188i.] ^J [Carson. 



League. From his boyhood, he had been almost a stranger to his native 

 city, and was personally unknown to many of her leading citizens, but 

 his distinguished scientific and military services had become a part of the 

 imperishable history of the nation, and entitled him to this tribute of re- 

 spect, affection and gratitude. The lofty conception which he entertained 

 of his noble profession, inspired the words with which he received the 

 gift: "The sword is regaided as the emblem of manly virtue, of a just 

 mind, a courageous heart, and a gentle spirit. No token of your regard 

 for me as a soldier and as a man could be more acceptable, and, per- 

 haps, I most fittingly acknowledge your gift in saying that I sliall try 

 so to wear this beautiful embodiment of all the qualities a sword should 

 possess, that its spotless blade may never be stained, nor its brilliant lus- 

 tre dimmed." 



This was his ideal of the model soldier. It is not too much to say that 

 in thought, word and deed he fulfilled and illustrated it. 



At the Meade memorial meeting of the citizens of Philadelphia, held on 

 the 18tli November, 1872, Gen. Humphreys delivered an address upon 

 the military services of General Meade. It is an able and luminous re- 

 view of complicated operations, and without the aid of turgid adjectives 

 or pretentious nouns, embodies the highest tribute ever paid by a military 

 critic to a great commander. After a thorough discussion of the question 

 why Meade did not capture Lee after the battle of Gettysburg, General 

 Humphreys declares : "After a careful examination of the svibject so far 

 ns I am capable of forming an opinion, I am led to the conclusion that 

 Meade, at Gettysburg, had a more difficult task than Wellington at Water- 

 loo, and performed it equally well, although he had no Bllicher to turn 

 the scale." From such a critic what praise could be highei', and yet 

 what could be simpler in point of expression? 



In drawing to a conclusion this imperfect review of the career of Gen. 

 Humphreys, it will be proper to quote a few carefully selected expressions 

 of opinion by men qualified by their public positions and professional at- 

 tainments to form a competent judgment. 



Gen. De Peyster says : " In the death of A. A. Humphreys, the United 

 States lost without question their most thoroughly scientific engineer and 

 soldier and general combined ; illustrious in every branch of the service 

 which he adorned ; equally able as an engineer for the use of inert mate- 

 rials, and as a general for the handling of living masses, and as a soldier 

 for setting an example of intrepidity, ***** in topography, 

 geodesy and dynamics he was equally eminent, and his pen was not more 

 capable of demonstrating the laws which govern natural cataclysms than 

 his sword in cutting the Gordian knot of difficulties by his bold strategy 

 and bolder tactics." 



Gen. Hancock has declared " That if he were an absolute monarch, and 

 could dispose of a large army ; he knew of no one whom he would place 

 at its head with such perfect confidence as Humphreys." 



Another major-general of distinction has said: "Humphreys' leader- 



