Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-10
Phil Kearny



A CENTURY ago on the second OF next June baby
n appeared at No. Broadway. New York City
who destined TO become the aumnus Of
Columbia college most secure for all time against
lmputation OF psclfism. Phil Kearny" name
much the tongues OF Americans during the late
fores and early sixties but the deeds that brought
him glory. with mutilation and death. had no con-
nection with the paths The good fame OF HE
life and the distinction death exclusively
those that belong to the soldier.
Kesrny entered Columbus a sophomore in 1880
and graduated the class OF 1893 OF his career
student little record remains. The extra-curric-
uisr possibilities OF that day limited TO the
activities OF the ancient literary societies. and
who s Interested may trace Kearnys participation in
the proceedings OF the Pethoiogian society. whose
minute books preserved in the library. He was
admitted 10 the society october H. 1881. and continued
TO draw books from its library until February. 1894
long time after he graduated. He was fined
shilling for disorder" marked paid" and another
shilling "for taking books than the allotted num-
Der without permission" Neither OF these punish
mens gave him any distinction since most members
Of the society appear under like circumstances tho
conscientious treasurers lists.
Rearny devoted some time after graduation to the
perfunctory study OF law In 1896 he inherited large
fortune at the OF his GRANDPA Their and there
upon promptly entered the that had coveted
from early boyhood. His uncle. Stephen w. Kearny,
was colonel OF the First regiment OF United States
dragons, and the nephew procured commission as
second lieutenant in the same organization After
few years Of service IN the west he designated
Of three subaterns go France and study the
training and tactics OF the cavalry Of the French
army In connection with this duty he went with the
armies that conquered Algeria and participated In
some OF the severest campaigns OF that This
perienee In a French environment confirmed and
enhanced temperamenta characteristics that
splcuous In Rearny. His forbcsrs were OF the Irish
Celtic stock and the weI-known military qualities Of
this strain were artistically supplemented by the
equally wel-known traits OF the Gallo Ceis, It Is
NJ both
superior and inferior in rank that his fondness for
fighting per without limit. that hts courage
always verged on rashness. ana that on the other
hand. his for his men and his attention TO his
appearance covered the terrible features OF
soldering with screen that was picturesque and
winning.
AZ the outbreak OF the Mexican war, In 1896 the
procedure by which Theodore Roosevelt later paved
the way TO military distinction anticipated by
Kearny Commissioned captain, he went to III
nos then as typicaliy "far western Montana
In 1885, and recruited company OF dragons BY the
qualifications demanded for enlistment. the special
charter Of the mems equipment and the uniform color
Of the horses dron grey. Kearny made his command
unique and secured for II something OF the dis
ncton that attached In the Spanish TO the Rough
Riders. General Scott. whose nickname FUSS and
Feathers suggested his love the spectacular side
OF the military life, naturally took Kearnys company
for his headquarters guard during the campaign
against the Mexican capital In the last battle Of
the campaign. at Churubusco, when the Mexican line
retreating enemy Kearny led the charge with such
ardor 20 find himself with only half dozen COM
rades UP 20 the walls Of the City OF Mexico, IN
point blank Of battery of artillery that was
defending one OF the gates He started to return to
the American lines but the opened him and
a grape shot shattered his left Only by deter
mined effort aid he reach his men. His arm was
anputated close to the shoulder and his fighting thus
ended this He remained in the service.
ever with no apparent dminution OF either efficiency
or ardor. After. campaigns in California he
eventually rssigned from the army in lsSa.
In the late fiftes Kearny was again in France,
and In the Italian campaign or 1859 he served a
volunteer aide OF general OF the French Imperial
Guard When the civil war in America opened. Kearny
came promptly home and received commission as
brisadier general. with the OF New Jersey
brigade in the Of the Potomac. During the long
months OF preparation, through the fall and wlntar
Of se2 ne fretted much at the lack Of fighting; and
when Mcclellan started for Richmond by way Of tho
peninsula Kearny's brigade quickly conspicuous
in action In May. 1852. Kearny made major gen.
eral and put In command of q division His reputa-
ton a fighter fully sustained when the Erapple
the union forces neared Richmond. Both
within and without the army Il became automatic that
Kearnys division would do all that expected OF
It. and. II the matter required the offensive against
Odds probably little It bore full share Of
the bloody work in the Seven Days battles: IL was
put at In the front when Mcclellan sent IL to
the support OF Pope and It fell to ts lot win the
single little advantage that secured by the union
forces before they crushed and broken by
| the Second Bull Run.
As the demoraliEed federals streamed back toward
Washington. Lee sent stonawall Jackson around to
cut them off from the capital Ksarnys division tn
tact and well In hand dispatched TO thwart this
| movement At chantilly barely dozen miles from
Washington they fell upon Jackson with fury that
| put him at on tho defensive. nemoraby nercc
thunder storm brought cessation OF the struggle In
the midst OF the tumult Kearny informed that
readjustnent Of the union line his right had left
dangerous gap there He rode off entirely alone to
examine the situation jackson was a soldier too
like Kearny TO miss the opportunity given 20 him the
oonfederates already in the open place. Kearny
came suddenly Jaekson's line. DiEegarding call
10 surrender the union general turned and spued his
horse to escape. lying close to the animals neck
vollsy followed; one bullet found its mark and Pitt
Kearny fell dead. He had been close associate OF
1 many confederate officers In the Mexican war and
| was we'll known 10 Lee. BY order OF the confederate
chief Kearnys body with his horse and ell his equip
ment, was sent under nag OF truce into the union
| lines.
Funeral services for Ksarhy held in both