GEN. KIRK. EDWARD N. KIRK was born in Jefferson co., Ohio, February 28, 1828, and was educated at the Friends' Seminary at Mt. Pleasant, his family being Quakers. He adopted the law as his profession, and entered the office of Gen. Bostwick at Cadiz in his native State, with whom he remained two years. From there he removed to Baltimore, and read law for a year with Judge Bartol, now of the Superior Court of Indiana. Mr. Kirk was admitted to practice at the bar of Baltimore, where he remained a short time, and in the spring of 1854, removed to Sterling, Illinois. He continued in his profession, which he practised with great success until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he immediately gave his whole attention to the study of military science, and in August raised the "Rock River Regiment," designated as the 34th Illinois Volunteers, and was elected Colonel of the regiment, his commission dating from August 15, 1861. Col. Kirk, in command of the 34th Regiment, left Camp Butler with his regiment the 1st of October, for Muldraugh's Hill, Ky., arriving there while the forces at that place were under Gen. Rousseau. In a few days the whole force was moved to Camp Nevin, when Gen. A. McD. McCook took command of the division of what was then Gen. Sherman's department. Colonel Kirk was in command of the regiment during the two months that the army remained at Camp Nevin. While there, the troops were drilled thoroughly in the school of the soldier-company, battalion, and the higher system of tactics, the evolutions of the line. It was here, thus early in the field, that the 34th Illinois acquired a reputation for drill and discipline second to none in the volunteer service. Many were the compliments received by Col. Kirk from officers high in command, for the handsome appearance of his regiment. Here, too, officers were schooled in tactics and the duties appertaining to them as commanders. And here it is but simple justice to state what is readily acknowledged by all officers, not only in the 5th brigade, but in the division, that Col. Kirk was celebrated for the perfection of his knowledge of drill and discipline and his remarkable comprehension of military tactics, not only in letter but in spirit, and of military science as taught by our various standard authors, of which he has been for a long time a close student. In December month, the whole division was moved to Munfordville, on Green River, and Col. Kirk was placed in command of the 5th brigade of McCook's division. He was also appointed one of the Examining Board to pass upon the qualifications of officers for the service. On the 14th of February, 1862, McCook's division was ordered to West Point, at the mouth of Salt River, to take transports for the Cumberland River. After one day's march, the order was countermanded, Fort Donelson having fallen, and the main body of Buell's army countermarched, and crossed Green River to Bowling Green, Nashville, Columbia, and on to reinforce Gen. Grant at Pittsburgh Landing. On April 6th, about 8 a.m., cannonading was heard at intervals in the direction of Savannah. About noon an order was received by Col. Kirk to pass the army trains and hasten forward his brigade with two days' rations. The brigade, after marching twenty-two miles over a muddy road, reached Savannah at 8 o'clock at night, and remained in the street for nearly three hours in a drenching rain awaiting transportation. Finally, all were embarked in transports, and at 5.30 a.m. on the 7th, disembarked at Pittsburgh Landing. The brigade, to reach the summit of the hill at the landing, had to push its way through large masses of wounded and demoralized men, the panic-stricken ones of the day before. Through all this scene of horror and woe presented on the hillside, the noble 5th moved with its gallant commander at its front. On the hill, breakfast of hard bread and water was soon over, and then the brigade marched out to take position on that terrible field of carnage. Rousseau's brigade led the way, supported by Kirk, and was formed with his left resting near Gen. Crittenden's right, and his right extending toward the north. These arrangements made by Gen. Buell, the line was ordered forward and crossed a ravine, taking a new position upon a high ridge of ground, and became immediately engaged with the enemy. The main attack was upon Rousseau's right. Knowing that the The cheer for the commander of the other. right could not long resist the fierce foray upon it, Gen. McCook ordered Col. Kirk to move forward with his brigade to take position on Rousseau's right, and to hold it at all hazards. Right gallantly the brigade moved to its new and trying duty, cheered and inspirited by the soldierly bearing of the Col. The attack on the right was continuous and raged with demoniac fury, but owing to the determined valor of Rousseau's and Kirk's brigades, the rebels were repulsed. After thickest of the fight, Major Levenway, comfalling back a half mile or more, the rebels were reinforced, and supported by two batteries of artillery, formed in line of battle, and waged anew the contest. The battle-ground at this time was General McClernand's camp, from which he had been driven the day before. Here fell Maj. Gen. A. S. Johnston, the rebel leader, and here the rebel lines fell back across the open field; then, being again reinforced, they resumed the fight. Now the rebel point of attack changed from the right to our left. Rousseau asked for help, and Col. Kirk sent Col. Stumbaugh's regiment (the 77th Pennsylvania) to his support. The rebels, now under the immediate direction of Gen. Beauregard, fought with reckless daring, and contested obstinately every inch of the ground. But slowly they fell back. Rousseau pressed them closely, and Kirk gave masterly support. Now it was discovered that the advance of our division had created an extended interval between Kirk's left and Crittenden's right. This advantage the enemy perceived, and rapidly mustered his troops to flank our left. At this juncture, Col. (now Gen.) Willich, commanding the 32d Indiana, was ordered to the support of Rousseau's left. Gen. McCook now ordered Kirk into position in front. Rousseau, exhausted in ammunition, fell back. It was a beautiful sight, "the passage of lines" of these splendid brigades, the old 4th and 5th. Each commander, Kirk and Rousseau, ployed his battalions into double column and passed each other, the 4th retiring, the 5th advancing. Just as the columns approached each other, the gallant Rousseau and staff rode up to the head of the 5th brigade and said, "Col. Kirk, the 4th brigade will never forget the noble manner in which you have