New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-04

Lee. S.-0aJoE OtNetdA =" e.
ley Merritt. Z. s. A. fretiredl. died to-day
at Natural Bridge. Va General Merritt
was a resident of the District of Columbia
at the time Of his death The details of hts
funeral have not been arranged.
Major General Merritt was one OF the
boy generals OF the Civil War. In two wars
and many Indian campaigns he made a
record as brave fighter and skilful leader
equalled by few officers of the United States
army. He rounded out his career mill
tary governor of the Philippines.
General Merritt was born in New York
City in 1885, but received his appointment
to West Point from Illinois, where the fam
lily settled when he was a boy. He was
graduated from the academy In 1860 and
sent to Fort Crittenden, Utah. on frontier
duty as brevet second lieutenant of dra-
goons- The next year he became full second
lieutenant. From that time in the space
NJ two years he was successfully acting as
sistant adjutant general of Utah forces. adj
jutant, ID Cavalry; aide-de-camp to Br1ga-
der General Cooke. handing the cav
airy of the Army of the Potomac; first lieu
tenant, I'd Dragons; captain. I'd Cavalry.
and brigadier general Of volunteers.
His real military career began In 1862
when he was only twenty-six years old In
the Pennsylvania campaign of June-July,
1863, commanding the reserve cavalry bril-
gade. he was engaged IN the battle of
Gettysburg and in the pursuit OF the enemy
to Warrentown. Va He was a leader in
the cavalry charges at Wfliiamsport,
Boonsborough and Manassas Gap. In COM
mand of the First Cavalry Division. Army
Of the Potomac, he was in numerous en-
gagements in the Richmond campaign. At
the close of the war he was brevetted
major general IN the United States army
and transferred as chief Of cavalry to the
military division Of the Southwest. He was
mustered out OF the volunteer service in
1866 and appointed lieutenant colonel In the
9Th Cavalry.
He became colonel OF the 9Th Cavalry in
1876, and commanded in the affair against
the Cheyenne Indians. near Indian Creek.
Then he Joined General Crook and was
chief of cavalry of the Big Horn and yell
Iowstone expedition.
He commanded the Wind Riger exped!-
ton against the Nez Perces, in 1871, was on
field service in 1873, and commanded tie
column dispatched to the relief CO Thorn
burgh's besieged command at Milk River.
From September l. 1882, to June 30, 1887, he
was superintendent OF the United States
Military Academy at West Point, assur,
ing command of the Military Department
of the Missouri on his appointment as
brigadier general. He was transferred to
the Department of Dakota, and later ba ok
TO that of the Missouri. His commission
as major general bears date of April II,
1895
With the outbreak of the Spanish war
Major General Merritt won new honors as
military commander in charge of the first
detachment of United States troops TO land
on the Philippine Islands, and the land
operations against Manila were conducted
under his direction.
He was retired from active service in
1900 at the age Of sixty-four-
General Merritt was married in 1871 in
Europe to Miss Caroline Warren, of Cincin-
natl She died in 1898. In 1898 he mar
ried Miss Laura Williams, daughter of
Norman Williams, of Chicago.