Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/295

 army regulations, and his superiors were thus able to procure his dismissal from the service. The Iowa people and soldiers, who know of Colonel Shaw’s valuable services, his fine record as one of the most competent and fearless officers that our State sent into the service, are proud of his career. His dismissal, through the influence of a political general, who never won a battle, is a fitting victory for the incompetent commander of the Red River fiasco, who marched against the enemy with his baggage train at the front. When the order of dismissal came to General A. J. Smith, in whose army Colonel Shaw had served with distinguished ability, that officer refused to have it promulgated and relieved him of his command in the following language:

“In relieving Colonel Shaw from command of the Third Division prior to his being mustered out, it is but an act of justice to an energetic, thorough and competent officer to say that for the last fifteen months he has been in this command as a post brigade and division commander, he has in every position performed the incumbent duties well and faithfully with an ability few can equal, with courage, patriotism and skill above question. The service loses an excellent officer when he is mustered out.”

By order of Major-General A. J. Smith.

Upon his retirement the officers of the division Colonel Shaw had commanded presented him with an elegant sword as a testimonial of their high regard.