stood by us this day. My ammunition is gone, but when you need me, I will stand by you with the cold steel.'" The troops of each brigade shouted a manding the 34th, was instantly killed by a shell, and the regiment wavered for a moment, when Col. Kirk seized the colors, rushed forward and steadied the line. While doing so, he was dangerously wounded. Gen. McCook, in his report of the battle, says: "Col. Kirk, who, during the action, was severely wounded in the shoulder, coolly and judiciously led his men under fire. He has been in command of the 5th brigade for some months, and much of its efficiency is due to the care and labor he bestowed upon it. I respectfully call your attention to his meritorious services upon this day." Gens. Buell and McCook recommended him for promotion. In June, the President appointed him a Brigadier, but the Senate did not confirm the appointment, for the reason, that reports represented Col. K. in a precarious condition, and that if he recovered at all, he would never be fit for service, and they would confirm only those who could take the field. August 25th, Col. K., still an invalid, left his home to join his brigade, which was then in the neighborhood of Chattanooga. Arriving at Louisville, the guerrillas had possession of parts of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Col. Kirk was obliged to remain in Louisville, and was temporarily placed in command of all the new troops coming into Louisville; afterwards commanded a brigade of new troops, and aided in preparing defences for Louisville against the anticipated attack of Bragg and his army. Upon the arrival of Buell's army at Louisville, he was ordered to take command of his old brigade, the 5th, the first time they had met since the hard fought battle of Shiloh. About October 1st, 1862, the whole army left Louisville in pursuit of Bragg, Col. Kirk commanding the 5th brigade in Gen. Sill's division, McCook's army corps. Col. Kirk was not in the battle of Perryville. On the march of Sill's division to Frankfort and Lexington, to flank the enemy on the left, he was in three skirmishes. One of them, at Claysville, was 3d, Col. Kirk was made a Brigadier General, something more than a skirmish. December and is now with the 5th brigade, Sill's division of Gen. Rosecrans' army. GEN. HOVEY. Among those who have distinguished themselves in the present war by brave and gallant conduct is CHARLES EDWARD HOVEY, the hero of "The Cache." He was born in Thetford, Vt., April 26, 1827; one of a large family of children, whose parents were farmers. In his boyhood he had the advantages of such an English education as they could afford to give him. He afterwards, by his own exertions, was enabled to continue his studies. He entered Dartmouth College in July, 1848, and graduated in due time from that institution. During his college life, his winters were spent in Massachusetts in teaching, After leaving college, he took charge of the High School of Framington of that State. He is spoken of, by all that knew him at that time, as a man possessed of enthusiasm, un-. tiring energy, and great tact. At the close of the second year he went to Peoria, Illinois, as principal of a school, supported by an association of stockholders. Before leaving the east, he was united in marriage, Oct. 9, 1854, to Miss Harriette F. Spofford, a highly accomplished lady of North Andover, Mass. had not been long in Peoria before he interested himself deeply in public schools. Many of his suggestions were adopted and carried into practice by the citizens of that place. The stock schools were soon merged into the public school system, and a high school was established of which he was first principal, acting, also, as superintendent of the city schools for a part of the first year of the new organization. At the close of the year, he resigned the former office and devoted himself to the duties of his superintendency, until his connection with the State Normal School. In 1855, Mr. Hovey was elected President of the State Teachers' Association of Illinois. While he remained connected with the schools of this State he exercised a leading influence in the Association, and through this, over the public schools of the State. In 1854, "The Illinois Teacher," a monthly journal, designed to further the educational interests of the State, had been started. It continued a feeble existence through the year with a very small list of subscribers. came its editor. was a successful, paying journal. Through this medium, Mr. Hovey and other friends of education advocated various measures adapted to raise the standard of popular education, and especially the establishment of a school for the training of teachers. The sentiment in favor of a Normal School gained constantly in depth and strength, until the popular will found expression in the Normal School Act of 1856-7. The act required the university to be located where the most favorable offer should be made, and was accordingly awarded to McLean county, in consideration of her donation of $70,000 in lands, and subscriptions by her citizens of an equal amount. The university was to be built at Bloomington, and in spite of the financial disasters in the country, the buildings were pressed to completion, and from the first term the school gained steadily in numbers and efficiency, and the university promises henceforth to be a great, and beneficent power in the State; raising the standard of qualifications for the office of teaching, sending forth annually a He large number of skillful and devoted laborers, and kindling everywhere a deeper interest in popular education. Mr. Hovey presided over this institution with his usual vigor and success. His whole connection with the public schools bespeaks him a man of unwearied diligence and great devotion to the interests of sound learning. He remained in Bloomington until the rebellion breaking out, he sought new duties and honors in another field. A short time after the commencement of the war he raised the 33d Illinois regiment of infantry, otherwise known as the "Normal Regiment," and was elected Colonel. In the original plan it was intended that the officers of this regiment should be from the teachers, and the privates from the scholars and graduates of this and other schools in the State. In the pursuance of this plan, Ira Moore and L. H. Potter, both teachers in the Normal University, were elected Captains in this regiment, and their companies were mostly filled with members and graduates of the Normal University. But the plan failed in being carried out to the fullest extent, and the remainder of the regiment was filled up with In 1856, Mr. Hovey be |