The adjutant-bird (Leptoptilus argala) is a large grallatorial or wading bird of the stork family. It is native to the warmer parts of India where it is called Hurgila or Argala. The adjutant-bird stands about 150 cm high, has an enormous bill, nearly bare head and neck, and a pouch hanging from the under part of the neck. It is one of the most voraciouscarnivorous birds known, and in India, from its devouring all sorts of carrion and noxious animals, is protected by law. From underneath the wings are obtained those light downy feathers known as marabou feathers, from the name of an allied species of bird (Leptoptilus marabou) inhabiting Western Africa, and also producing them. Research Adjutant-bird
Alexander Macomb was an American soldier. He was born in 1783 and died in 1841. He entered the US army in 1799, and at the outbreak of the War of 1812 was adjutant-general of the army. Taking service in the field he, in September 1814, won the victory of Plattsburg over Sir George Provost, and was made major-general. From 1835 to 1841 he was commander-in-chief of the army. Research Alexander Macomb
Darius N Couch was an American soldier. He was born in 1822 at New York and died in 1897. Educated at the US Military Academy, he served against the Seminole Indians in 1849 and 1850. During the American Civil War he served as colonel and brigadier-general, and commanded the Second Army Corps at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He was quartermaster-general of Connecticut from 1877 until 1878 and adjutant-general from 1883 until 1884. Research Darius Couch
Francis Amasa Walker was an American soldier and economist. He was born in 1840 and died in 1897. He was adjutant-general of the Second Army Corps during the American Civil War. He was commissioner of Indian affairs from 1871 to 1873. He was professor of history and political economy at the Yale Scientific School from 1873 to 1881, when he became president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He compiled the ninth and tenth censuses, and published 'Money, Trade and Industry', several works on political economy and a history of the Second Army Corps. Research Francis Walker
Frederic Augustus Thesiger, Lord Chelmsford, was an English soldier and statesman. He was born in 1827 and died in 1905. The eldest son of the first LordChelmsford, who was twice lord-chancellor, he was educated at Eton, served in the Crimean War and through the Indian mutiny. As deputy adjutant-general he served in the Abyssinian campaign, was nominated CB, made aide-de-camp to her Majesty Queen Victoria, and adjutant-general to the forces in India from 1868 until 1876, and in 1877 was appointed commander of the forces and lieutenant-governor of Cape Colony.
He restored Kaffraria to tranquillity, and was given the chief command in the Zulu war of 1879. After great difficulties with the transport, and some disasters, he gained the decisive victory of Ulundi, before the arrival of Sir Garnet Wolseley, who had been sent to supersede him. On his return he was made GCB, and from 1884 until 1889 was lieutenant of the Tower. Research Frederic Thesiger
George Washington was an American soldier, statesman and the first president of the USA. He was born in 1732 at Briges Creek, Virginia and died in 1799. Some of the familiar anecdotes of his early life rest on the more than doubtful authority of Weems, one of his first chroniclers. At the age of sixteen he was compelled to leave school, and he became a surveyor. His appointment as adjutant-general and major at the early age of nineteen was preparatory to his selection for the first striking public event of his life, his service as messenger from the Virginian to the French Governor in 1753-1754. The following summer at the Battle of Great Meadows fought by his small force ushered in the long French and Indian War. George Washington was obliged to surrender Fort Necessity. He resigned, but the next year served on Braddock's staff at the defeat of the Monongahela, and had a miraculous escape. George Washington continued in the army as a colonel until 1759, and had a part in the taking of Fort Duquesne in 1758.
He married in 1759, and the same year entered the Virginia House of Burgesses. For several years he led the life of a Virginia planter, at Mount Vernon. He was a delegate to the first and second Continental Congresses; by the latter body he was appointed commander-in-chief, on June the 17th, 1775, and took command of the army under the historic elm at Cambridge, on July the 3rd. It was his task to put into the form of an organized force the raw and ill-equipped soldiers. His first enterprise succeeded; Boston was evacuated by the British, on March the 17th, 1776, and the army was transferred to New York.
After the Declaration of Independence, a disheartening series of reverses marked the half year: the battle of Brooklyn, the withdrawal from New York, White Plains, the fall of Fort Washington, and the melancholy retreat of the diminishing army across New Jersey. The morale of the troops and of the country was suddenly raised by George Washington's brilliant surprise of Trenton and victory of Princeton. In
the autumn of 1777 his army, though defeated at Brandywine and German-town, kept a large British force occupied, and so contributed to the denouement of the year, at Saratoga. Then came the gloomy winter at Valley Forge, and the cabal of Conway and Gates.
