Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/187

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" ' Nihil quod erat, non tetigit; nihil quod tetigit, non ornavit.'

" The death of Major-General Whiting deserves more than a pass- ing notice. Born in a garrison, the son of an eminent officer of the old army, a graduate, with distinguished honor, of the first military school on this continent, he was peculiarly qualified, by education and association, to render his country marked service.

"Constantly on active and varied duty, whilst an officer of the United States army, he was enabled, by experience, to improve a mind already well practiced in his profession, and cultivate a taste for that arm, of which, at an early age, he was regarded as a bril- liant ornament. Upon secession, he promptly resigned his commis- sion, and offering his services to the Provisional Government at Montgomery, was appointed Major of Engineers in the regular Con- federate army.

"Assigned as Chief Engineer Officer at Charleston, his engineer- ing skill was recognized as of essential benefit in the operations which reduced Fort Sumter.

" Transferred to Virginia he was selected by General J. E. John- ston as Chief of Staff, and, after the first battle of Manassas, received the merited promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General.

" The commander of a splendid division in the Army of North- ern Virginia he served in the campaigns of 1861 and 1862 with con- spicuous credit. In the seven days' battles around Richmond, his command did gallant service, contributing in a large measure to our successes. The ability evinced by General Whiting in the disposi- tion on that occasion and handling of his troops, combined with his coolness and self-possession, elicited the highest praise; the Presi- dent himself, an eye-witness, bearing cheerful testimony to his worth and valor.

" But it was not in the field only, that General Whiting's abilities and talents were displayed. Assigned to the command of the de- fenses of the Cape Fear, he exhibited, in the works which constituted those defences, a genius and skill as an engineer which won the un- stinted praise of every military judge praise that was even accorded by the enemy.

" His administrative capacity was of the highest order a percep- tion wonderfully quick; familiar with all the details of his command, thereby conversant with its wants; always accessible; prompt in the dispatch of business; firm, yet courteous, in his intercourse; recon- ciling, with unusual facility, conflicting interests; establishing with great success, regulations for a trade requiring commercial, rather