Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/192

 TORREY

TORREY

and at Mine Run, November 26-December 3. This was his last infantry engagement, for in April, 1804, he was put in command of the 1st division of cavalry in the Army of the Potomac, under General Sheridan. He commanded at Hanovertown; was brevetted lieutenant-colonel for gallant and meritorious services at Hawe's Shop: commanded at Matadequin Creek; fought atCold Harbor, May 31-June 1, 1864; commanded at Trevillian station, June 11, and fouglit at Turn- stall's station and in the combat at Darbytown. On Aug. S. 1864, Sheridan promoted him chief o( cavalry in the Shenandoah valley, liis corps con- sisting of the divisions of General Merritt, Colonel Powell and General Custer. He fought at Win- chester, Aug. 17, 1864, andatKearneysville, Aug. 2.5, and in several minor engagements. He was brevetted major-general of volunteers " for dis- tinguished services during the rebellion," Sept. 9, 1864. and colonel, U.S.A., Sept. 19. " for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Win- chester, Va." At Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864, it was due to his coolness in the midst of a rout that the cavalry changed position by marching through broken masses of infantry, direct to a p<iint on the main road that lay in the enemy's path. Here, supported by one division of infantrj', he checked the enemy's advance. Sheridan in his " Personal Memoirs " says: " When I arrived, this division [Getty's division, 6th corps] and the cavalry were the only troops in the presence of and resisting the enemy,'' and General Early says: " The retreat of the main body of liis army had been arrested, and a new line formed behind breast works of rails, before Sheridan arrived on the field." On Dec. 19, 1864. Torbert with two divisions of cavalry, marched through Chester Gap and made an unsuccessful raid on the Vir- ginia Central railway. He was on leave of ab- sence, Jan. 10. to Feb. 27, ISO.'}, and on March 13, was brevetted brigadier-general, U.S.A., for gal- lant and meritorious services at the battle of Cedar Creek, Va., and on the same day, major- general. U.S.A., " for gallant and meritorious ser- vices in the field during the Rebellion." When Sheridan rejoined Grant, General Torbert was given command of the Army of tiie Shenandoah; was made commander of the district of Winches- ter in July, and of the district of southeastern Virginia, Sept. 1, 1865. He was mustered out of the volunteer service, Jan. 1.5, 1866, and resigned from the regular army. Oct. 31, 1866. He made his home at Milford. Del.; was appointed U.S. minister to San Salvador in 1869, U.S. consul- general at Havana in 1871, anrl U.S. consul- general at Paris in 1^73, resigning in 1878. He died at sfa. Sfjit.::0. IMsQ.

TORREY, Bradford, author, was born in Wey- moTitli, Mass., Oct. 9. 1843; son of Samuel and

Sophronia (Dyer) Torrey; grandson of Samuel and Betsey (Lane) Torrey, and of John and Polly Dyer, and a de.scendant of William and Jane (Haviland) Torrey, who emigrated from Wey- mouth, England, in 1640, and were among the first settlers in Wessagusset, Mass. William Torrey was several times representative of the Massachusetts colony, and served as commis- sioner of the peace. Bradford Torrey attended the public schools; taught in Weymouth, Mass., 1863-64; engaged in clerical employment, Bos- ton, Mass., 1864, and from 1886 to 1901, was a member of the editorial staff of the Youth's Com- jjanion. His works on ornithology include: Birds in the Bush (188.'5); Spi'ing Notes from Tennessee (1896); A World of Green Hilh (1898); Every-day Birds{\^Q\)\ and he is also the author of: A Rambler's Lease (1889); The Foot Path Way (189-3); A Florida Sketch-Book (1894); Foot- ing It in Franconia (1902); The Clerk of the Woods (1903).

TORREY, John, botanist and U.S. assayer, was born in New York city, Aug. 15, 1796; son of Capt. William Torrey. He attended the public schools and studied medicine with Dr. Wright Post. He was graduated at the College of Phy- sycians and Surgeons, M.D., 1818, and practised in New York city, devoting much time to the study of botany, begun when a mere boy, and in other scientific research. On Aug. 5, 1824, he en- tered the U.S. army as assistant surgeon, and served as acting professor of cliemistry, mineral- ogy and geology at the U.S. Military academy, 1824-28, resigning from the army, Aug. 31, 1828, He was professor of chemistry and botany in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, 1827-55, and professor emeritus, 1855-73; professor of chemistry and natural historj- at the College of New Jersey, 1830-54; of chemistry, mineralogy and botany in the University of the City of New York, 1832-33; geological surveyor of the state of New York, 1837-44, and professor emeritus of botan}- and of chemistrj^ at Columbia college, 1860-73, in acknowledgment of a i)resent to the college of his herbarium of 50,000 speci- mens. He was made U.S. assayer in the New York assay office in 1853. and held the position up to the time of his death. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Yale in 1823, and from Williams in 1825; the degree of LL.D. from Amherst in 1845, and was a trustee of Columbia college, 1856-73. He was a founder of the New York Lyceum of Natural History (from which the New York Academy of Sciences was evolved) in 1817; vice-president of the same for many years, and president, 1824-26 and 1838; a corpo- rate member of the National Academy of Sciences, being named as such by congress, March 3. 1863; a foreign member of the Physiological .society of