The state herald., 1909-03-19
GEN. William ]. PALMER DIES
AT HIS HOME IN GLEN EYRIE
Crea Soldier Railroad and Empire Builder Founder Of Cities Cene
GUS and ar.Seeng Phanhopist SucCumbs 10 Effects Of
Injuries Received Two Years Ago

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, 1868. 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 ra.t 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-
liancy, however, by his achievements
in the Atlantic campaign Immediately
following. during which he followed
General Hoods army worth from
Lookout mountain. harassing him in
every way possible. Supply trains
were destroyed, the headquarters
pontoon bridge burned, and finally
the Confederate cavalIy 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 in
charge of a division and set on the
trail Of jefferson Davis, who was then
endeavoring 10 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 a lex
icon of the geographical conformation
of the 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-
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 10 the responsible position of
managing director In charge of the
construction from Kit Carson u Den
yer.
Despite the fact that the road had at
that time neither ties nor rails for
this division. and no grading mad been
done, General Palmer took hold Of the
work an accomplished the seemingly
impossible feat OF grading. bridging
AMI tracking the hundred and fifty
miles of interval In Just l50 working
days.
General Palmer was now fairly
launched on his career OF empire build.
Ing IN the great West. His first yisl;
to Denver occurred In 1867, when. in
company with Col. l.. II. E,choiz. his
chief engineer, he was returning from
the survey OF the thirty.second parallel
route 10 the coast. on which the Kan.
sas Pacific had first intended building.
During the construction OF the latter
road 10 Denver. General Palmer nad
General X, T. Carr often came to this
city, and II was during one pf theEs
visns that they made the acquaintance
OF ex'Gov. A. c. Hunt, who firs. out.
lined 10 General Palmer the ndyan.
inges OF a railroad from Denver 10 FL
Pnso. with branches Into the mountains
OF Colorado practically as they eNls,
Today. This was the beginning OF the
Rio Grande system. and In this connac,
lion, the following, from Halls history
OF Colorado. gives the clenrest ideu OF
the s'upcndous difficulties attacked
aud overcome by the indomItable ne.
grcssiveness OF Genera! ralmer:
THE system Of railways ihut has
cNerted the greatest Influence upon the
Internal economy Of our state, cspp.
cinlly the southern and western dlyIs
Ions. II that which was conceived and
for the most part executed by Gen. WI.
liam j. Palmer. seconded and faithfully
supported. from first to last by corps
OF Young aud able condJutors. "a u c.
Dodge, W. $. Jackson. William waE
nor. Il. +. wcitbrec. 4. c. Hunt. Col
W II. Greenwood and j. A. McMurirlc.
The nll'pcryndlng and controlling spirit
Of this B,npondous enterprise. however
was It's originator.
As bis purposes unfoldcd TO public
view and ns their bcnciloent mflu.
cnce upon the settlement and progress