road 20 Denver. General Palmer and
General K. +. Carr often came TO this
city. and ii was during ona of these
visnS that they made the acquaintance
of eNGov. \. {. Hunt. who first ont
lined 10 General Palmer the adyan-
taCcS Of a railroad from Denver 10 Fl
Paso. with branches into the mountains
of Colorado practically as they eyis'
/ today. This was the beginning of the
Rio Grande system. and in this connec
ton. the following. from Halls history
Of Colorado. gives the clearest idea OF
the stupendous difficulties attached
and overcome by the indomitahle ag-
sressiveness of Genera, Falmer:
The system of railways nat has
exerted the greatest influence upon the
internal economy of our state, espe-
cially the southern and western diyis
ions. is that which was conceived and
for the most part executed By Gen VIII
liam j. Palmer, seconded and faithfully
supported, from first TO last by a corps
of Young and able coadjutors. as D c.
Dodge. W. S. Jackson. William Was-
ner. r F. Weitbrec, A C. Hunt, Col
W, II. Greenwood and J A. McMurtrie
The all-pervading and controlling spirit
of this stupendous enterprise, however,
was its originator
As his purposes unfolded to public
view. and as their beneficent influ-
ence upon the settlement and progress