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many had to go barefooted. Much of their rest was broken by their not getting dry places to sleep on.
Very respectfully,
O. B. TAYLOR, Captain Commanding.
A Sketch of the Life of General Josiah Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance of the Confederate States.
Among the distinguished officers of the Confederate Government, the Chief of Ordnance, General Josiah Gorgas, was probably more highly appreciated by those who had personal or official contact with him than any other Chief of Bureau, and at the same time he was less known by the general public. This fact will be recognized by those best acquainted with him, as entirely consonant with his char- acter. His energy, activity, and great ability impressed all persons .who were brought into intercourse with him, and they knew and felt his power. With the general public he was shrinking and modest to the last degree, so that his name was not discussed, and his wonder- ful capacity was not seen nor felt, except in the active discharge of his duties.
General Gorgas was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, on the ist day of July, 1818, and entered the United States Military Academy at West Point on the ist of July, 1837, and graduated No. 6 in the class of 1841. His rank in his class entitled him to position in the Engineer or Ordnance Departments, and he was immediately placed on duty as an ordnance officer, and served as such until 1845, when leave of absence was granted to him in order that he might go to Europe to pursue his profession there, and examine the arsenals and arms abroad. In 1846 he returned to Watervliet Arsenal as as- sistant ordnance officer.
When the war with Mexico commenced, he went into active ser- vice, and on the 3d of March, 1847, he was promoted and made First Lieutenant. He was engaged in the siege of Vera Cruz, and served with distinction. When Vera Cruz was occupied, he was placed in charge of the ordnance depot there. After the close of the war, he returned to Watervliet Arsenal as assistant ordnance officer, and served there and at other arsenals until 1853, when he was placed in command of Mt. Vernon Arsenal in Alabama.
His official duties carried him frequently to Mobile, where he was
