The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1910-09-02
Their Number Not Great, But
They Make Up in Bril-
W liant Careers.

WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept p
With only 4 army officers credited to
it, against an average OF SO to a state,
West Vlrginia's ardor as a belIigerent
state is not conspicuous. And yet
some OF her sons have had brilliant
careers in the army
Most conspicuous of West Virginia's
contribution to the army in recent
years was Brigadier General William
p. craighfll, of Charles Town, who
died last year. He was in the corps
of engineers and had taken con-
spicuous part in the Improvement Of
the Ohio and Kanawha rivers.
Message TO Garcia.
Few men ever came more pr7mi-
nentIy before the public than Major
Andrew S. Rowan. now retired. who
carried the message to Garcia"
Major Rowan is a West VirSinian,
born in Monroe county, son of the
late Col. J. NJ. Rowan, formerly state
treasurer. Major Rowan. early in the
war with Spain, voluntarily landed
alone in a boat on the Cuban coast.
evadcd all the Spanish troops and de-
I!vered to General Garcia a message
which had an important bearing upon
the results of the war. He was then
only a lieutenant, but he was rapidly
promoted after the enS of the war.
Following his brilliant feat, he was
Immediately made captain and with
in a few weeks was brevetted lieuteu-
ant colonel OF thu sixth u. $. Infantry,
holding this rank till the end of the
war. when he returned to his former
command He was promoted to be a
major in 1905 and retired at his own
request December /, 1909. having
served over thirty years. He was first
appointed a cadet in the L. S Military
Academy July /. 1877. his service in
the army extending over period OF
- years before his retirement.
General Goodwin.
The officer of highest rank on the
retired list from West Virginia is
BrlEadier General Edward>A. Goodwin,
who was retired November Is, 1905,
at his own request after more than
forty years service. General Goodwin
entered the army as volunteer and
became private in Company a, First
West Virginia Cavalry, in February.
1865 He was discharged after only
few months service to permit him to
enter the military academy at West
Point, which he did in October, 1895.
He became a second lieutenant in
1907. and was successiveIy promoted
until he was retired with the rank of
briSadicr general in 1908. During tho
war with Spain he was brevetted a
colonel of the Seventh u. S. Infantry
and in 1929 he was colonel of the
t'ortieth l.. S. Infantry.
The ranking officer in the army
now from West Virginia is Lieutenant
Colonel George S. Young, of the
twenty -,first Infantry. Born IN Vir-
ginia he euteFed the army from West
Virginia In 1875 as n second lieuten-
ant. He gained his present rank in
1906, Is thirty-sixth in the list of
licutenunt colonies. in relative rank.
and his chances are good for soon be-
coming colonel
In colonel YounE's regiment is
Captain Walter L Sweeney. who en-
tered army life az a private in the
Wrist West Virginia volunteers in the
war with Spain. He was given a sec
oud ucutennncy in the regular army
at the close of The war and has now
risen to be captain,
seven Majors.
seven majors are in the army now
from West Virginia, ranking relative
Is as follows: J. T.. CraiGhill, corps
of engineers: Mason NJ. Patrick, corps
Of engineers: George w. Ruthers,
subsistence department; Jay ]. Nor
row, corps OF engineers; Joseph H.
Sutherland, chaplain; clyde s. Ford,