Evening journal., 1913-06-21
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How General Webb Got His
First Commission
By Holland.

few months after John c. Cal
houn became secretary of war. in the
administration of President James
Monroe, lad not yet out Of his teens
who was living at Cooperstown, N.
Y, heard many words Of commenda-
ton for the manner in which the
great South Carolina statesman had
with marvellous executive ability
brought order out OF chaos in mat
department.
So it happened that when his guar
dian and uncle insisted that the
young man begin the study of med!-
cine his mind turned toward the great
war secretary. With caution and
secrecy he set apart for himself that
portion of the old silver which be-
longed to his father, and of which he
was the rightful heir. This was all
of his fortune. With it he went
away out to the world. nor did his
uncle know where he had gone.
In New York city he sold his sill
yer to a silversmith and then went
on to Washington, purposing calling
upon John c. Calhoun
So much of his history the late
General James Watson Webb mar
rated in the closing years of his Lire
! to some of those who we're near to
him.
II shall always remember John G.
Calhoun with the greatest sense OF
/ gratitude. / differed with him po-
| litically, later" said General Webb,
but my political differences never
obliterated the high regard had for
him. ! went to Washington solely
for the purpose of asking Calhoun,
who was then secretary OF war, If
he would appoint me to lieutenancy
in the army.
1T was an audacious purpose, al
though then ! did not realize it to be
such. ! was not a graduate of West
Point had no political influence.
was in Washington really as a rum
away from my home. Yet when
called upon Calhoun, ] was inspired
by the feeling that man who could
accomplish what he had done in re-
organizing the war department might
be willing to listen to such plea as
I could make.
"He received me cry kindly.
think he realized my position. lie
asked me in a very gentle, kindly
/
him that l would like to have HIN
appoint me a lieutenant in the army.
"He looked at me earnestly and il
quiringly for a few moments. and
saw that he was reading me through
and through with his kindly yet
piercing eyes.
He asked me what my qualifica-
tions were l told him that I had
nothing but the record of my father
upon which to base my application
He asked me what my fathers record
was, and seemed really anxious to
hear the story.
q told him that my father mad
served as a general in the Revolu-
tionary army, and furthermore, that
he had been a member of General
Washington's military family, and at
one time served as a staff officer under
Washington. think he knew some
thing of my fathers history as a sol
der in the Revolution.
He asked me many questions about
myself. ] told him that / had suf-
ficient education to have enabled me
to pass examination for admission
to West Point. He asked me how
got to Washington. confessed to
him that had gathered together
, what belonged to me and practically
ran away, because / wanted TO ente.
the army and didn't want to be a
doctor
"He looked at me long time after
I told him this, and at last he said
You 60 back to your lodgings anc
, write out an application for appoint
ment as a lieutenant, stating briefly
, who you are, who your father wal
and what your qualifications are and
. send me that application.
Il didn't know whether he told MI
r that to get rid of me or not, but
sent him the application, and in a few
days / received a communicates
? signed John c. Calhoun. secretary o
war, appointing me a Lieutenant II
the army of the United States. SooI
after the appointment Calhoun sen
me to Fort Dearborn, where Chicago
I now stands"
= James Watson Webb afterward be
2 came a distinguished American citi
zen. He served some twelve or M
= teen years in the army, and after tina
! became one of the leading American
I journalists. He was an intimat
friend of William H. Seward an
D served for four years as Unite'
= States minister to Brazil.
= Copyright. 1918, by E. J. Edwards
r All rights reserved.)