Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-03-19

conflict, Captain Palmer was assigned
to a 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 a 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-
liancy, 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 mcrltorious 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 n division and set on the
ttr..n ~ Taff ,..b., har,
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 n soldier.
During his four years service ne de-
veloped high qualities for command
and learned how TO unite daring. eau
tion and skill In n way that won vic
tories and rarely met with defeat. He
won for himself n reputation rs 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 n 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 lad at
that time neither ties nor rails for
this division. and no grading Md been
done. General Palmer took hold Of the
work AMI accomplished the seemingly
impossible feat Of grading, bridging
AMI 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. when. in
company with Col. l.. II. ElchoiZ. his
chief engineer. he was returning from
the survey OF the thirty-sccond parallel
route to the coast. on which the Kan
sas Pacific had first intended building
During the construction of the latter
road 10 Denver. General Palmer and
General II. f. Carr often came to this
city. and II was during one of these
visits that they made the acquaintance
OF eN-Gov. A. C. Hunt. who frs: out
lined TO General Palmer the advan-
tages of railroad from Denver to Ell
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.
tion, the following. from Halls history
of Colorado. gives the clearest idea Of
the stupendous difficulties attacked
and overcome by the indomitable ag-
gressiveness of Genera! Falmer:
The system OF railways mat has
eNerted the greatest Influence upon the
internal economy OF our state. espe-
cially the southern and western divis
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 corps
of young and able coadjutors, rs D C.
Dodge. w. S. Jackson. William Wag-
ncr, 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