University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

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LIEUT. JOHN J. BERNARD.

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Life of Henry lieftwitch chorkle gt? g5 1t? 3 g S IEUT. HENRY LEFTWICH MCCORKLE, of the Twenty-fifth Infantry, U. S., was born I on his fatheris farm near Mooresburg, Hawkins County, Tenm, on the 20th of April, 1867. He was killed in the battle of El Caney near Santiago, Cuba, on the lst of July, 1898. He was of good, old Scotch-lrish stock, and came of a family distinguished for its worth. It is a remarkable fact that each generation has contained a number of brave soldiers and has lost one or more killed in battle. Henry Leftwich McCorkle received his early education in the public schools of Kawkins county, one of which was taught by Andrew Galbraith, an alumnus of the University of Tennessee, and at the Academy of Rogersville, of which W. L. McSpadden was principal. He entered the Freshman class of the University of Tennessee in September, 1885. He took the Scientific course, and was graduated with the degree of B. S., with excellent standing in Tune, 1889. Mr. McCorkle was an attentive and faithful student; respectful to all of the professors and officers of the institution; and manly and honorable in his dealings with his fellow students. He was fond of athletic sports and of military drill, and early took a prominent position in the cadet battalion. He was a second sergeant in his Freshman year, and first lieutenant in his Sophomore and Junior years. During his Senior year he was captain of a company, and did most excellent work. When Henry McCorkle first graduated from college, he thought he would become a teacher or professional man, and to this end he took a school in his native county. He was, however, of too active a disposition. to be contented with such a quiet, secluded life. Therefore, after a year, he came to Knoxville and entered business. But this did not suit him any better. His nature demanded a larger field and one in which he could find more vent for his active, joyous spirit. He had formed a taste for military work while a cadet at the University, and had developed a marked talent for organizing and commanding men. He loved to have to do with boys and men, and his personal magnetism and in- fluence were so strong that from the beginning he showed himself a natural commander of men. During his residence in Knoxville in the winter of 91, a recruiting officer of the United States army opened a station in this city. McCorkIe became acquainted with this gentleman, and the officer became very much interested in him. The officer explained to him that he was not here to recuit officers but to enlist men for the army, and that a young man of his parts should apply to the Secretary of War for permission to take the examination for a second lieutenancy. After consulting with his friends, Mc- Corkle did this, and through the assistance of Senator Isham G. Harris obtained permission to take such an examination. He stood a lengthy series of examinations with a class of some forty applicants, and was one of a half dozen to pass. In due time he was appointed on August Ist, 1891, as second lieuten- ant, and after a period of special instruction at the army school at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, he was assigned to the Twenty-fifth Infantry, with which he continued until his death. He was very fond of hunting, and enjoyed all of the sports that the country afforded during his residsnce at army posts on the plains. While at Fort Missoula, Mont, McCorkle married Mildred, daughter of Capt. Henry P. Ritzius of the Twenty-fifth Infantry. His wife survives him and one child, a fine boy of five years old, will, it is hoped, perpetuate his fatheris honorable name. Soon after the opening of the war, McCorkleis regiment was ordered to Tampa, Fla. While he was waiting there, on the 26th of April, he was recommend by the President for promotion to a first lieutenancy. Owing to the absence of his superior officers, he was assigned to Company G, and con- tinued to command it until he was killed.

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Life of john jav Bernard 5C :6 fCi 3 3 5b IEUT. JOHN JAY BERNARD, of the Fourth United States Infantry, was born April lst, 1872, at Fort Bidwell, California, and was killed in the battle of El Caney, before Santiago, Cuba, on July Ist, 1898. He was a son of General Reuben F. Bernard, United States Army, and his mother was Alice Virginia Frank, daughter of Jacob Frank, of Washington, D. C. General Bernardis father was John Bernard, a farmer of Hawkins County, Tennessee, a native born Tennes- seean of German and English descent. General Bernard is now Governor of the United States Soldiersi Home at Washington, D. C. John Jay Bernard received his early education at the army post schools. He was prepared for the University in the school at Jonesboro, Tennnessee. As a boy, he lived a hearty and healthy life, fishing and hunting over the country adjacent to the posts where his father was stationed and was noted for his personal daring, hardihood and love of sports. While yet a small boy he rode horseback with his fatheris company, all the way from Brownsville, Texas, to Fort Meade, South Dakota, a distance of about two thousand and forty miles. Bernard entered in 1890 the Sophomore class of the Scientific course of the University of Tennes- see, and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1893. He made a specialty of chemistry, geology, and related subjects, and upon graduation was appointed assistant in chemistry for the session 1893-1894. He was an earnest. faithful student, and was specially noted, on the one side for his love of athletics and military drill, and on the other for his conscientious and accurate work. The latter characteristics made him such an excellent analytical chemist that his friends advised him to fol- low this business. As a cadet he held all of the usual positions in the battalion, including that of Lieu- tenant and Adjutant, which place he filled, during his Senior year, with great credit. After due consideration Bernard decided to adopt the military profession and sought a commission in the army. Failing to get one by direct appointment, he enlisted on the 20th of August, 1894, in troop I, First Cavalry, located at that time at Fort Bayard, New Mexico. After the troop removed to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, the young man was appointed first a Corporal and then a Sergeant. During his residence in Arizona, he was occupied much of his time scouting after renegade Apache Indians and earned high commendations from his superior officers for his skill and determination. In the spring of 1897 Bernard went up for examination for a commission and was the only candi- date that passed the War Depattment Board at that time. He stood number ten in a class of forty-two in the final examination at Fort Leavenworth. He was appointed Second Lieutenant of the Fourth Infantry on April 13th, 1897, and immediately joined his regiment at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, where he remained on duty continuously until the opening of the war with Spain, When he went with his regi- ment to Tampa, Florida, and thence to Cuba. From August 20th, 1894, when he enlisted in the army, to the date of his death, he was constantly on duty, never being sick and never having a leave of absence. He was devoted to the cavalry, and had applied for a transfer to that arm of the service. On the day he was killed, his father had visited the War Department and secured a promise from the Secretary that the young Lieutenant should be transferred to that arm at the first opportunity, and was in the act of leaving the Departme nt building when a telegram was handed him announcing that his beloved son had been transferred by the Father of us all to His own higher service. As a student Bernard was regular, methodical and thorough. He was a very quiet man; but grew steadily in the esteem and affection of his teachers and fellow students. He was distinguished for his earnestness, his perfect self-control and thoroughness of his work. It is said that during the whole of his college and army life he was never the subject of the criticism of a superior officer. 11