Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1909-01-19
Gen. Craighill Dead,


ternoon at O'Clock, from his late res
dence.
At the time of his Oath General Craig
hill was attended by his two sons. Dr.
james NJ. and Major William E Craig
hill. of Baltimore; his two daughters
Mrs. Hunter Davidson. of Hannibal, Mo.
aid Mrs, E. Tayloe Perry. of Charlie
Town. aud his three sisters. Mrs. Charlie
Butler a1d the Misses Ellen aud Mar
Craighill. all of Charles Town. Othe
Survivors are two children-Prof. N. K
Graighill, of the University of Montana
and Mrs. w. F. Lippitt, of San Juan, P
Rand two brothers DR.. Edward C
Craighlll. of Lvnchburg. Va. and Rev
James Craighill, canon of the Pro.
testant Episcopal Cathedral. of Wash.
ington. Other more distant relatives al.
SO survive.
He was for IS years stationed IN Balti-
more. where. among other works. he
superintendent the dredging of the deep
water channel which bears his name
Primarily domestic man, his chief de-
light was IN his family, but he found
time to form wide circle of friends in
addition to those identified with his home
life. His love of home, books and fam
lily kept him apart from club life and his
chef hobby was his military en-
gineering.
1t has been told of the General that at
the outbreak of the Civil War he spoke
to Gen. Winfield Scott of his intended
resignation from the army, because he
could not fight against the South. Gen.
eral Scott is said to have gotten him to
admit that he was Union man" ard
to have promised him he would not have
to fight against the Southland, because
he would keep him in the engineering
corps. The General won much credit in
the struggle.
After the war General Graighil re-
manned in the engineering department
aud superintendent much important work
in connection with the country's fortifi-
cations and other projects. He went to-
Baltimore as major, just as his son fol
10 we'd him years later, and was appointed
by President Cleveland to the highest
POST in his branch Of the service when
he was OF years old.
General Craighill's love for engineer
ing was reflected IN the fact that two OF
his sons were Influenced by their fathers
career to follow the same. one becoming
a military and the other civil engineer
General Craghill was born July I
1898. in Charles Town, his father being
Mr.. William Nathaniel Craighll, f..
many years teller OF the old Valley Bank
i'll this place. He entered the West
Point Military Academy July I, 1910 II
-Four years later he was graduated No 2
in class of 81 members. Among his
classmates were Generals Sheridan.
Schofeld Mcpherson. Sooy Smith and
Vincent, of the Union side during The
Civil War, and Generals Hood. Cham
BLISS and Walker, of the Confederate
Army. Appointed second lieutenant
of the Corps of Engineers, he superin-
tended the building of Fort Sumter (ISs4-
So and Fort Delaware (I858). After
this work he became instructor at West
Point and in 1868 built defenses of Pitts
burg. He was brevetted lieuten ant-col-
onel March. 1865. for services at Cum
berland Gap.
After short tour of duty in Washing
N in 1868 he was engaged in the COZ
Struction of the defense of Baltimore
from September, 1863 to June 1864 in
GLIDING service as chief engineer, Middle
Department, from April to June, 1864
aud again served as assistant professor
of engineering at the academy to August
81 1864, His subse quent services were
on defensive works for the /
larbors of San Francisco, New York |
md Baltimore and the mouth of III, !
He was member of the Board of En-
sineers,in company with Gen T l. Casey.
hen chief of Engineers; Gen z p Alex.
t1der, Admiral George Dewey and Nj
Iendes Cohen, which recommended the
Back creek route for the proposed Chesa
'eake and Delaware ship canal in 1904
He was appointed member of the org
nal Nicaragua Canal Commission. but
and was president of the board
ppolnted to select and recommend to Il
congress sites for manufacturing heavy
.uns on the Pacific and Gulf coasts and
everal times he was rendered the ap-
ointment of superintendent of the Mill
airy Academy at West Point.
For many years he was a member OF
ne American Society of Civil Engineers :
nd became president of that organiza.
on IN 1894, being the only officer of the
rmy who has attained that distinction.
lie was also member of the American
association for the Advancement .o j
cence, the Historical Society of Mary
md and the American Economic As
)ciatiou. q
In 1861 he compiled The Army OFF :
ers' Pocket Companien:" in 1863 h.
'anslated ard published General Du
ont's "Cours de Tachques, and in con
ection with Captain Mendell. he also
General Jomini's "Precis DC
Art de la Guerra, E
After the centennial of the surrender \
Ctrnwallis assn General Craiahil
ALT the monument at Yorktown, Va.
IT which funds although order ed By thu
ontine1tal Congess. We're not provided
It'll century later, =,
General Craighill was a staunch :
urchman and was deputy from West