Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-03
Born in New York State in 1888.

|
theology. and at sixteen years of age
he became self-supporting by teaching
| school at Germantown. N. j.
Al nineteen he entered a physicians
| once to study medicine, and subse-
| quently attended the College of Physi-
clans and Surgeons in New York city,
| 1860 "
Upon the outbreak of the civil war
ne passed the examination Of the Army
medical Corps, was appointed assistant
surgeon May %, 1861, and assigned to
duty with the Sd United States Infan-
try.
Gallant Civil War Record.
His civil war record was a most cred
liable one, and embraced a number of
interesting and dangerous experiences
He was made a captain and major,
United States Army, "for faithful and
meritoHous services" during the war
and lieutenant colonel for gallant
service in performance of his profess
sional duty under fire in action against
the Indians at Clearwater, Idaho, July
IL. 1877"
Gen. sternberg participated in many
engagements, including the first battle
of Bull Run, on which occasion he
was wounded and taken prisoner. He
escaped from Fairfax Court House
shortly afterward and at once rejoined
fire while caring for the wounded at
the battles Of Gaines Mill and Malvern
Hill, and afterward suffered a severe
attack of typhoid fever He was ex-
ecutive officer OF the United States gen
eral hospital at Portsmouth Grove, r.
l.; was with Gen. Banks expedition to
the Gulf of Mexico, and, at the close of
the war, was serving as officer in
charge of the United States general
hospital at Cleveland, Ohio.
Service in Indian Campaigns.
He was in the field in various In
dian campaigns from 1868 to 1870, and,
among his many details. was at Fort
Columbus. in New York harbor, dur
ing the yellow fever epidemic of 1871,
and in Florida during similar scares
in 1873 and 1875 He participated in
the expedition against the Nez Perez
Indians in 1877, and was a member
of the Havana yellow fever commits
sion in 1879
he was delegate from the United
states to the international sanitary
conference held in Rome, Italy, in 1885
and IN 1887 was detailed to make in
relating to the etiology and prevention
of yellow fever.
Heroic Labors for Health,
AS surgeon general of the army, to
which post he was appointed May %,
1898, his work in the establishment
and improvement of army hospitals
and laboratories is acknowledged of
the greatest Importance.
In fact, Gen. Sternberg, although well
known for his exploits on the field of
pattie, Is even better appreciated for
his labors on behalf of the health both
OF the army and the civil population of
this country during times Of peace.
During the Spanish-American war he
established general hospitals at Key
West, Savannah. Fort Thomas. XIV:
Fort Mcpherson. Ga; Fort Monroe. Va
Fort Myer, Washington barracks and
San Francisco, and upon his RECON-
mendation two hospital ships were pur-
chased and equipped All surgeons Of
appointed on his recommendation. and
he organized the female nurse corps
and the corps of dental surgeons in
compliance with acts of Congress
passed on his recommendations.
At the outbreak of the conflict he
issued a circular calling attention to
the danger of typhoid in camps and or
ganized the typhoid fever board" with
ganized the yellow fever commission of
1900, with the now famous Mai Reed
and Drs Carroll, Lazear and Aramonte
as members. In 1901 he recommended
a large increase in the medical depart
ment to correspond with the increase
in the army made at that time.
Recipient Of Numerous Degrees,
During the Fifty-seventh Congress
the Senate passed a bill, having the
approval of the Secretary of War, to
retire Gen. Sternberg as major gen.
eral in return for Tong, faithful and
distinguished service" When called
up under the suspension of rules June
2. 1902, the bill was opposed In the
House on the ground that it would af-
ford a precedent for similar future
legislation, and it failed to receive the
necessary two-thirds vote Since his
retirement, however, the policy of re-
firing civil war veterans with an addi-
tional grade has been adopted, and sew |
eral of his former colleagues in the
War Department have received the |!
coveted rank.
In recognition of his valuable serv-
ices the University Of Michigan con-
ferred on Cen Sternberg the degree of
LII. D. in 1894. and In 1897 Brown Uni
versity paid him like honor. He held
active and honorary membership in
medical and scientific societies In this |
mention. and in many of these he was |
at one time or another an officer.
Active in Civic Affairs.
Although retired from army life in |
1902, Gen. Sternberg by no means re-
tired from active affairs. He was presi- |
dent of the Washington Sanitary Hous-
ing Company, Of the Presidents homes
commission, of the Citizens Relief AS
ISOLATION. and of the Washington Sana-
torium Company: chairman of the COM
mittee of prevention of tuberculosis,
treasurer of the national association
of the same name, and a member of the
committee on the international tuber-
culosis conference. He was a member
of the board of directors of Garfield
Hospital and president of the board of
visitors OF the Governnent Hospital for
ventive medicine in the faculty of
graduate studies of George Washington
University. He was a member of the |
Cosmos Club and at one time its presi-
dert.
His late residence, zoos Massachu- |