The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-06
SAVED THE CAPITAL IN 1863
To-day Is the Birthday Anniversary of Gen. HOratO G.
Wright.

mand OF the Fifth Military District Iou-
isiana and Texas). and in 1863 was made
lieutenant general. Upon the retirement
of Sherman In 1883, ne succeeded to the
chief command of the army. He died at
Nonqultt, Mass, on August 5. 1883.
Eighteen years ago to-day there died in
New York City. Edwards Pierrepont. civil
war Democrat. who became President
Grants Attorney General. During the
civil war there were Democrats who
were opposed to the continuance OF the
struggle which they had come 10 be per-
suaded would be fruitless. and other DEM
ocrats who while processing continued
allegiance to the Democratic party, sup
ported the administration Of President
Lincoln, and in 1864 worked for Mr.. Lin
coins reelection.
Among this latter class few were more
prominent than Edwards Pierrepont,
great-grandson OF the Roxbury preacher
OF the seventeenth century. James Pierre
pont. who moved to New Haven, Conn,
and was one of the three ministers that
concerted the plan of founding a college,
which took effect in the establishment OF
Yale College. 100. James Pierrepont was
one of the principal trustees of that ipsti-
tuition. and II was principally through his
influence that Elihu Yale was induced TO
make the college the object Of his liberal
benefactions.
Edwards Pierrepont received his bap-
tlsmal name in memory Of II. Jonathan
Edwards, who married a daughter OF
James Pierrepont. Edwards Pierrepont.
after graduating from Yale, went to CO.
Iumbus. Ohio. 70 practice law, but at
twenty-eight removed to New York.
where he became eminent at the bar. At
forty ne was elected judge of the superios
Court of the City Of New York. He fore
saw the civil war, and year and a half
before the fall of Fort Sumter he pre-
dicted the great conflict in a speech
which attracted much attention. In the
second year of the war President Lin
coin appointed him, with Gen. John A.
Dix. 10 try the prisoners of state who
were confined in the various Federal Dris-
ons and forts.
When Lincoln was renominated in 1854
war Democrats in favor of the Presi-
dents reelection. After the assassination
Of Lincoln the members Of the alleged
conspiracy, of which Booth had been the
head, were tried by court-martisl, and a
number of them hanged among them
Mrs. Surratt, who was charged with hav-
ing conducted the rendezvous for the con-
spirators.
John H. Surratt was the husband Of
this woman. and he also would have been
tried by court-martiaI but he escaped,
and. upon his return to this country, he
was tried in the civil court. Pierrepont
was employed to conduct the prosecution
on the part of the government The jury
in the case OF SurTatt disagreed. the ex-
citement over the murder of Lincoln hay-
/ Ing become less intense.
Throughout the war Pierrepont had been
very active in the Union cause. but IL
was not until the nomination Of Gen.
Grant for the Presidency. in 1868. that he
formally forsook the Democratic party
and became an avowed Republican. Pres
ident Grant appointed him United States
attorney for the Southern district Of New
York. but this Office Pierrepont resigned
/ and became. in 1870. one Of the most ac-
/ tive members of the committee in oppo-
sition to the Tweed ring, which had for
its object the overthrow of William NJ.
I Tweed, the great New York boss, who
was charged with the most fragrant COR
ruption.
| President Grant appointed PieFrepont
Minister to Russia in 1878, but this Office
was declined. and two years later Pierre
pont became Attorney General in the
Presidents Cabinet, an Office he left in
1876 TO become Minister to Great Britain.
| When Gen Grant began his tour Of the
world. Minister Pierrepont succeeded in
persuading the British government 70 ac-
cord to the ex-President the same prece-
dence as had been given 10 the ex-ruler
OF France, Napoleon III. and other gov
ernments followed the example OF Great
Britain. Pierrepont was an earnest stu
dent of finance. and in his later years he
issued a pamphlet advocating an Internal
tionaI treaty. By which the commercial
value Of the silver dollar might be re-
stored.