n in the arduous
campaign which ended with the fall of Vicksburg. Jacob D. Cox had
achieved his reputation in the field at thirty-four. Sickles was
forty-one when, desperately wounded, he was borne from the head of his
corps at Gettysburg. Cadwallader Washburn in his forty-third year was
in command of an important district in the South-West. Rawlins was
high in General Grant's confidence and favor at thirty when he filled
the important post of chief of staff. James B. Steedman was forty-four
when he received Mr. Lincoln's special encomium for bravery. Franz
Sigel was in command of a corps before he was thirty-five. Crawford
was thirty-three when his division did its noble work at Gettysburg.
Chamberlain was thirty-four when he associated his name indelibly with
the defense of Little Round-Top. Corse was but twenty-nine when he
held the pass at Altoona. Beaver was still younger when he received
his terrible wound and his promotion. Grenville Dodge had risen to the
rank of a major-general and approved his merit in the Atlanta campaign
before his was thirty-three. Hawley did splendid service in the field
at thirty-five, and rose rapidly to the rank of brigadier-general.
Gresham had made his brave record at thirty-two, and bears wounds to
attest his service. The McCooks were all young, all gallant, all
successful. Negley was a brigadier-general at thirty-two. Robert
Potter commanded a corps before he was thirty-seven. Joseph B. Carr
achieved an honorable reputation in his early thirties. Hartranft was
highly distinguished before he was thirty-seven. Nelson A. Miles left
his counting-room at twenty-one, enlisted as a private, and in two
years was a brigadier-general. Selden Connor was rewarded with the
same rank for his conduct at the battle of the Wilderness before he was
twenty-seven. Nicholas L. Anderson was under thirty when he received
his brevet of major-general for a military career worthy in all
respects of his eminent kinsman who fired the first gun in defense of
the Union. The only general of volunteers beyond fifty years of age
who acquired special distinction was James S. Wadsworth who in his
fifty-seventh year fell in one of the most sanguinary battles of the war.

The list, both of regulars and volunteers, who achieved high command
while still young, might be largely increased. The names given are
selected from a roll of honor that has never been surpassed for
gallantry of spirit and intrep