Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-04

JalillH r futier. who was at tnat llilis
Attorney General in President Van Bu-
ren's cabinet. He was admitted to the
bar in 1s46. He served in Congress from
1897 TO 1861 and again in 1S93-94
The life Of a soldier appealed to young
Sickles. and he Joined the 18th Regiment.
National Guard. In 1si9. as a private. IN
three years he retired from the organize
ton as major. He rose to be major
general in the United States Army later.
Becomes Secretary of Legation.
In the fan Of 1853 Sickles was com
missioned secretary of legation in Lon
don. under Minister James Buchanan.
After serving two years abroad he re-
turned to enter into the bitter political
fight that sent him into the state senate.
Before his senatorial term was out Sick
les was elected to Congress.
1t was during his stay in Washington
that an event occurred which became
the sensation of the day. His ambition
to fit himself for the diplomatic service
had led him TO take up She study of
French and Italian, and in this way he
met Therese Bagioli. daughter of am
Italian music teacher. and married her
when she was seventeen years old. When
her husband went to Congress Mrs.
Sickles accompanied him. Philip Bar
ton Key. United states attorney for the
District of Columbia. son of Francis
Scott Key. the auther of The Star
Spangied Banner" paid attention to
Mrs. Sickles. and Sickles shot and killed
Key OH the street In this city February
-. 1853.
Sickles declared Key had misled Mrs.
Sickles. His trial. which lasted twenty
days. ended in the acquitta of Sickles.
the defense being temporary alteration
of mind, and this was the first case In
which that plea was set up as a defense.
After his acquittal Sickles took his wife
back.
Death of His Wife.
Mrs. s:ckles died few years later.
Retiring from Congress in March. 1851,
Sickles was one of the first TO antici
pate need of soldiers. At the outbreak
of the civil var the young politician.
then thirty-eight years old, went 10 Lin
coin TO offer his services.
You have been a leader in New York
democratic politics.. said the President.
IF you kept your end up at that game
surely you'll do to take command of men
in the field
The retired congressman returned to
New York and organized the Excelsior
stoned colonel of one OF the five regi-
ments. He was nominated brigadier gen
eral In September. 1861. but was not con-
firmed by the Senate until March. 1862.
Gen. SickleS served under Gen. Hooker
with distinction at Fair Oaks and NAL
vern Hill. He was in the seven days
fighting before Richmond and partici-
pated at Antetam. He succeeded Gen.
Hooker in commnd of the division. He
was appointed major genera of volun-
teers in 1862. but his commission dated
from the year previous
At charlottesville. commanding the
Third Army Corps to which he had been
promoted. he was highly commended for
gallant conduct and his courage and ac
tivity at Gettysburg are matters of his
tory. 1t was at Gettysburg that he lost
leg In March, 1885, he was brevetted
a major general of the regular army for
bravery and meritorious service at Gettys-
burg.
Goes on Confidential Mission.
President Lincoln and Secretary Seward
sent Gen. Sickles on a confidential mission
to Colombia and other South American
states early in 1865. He negotiated an
important treaty regarding rights of tran
sit over the Isthmus of Panama. I'm
mediately upon his return to this country
he was selected to play an important part
in the task of reconstruction.
In the spring of 1869, President Grant
having rendered to Gen. Sickles the mis-
sion to Mexico. which was declined, APP
pointed him United States minister to
Spain. a post which he retained until
March 20 1874. After relinquishing that
office to his successor. Gen. Sickles con-
tinued to reside abroad. chiefly in France.
until 1850.
At the court of Spain Sickles became a
dominating figure. Here he contracted his
second marriage with Senorita Creagh in
1877. A son. Stanton. and daughter,
EGna. We're the results Of this marriage.
The general returned to New York alone
and re-entered politics. He served as
sheriff of New York county. and at the
age of siXty-seven was reelected to Con-
gress Trouble came to him in his last
Years. and several attempts were made to
seize the art treasures in his 9Th avenue
home because of debt.