Year: 1864

The Oldest Of the corps s-commandera
Of the Army OF the Potomac, the veteran
soldier whose renown is identified with it,
and whose personal fame has contributed
largely to the reputation of that army foi
steady valor, the General who has twice
been offered aDd twice refused the command
Of the army--JoHN SEDGwICK lis dead.
The army has suffered no such loss since its
organization. As General, he stood alone
his military talent in its own kind with
out any parallel. He was the soldier who
by the eager testimony of all who knew him,
Of all Generals above him and beneath him,
was most distinguished BY iDdomitable ten
acity Of purpose, and By the ability to do
more with given force than any other com
mander-to carry it further on the march,
to hold it longer against an overwhelming
attack, TO lead it more surely on an enter.
prise which any other will than his would
have deemed iorlorn, to win victory out Of
defeat, and 10 cherish an elastic hope amid
the most depressing discouragements. We
know not where to look for his successor. -
Ii was he who gave its name to the Fight
ing Sixth. 3" Who shall perpetuate 1t?


John Sedgwick was born in Connecticut
in 1917, was graduated at West Point in
=
Lieutenant in 1889, won breyet as aptsin
for gsllantry at Contreras and Cherubusco,
and Major in the battles Of Molino del Rey
Chepultepec, and the San Cosme Gate, re-
ceived his commission as Captain in l849,
was made Major iR the lst Cavalry in 1855,
Colonel OF the 4th Cavalry in 1861, Briga-
dier General Of Volunteers ia the same
year, Aug. 4, and Major General July 4.
1862. In that brief detail of facts is crowd
ed the gaIlantry of lite devoted to the
military service Of his country, and finally
laid down to save it.


OF his career in the Army of the Poto-
mac it is enough to say that he fought with
high distinction in every battle from which
his wounds did not keep him away. He
rose steadily, and was successfully appointed
to the command of brigade, division,
and corps, in spite of modesty which
led him to underrate his own ability and to
profess himself content with subordinate
command On the Peninsula he was twice
severely wounded. At Antietam he led a
division in Summers corps, and chung to the
field till he had received three wounds. On
his recovery he was assigned to command the
9th Corps, was subsequently transferred to
the 5th, and finally to the 9th which he has
never since forsaken-never till now, and
only now in death. In the Charlottesville
campaign, his was the movement on Fred
ericksburg, which did all that in one man
lay to retrieve the disasters of Hooker at
Charlottesville. At Gettysburg he arrived
on the field late on the second day, after
march of thrty-three miles, went instantly
into battle, and drove back the enemy, who
had forced the I'd Corps to retreat and were
pressing their advantage. He never was in
battle out Of which he did not bring away
great distinction for himself


But even his fame as military COM
mander will be less tenderly cherished than
the memory of his personal character by
those who knew him in private life, who
have shared his hospitality in memorable
campaigns, and who learned to know the
solid worth, the high sense of honor, the
cordial feelings, the generous traits, which
characterized him. We pass those memo
ries hastily--the news of his death is but
just received. The bullet of sharpshooter
at Spottsylvania has gone to the heart Of
John Sedgwick-has added another to the
costly lives which this Rebellion has deman-
ded as sacrifice There never was mo-
ment when he was not ready to give it. Let
no friend of his remember his loss so mourn
fully as not to keep his example, his mem
ory, his undyng fame, ever before him as
an example and an inspiration.