Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/414

 MILNOR

MILROY

was secretary of a committee cliosen by the Philadelphia Bible society in 1816 to extend its operations, and on his removal to New York be- came actively connected with the American Bible society. He was a delegate from the American Bible society to the British and Foreign Bible societies, 1830, and was intrusted with securing an instructor in Paris for the New York asylum for the deaf and dumb. He received the degree of D.D. from the University of Pennsyl- vania in 1819. He published Oration of Ma- sonry (1811); Thanksgiving Day Sermon (1817); A Plea for the American Colonization Society (1826); Sermon on the Death of De Witt Clinton (1828); and A Charitable Judgment of the Opin- ions and Condxict of Others Recommended, de- livered the Sunday before his death (1844). See Memoir, by Rev. John S. Stone, D.D. (1855). II.? died in New York city, April 8, 1844.

MILNOR, William, representative, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1785 ; son of William and Ann (Brientnall) Milnor, members of the Society of Friends, and a brother of the Rev. James Milnor, D.D. (q.v.). His parents were both descendants of early Quaker settlers in Pennsylvania. He attended the Philadelphia grammar school, engaged in mercantile busi- ness with his father, and became prominent in the community. He was elected a Federalist representative from Philadelphia county in the 10th, nth, 14th and 17th congresses, 1807-11, 1815-17 and 1821-22, resigning in 1822, when he was succeeded by Thomas Forrest. He also served as mayor and alderman of Philadelphia. I le was the author of several political pamphlets. Shortly before his death he removed to Burling- ton, N.J., where he died, Nov. 11, 1843.

MILROY, Robert Houston, soldier, was born near Salem, Ind., June 11, 1816 ; son of Gen. Samuel and Martha (Houston) Milroy ; grandson of Henry and Agnes (MoCormack) Milroy, and great-grandson of John and Martha (Bruce) Mc- Elroy. John McElroy was the Earl of Annandale, Scotland, and a lineal descendant of Robert Bruce, and having been persecuted for joining in a revolution in Scotland, fled to Ireland in 1774 with his young wife, changing his name to Mil- roy and after a few years settled in Carlisle, Pa. Robert H. Milroy was employed on his father's farm and in his mills until 1840 ; was graduated from Norwich university, Vt., A.B. and M.M.S., in 1843, and began the study of law in Indiana in 1844. He served in the Mexican war as captain in the Ist Indiana volunteers, 1846-47 ; was gradu- ated from Indiana university, LL.B., 1850, and practised at Delphi, Ind., 1850-53, and at Renssel- aer, 1854-61. He was a member of the Indiana constitutional convention of 1850-51 ; and judge of the eighth judicial circuit court of Indi-

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ana, 1852. He recruited a volunteer company in April, 1861 ; was commissioned colonel of the 9th Indiana volunteers, April 26, 1861 ; served under McClellan in western Virginia, and waa mustered out, July 30, 1861. He was mustered in. again, Sept. 5, 1861, and in December, 1861, attacked the Confederates in front of Cheat Mountain Pass. He was pro- moted brigadier-gen- eral, Feb. 6, 1862, to rank from Sept. 5,

1861, and in January,

1862, assumed com- mand of the Moun- tain Department. To put a stop to guerilla warfare in western Virginia, he directed that whenever a loyal citizen should be killed or his property de- stroyed by guerillas or rangers an appraise- ment of the property should be taken by Federal officers, and the number of lives taken recorded, and within twenty-four hours of the occurrence notice given to the Confederate sympathizers in the neighborhood of the loss, and the amount so appraised immediatelj* paid to the widow or heirs ; those failing to comply to be shot and their property burned. The order- caused President Davis to appeal to General Halleck through General Lee, and Halleck ordered Milroy to revoke the order, which he- did not do, but reported the full facts of all dep- redations already committed to President Lincoln, and the President sustained his position, and the order was not revoked. President Davis then made the order the subject of a special mes- sage to the Confederate congress, which body offered a reward of $100,000 for the body of General Milroy, dead or alive. He was attacked by Jackson at McDowell, in May, 1862, and held his ground till reinforced by Shields, who as- sumed command, and together they fought the battle of McDowell, May 8, 1862, and were forced back to Franklin. Jackson retired to Richmond, and Milroy's independent brigade was attached to Siegel's corps, Army of Vir- ginia, and took part in the second battle of Bull Run. He was promoted major-general of volun- teers, Nov. 29, 1862, and his division of the 8th army corps, 9000 strong, occupied Winchester withe McReynolds's brigade on observation at Berry- ville. On June 1 1. when asked about evacuat- ing and joining Kelley at Harper's Ferry, he re- ported that he could hold the place against any- force in the valley, and was authorized to re«