The National tribune., 1910-09-22
CoMRADE URELL DEAD.
The Department OF tho Potomac Issues
Memorial on the Death OF the Past
Department Commander.

The Department OF tho Potomac Issues
Memorial on the Death Of the Pas,
Department Commander.
The Department of the Potomac, O.
A. R., was startled and saddened by Z
cableEram last week announcing the
death of Past Department Commander
Michael Emmett Urell at the home OF
his cousin, Mrs. d. Byrne, in Cork
Ireland. Comrade Urell had gone to
Ireland with a party of home comers,
and he had premonition before start
ing that he might never return. Com
rade Henry A. Johnson, Commander o.
the Depar, ment of the Potomac, G.. A
r.. has issued the following memorial
on the death of Comrade Urell:
1T is my sad duty to announce tc
This Department the death of Past De-
partment Commander Michael Emmet
Urell, a member. of John A. Rawlins
Post, 1. which occurred on the evening
of Sept. 8, 1910. at the residence of his
cousin, Mrs. d. Byrne, in Cork, Ireland
"Comrade Urell enlisted April IS
1861, and was mustered into service az
a Sergeant in Co. f. I'd n. Y. S. NJ
which was subsequently designated as
the SD n. Y, and was honorably dis
charged May %. 1864, on account OF
serious wounds received in action while
holding the grade of Second Lieutenant
of Co. d in said regiment.
During his term of service he par
ticipated with his regiment in many
engagements, and was severely wound
ed III the arm and body while carrying
the colors of his regiment in the battle
of BriStOe Station, Va. oct. IA, 1868
and left upon the battlefield as dead
but on the following day he was found
to be still alive and was sent to Cen
eral Hospital for treatment He re-
turned to his regiment before recover
ing from his wound, and participated
in the battle of the Wilderness, Vir-
Sinia, but was compelled to relinquish
further service and return to the hos
pital from which he WAS discharged.
He was awarded a Medal of Honor by
Congress for galIantry in the battle OF
Rristoc Station. He was also brevetted
Captain and Major of q. S. Volunteers
for gallant and meritoriOuG services in
he battles of Fair Oaks Bristoe Station
and the Wilderness, Va
He served as Senior Major in the 1st
j.. G., in the War with Spain, was pres
cnt at the siege and surrender of San
tiago. Cuba, and was honorably mus
tered out of service in November, 1898.
He WAS for many years connected
with the National Guard of the District
of Columbia as one of it's most efficient
Colonel of the I'd D. C. National Guaros,
ne was honorably retired with the rank
of Brigadier-G
His entire military service was bril-
liant and reflects great honor upon him,
and WAS of high value to the Nation he
50 loyaIly and bravely defended in the
time cf its great peril.
He received many distinguished
honors from the various patriotic or
ganizations with which he was identi-
fed, serving as COmmander-in-Chie of
the Spanish War Veterans Commander
of the Medal of Honor Legion of the
United States. and at the time of his
death was Vice President of the Second
Corps organization, which corps distin-
stiished itself by its brilliant achieve
ments in the many battles in which it
took part from 1852 until the close of
the war Of the rebellion.
He became a member of the G. A.
II. on, Feb. 3. 1867. and his services as
such were particularly useful and hon
"rabie from this beginning until the
day of his death, and his faithful and
constant work for the best interests of
the g. A. r. were so highly appreciated
bT his comrades that they bestowed
Hpon him many honorable positions, in
cludiES that of Commander of the De-
iartmcnt of the Potomac, as a just re-
ward FOR faithful and Jealous perform
ance of duty.
No one will ever know the great
extent of good work he performed in
b@half Of his comrades, their widows
and orphans. who appealed. to him for
help in time of need. for he was gener-
o'lS TO fanf. and never considered the
cost of charity, and a great deal of his
tifEe was spent in endeavoring to secure
employment fer his comrades, their
widows and their orphans.
AS he was Jealous and loyal in the
discharge of his duties as soldier so
was he equally jealous and loyal in the
discharge Of his duties as a civil en-
ploye of the Government, and his loyal
ty to his friends and interest in their
welfare was excelled by no man living
or dead
He was a courteous gentleman. ge-
nial in disposition. always friendly and
kind-hearted and ready and glad to do
ANYTHING in his power to promote the
happiness of others.
Such is the record of the splendid
citizen and soldier who has passed from
an active and useful life to his reward
in better world.
''As comrades who loved him for his
good qualities of heart AID mind and
the useful work he so faithfully per-
formed while in our midst, we deeply
mourn his departure. and shall miss
him, but we rejoice that it vas our priv
ilege to be associated with and to enjoy
the genial companionship of Comrade
Michael Emmett Urcll. Past Commander,
Department of the Potomac, c. A. r.
The comrades are requested to attend
his funeral services should they be
held in Washington.
''Py order of H. A Johnson. Depart
ment Commander: o. H. Oldroyd, AS
SiStant Adiutant- General" 4"