e succeeded McPherson in the command of the army of the
Tennessee. McPherson was thirty-five when he gave up his heroic life
on the bloody field before Atlanta. Slocum was thirty-eight when he
handled his division with consummate skill at White-Oak Swamp. Joseph
J. Reynolds was a major-general before he was forty. Parke was at the
head of a corps when he was thirty-five. Hazen was thirty-four when he
led in the important capture of Fort McAllister. McKenzie, Custer,
Kilpatrick, and Ames had each won his star before he had passed his
twenty-sixty hear. The only West-Point man who became conspicuous in
the command of troops after he was fifty years of age was David Hunter.
He entered upon his sixtieth year on the day of the unfortunate battle
of Bull Run, and engaged thenceforth in severe and meritorious
field-service. Montgomery C. Meigs, one of the ablest graduates of
the Military Academy, was kept from the command of troops by the
inestimably important services he performed as quartermaster-general,
in which office he succeeded Joseph E. Johnston when the latter cast
his fortunes with the Confederacy. Perhaps in the military history of
the world there was never so large an amount of money disbursed upon
the order of a single man as by the order of General Meigs. The
aggregate sum could not have less during the war than fifteen hundred
millions of dollars, accurately vouched and accounted for to the last
cent. General Meigs is still living, vigorous in mind and body, active
in good works, and enjoying the unstinted confidence and admiration of
his countrymen.

Among the officers who volunteered from civil life the success of young
men as commanders was not less marked than among the graduates of West
Point. General Logan, to whom is conceded by common consent the
leading reputation among volunteer officers, and who rose to the
command of an army, went to the field at thirty-five. General Butler
was forty-two when he was placed at the head of the Army of the Gulf,
and began his striking career in Louisiana. General Banks was
forty-four when with the rank of major-general he took command of the
Department of Maryland. Alfred Terry, since distinguished in the
regular service, achieved high rank as a volunteer at thirty-five.
Garfield was a major-general at thirty-one with brilliant promise as a
solider when he left the field to enter Congress. Frank Blair at
forty-one was a successful commander of a divisio