The Battle of Monmouth was won in the summer, but thereafter George Washington's part was for some years in other phases of the war than in battles, and active hostilities drifted away principally to the south. The treason of Benedict Arnold in 1780 was a severe blow. In the following summer George Washington showed the qualities of a great general by his secret and rapid march from the Hudson to Chesapake Bay, a march which resulted in the fall of Yorktown.
His significance in the American War of Independence was largely moral; there was a widespread confidence in his thorough devotion to the cause. He replied severely to the Newburg address of 1783 (which had hinted at monarchy). After a letter to the State Governors he took leave of the army and officers, and, on December the 23rd, 1783, resigned to Congress at Annapolis his commission.
Deeply impressed with the need of a more efficient government, he presided over the Federal Convention of 1787. He was the unanimous choice for President, and was inaugurated at New York on April the 30th, 1789. Elected again without opposition, he served until 1797. Of his Cabinet, Jefferson was Secretary of State, Hamilton of the Treasury, Knox of War, and RandolphAttorney-General.
George Washington made tours to the North and South. In 1793 he issued a neutrality proclamation. His part in Jay's treaty of 1795 caused a temporary loss of his popularity. On September the 19th, 1796, he issued his Farewell Address.
Perhaps his greatness was even better shown by his conduct as President than by his generalship. When war with France seemed imminent in 1798, he was appointed lieutenant-general, but he died soon after at Mount Vernon. He has been universally deemed the greatest of Americans, and one of the noblest public characters of all time. Research George Washington
Sir Henry Havelock was a British soldier. He was born in 1795 at Bishop-Wearmouth, near Sunderland and died in 1857 of dysentry. Having entered the army, he served with distinction in the Burmese war of 1824 to 1826. In 1829 he married a daughter of Marshman, the celebrated missionary, became a Baptist, and was noted during the remainder of his life by his earnest religious zeal. He attained his captaincy in 1838, participated in the Afghan war, was present at the storming of Ghazni and the capture of Kabul, and in Sale's march to Jelalabad, and assisted in the defence of that city, and in the defeat of Mohammed Akbar in 1843.
He was made a Companion of the Bath, and brevet-major, took part in the Mahratta war, and distinguished himself in the Sikh war of 1845, being present at Mudki, Ferozeshah, and Sobraon. In 1851 he was promoted to the adjutant-generalship of the queen's forces in India, and he commanded a division in the Persian war of 1856 to 1857. On the outbreak of the Indian mutiny he was despatched to Allahabad in order to support Sir H. Lawrence at Lucknow and Sir H. Wheeler at Cawnpore. On his march to Cawnpore he defeated the rebels at Fattihpur, Aong, Pandunadi, and Maharajpur. On arriving at Cawnpore he found that Nana Sahib had massacred the prisoners. Pursuing his march to Lucknow, he defeated the rebels at Bithoor, and finally, with the aid of Outram, won the battle of Alumbagh. Having captured Lucknow, Henry Havelock and Outram were shut up there until relieved by Sir Colin Campbell on the 17th of November 1857. He died of dysentery at Dilkusha on the 24th. He was raised to the rank of major-general, made a K.C.B., and (before his death was known) created a baronet. Research Henry Havelock
Horatio Gates was an American general. He was born in 1728 at Maldon in Essex, England and died in 1806. He served under Braddock against the French colonists on the Ohio in 1755. He rose to the rank of major by merit alone. In 1775 he joined the American army as adjutant-general with the rank of brigadier. In 1776 he superseded Schuyler, and compelled the surrender of General John Burgoyne's army at Saratoga on October 17th 1777. Placed in command of the army of the southern districts in 1780, he suffered a severe defeat at Camden, South Carolina and was replaced by General Greene and brought to court-martial, but was finally acquitted, and reinstated in his command in 1782 after the capture of Cornwallis. He then retired to Virginia, and in 1790, having emancipated all his slaves, he removed to New York, where he died. Research Horatio Gates
John W Daniel was an American politician and orator. He was born in 1842 at Virginia in 1842. A Confederate adjutant-general, he was Representative from Virginia from 1885 until 1887, and Senator from 1887 until at least 1897. Research John Daniel
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Abbreviations
Research Adjutant-bird
