The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-07
BURY MERRITT
BY LAMP LIGHT
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One
and drum corps. followed by the cadet
corps assembled in accordance with a
special order issued by the secretary of
war, fell in at the front on the mp
breath froze on their instruments as
they shrilled the slow measure of the
dead march. Behind them clanked the
escorting battery Then came the coffin
draped in the colors, followed by the
pail bearers, mourners and attending
civilians.
As the long procession moved through
the darkness the flash of the minute
| gun glared for an instant across the
shrouded fields, and the dull jar of the
report sounded solemulv across the
river. Thirteen guns were fred,
Lanterns guided the procession to the
grave, and there, while the mourners
stood bareheaded in the snow, the
coffin was lowered into its resting
place, the words of the burial service
were spoken; three crashing volleys
sounded ''taps, and again the
minute guns took up their count.
Won Promotion Rapidly.
Wesley Merritt was born in New
York June l6, 1885, and was appointed
IN 1850. He graduated with the class
of 1860, and almost imm mediately
plunged into the Civil war. For the
next FIVE years his record was con
tinuous series of promotions.
General Merritt was six times
breveted in the volunteer service and
the regular army for gallantry and
merltorious conduct on the field of bat
tie.
He served in the battles of Gettys-
burg. Cold Harbor. Five Forks and
countless others; rode with Sheridan on
has famous raid on the Shenandoah,
and was present at Appomattox court
house when General Lee rendered his
sword to General Grant.
He was mustered out In 1865 with
the ran k of maior-general. In 1876,
as colonel, be saw service in the In
dian campaigns at Slim Butte, S. D.,
and at Indian Creek, Wyo. From 1882
TO 1887 he was superintendent at West
Point, when he was promoted to be
brigadier.g In 1885 he was
made a major general. He commanded
the first American army in the Philip
pine islands. He was twice married,
and widow survives.
Civil War Hero.
Another OF the great figures of the
Civil e r,,a var disappeared With Major Cen
ed at West Point in 1860. Just In time
TO go in training for the great events
In which he was so soon TO engage, He
was assigned TO the Second dragons
Col. Philip ST George Cooke. with whom
he served as aide until the close of the
peninsula campaign, when General Cooke
left the army in disgust,
Merritt remained with Stoneman and
took part In the Richmond raid OF 1869,
In which he commanded several raiding
parties. but his great chance came AT the
battle OF Beverl- Ford. where. as COM
mander OF a regiment. he led q bril-
liant charge against Stuart's cavalry,
and as recognition was made brIga-
dier- r-general.
From then General Merritt's advance
ment was rapid. proceeding quickly from
command OF brigade 20 division, and
finally succeeding Sheridan in command
campaign. He was OF the three officers
appointed by General Grant TO carry out
the terms of the Appomattox treaty.
At the close of the war Merritt was 2s
10 major-general and commander of ten
thousand cavalry In two years. He
fought brilliantly on many fields.
Up and down the Shenandoah valley
and from the Wilderness to Appomattox
his name is written In the history Of
every battle II was at Winchester, when
his charge against Breckenridse's divi-
sion drew the remark from Sheridan:
II claim nothing for myself; my boys.
Merritt and Custer did 1t ALL
In Indian Campaigns
After the Civil war. General Merritt
served for many years on the frontier
In Indian campaigns. In these he exc
cutcd what has since become a historic
march. from Rawlins to Milk Creek
Colo. covering with his command no
miles In sxty-six hours. without losing
man or horse. He was going to the
relief Of Major Thornhurg who was at
tackled by Ute Indians. His later service
in the capture of Manita is we'll known,
In days Of action General Merritt was
the very embodiment OF force. His fac
uties were sharpened and his view was
cleared on the battlefield. His decisions
were given with the rapidty OF thought
To his troops he was always n leader
who commanded confidence by his ap-
pcarauce and his perfect self-contrnl
while his constant ~atchfulness and
care inspired a devotion that was felt
for few leaders OF his rank