MER'RITT, WESLEY ( 1836—). An American soldier, prominent in the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. Be was born in New York City, graduated at \Vest Point in 1560, was assigned as second lieutenant of the Second Dragoons in January. 1861, acted as aide-de camp to General Cooke from February to Sep tember, 1862. and in April, 1862, was promoted to be captain. Ile participated in Stoneman's famous raid toward Richmond in April-May, 1863; commanded the reserve cavalry brigade of tlw Army of the Potomac in the battle of Gettysburg and in the Richmond campaign from April to August. 1864; and commanded a cavalry division in the Shenandoah Valley campaign under Sheridan from August, 1864. to March. 1865, and in the final Richmond campaign of March-April, 1865. For his services he received the successive brevets of major, lieutenant colonel. colonel, major-general of volunteers. and brigailier-general and major-general in the Reg ular Army; and on April 1, 186'5, was promoted to be major-general of volunteers. He acted as ehicf of cavalry of the military division of the Southwest from June 9 to July 17, 1S65, and commanded the cavalry in the Department of Texas from July 28 to November S. 1S65. In'
February, 1866, be was mustered out of the volunteer service, and in July was appointed lieutenant-colonel in the Regular Army. He then served on frontier duty at. various stations for several years, was promoted to he colonel of the Fifth Cavalry, July 1, 1876, and in the same year served against the Indians in Wyoming and Dakota. From 18S2 to 1887 he was superintend ent of the United States Military Academy, and in :kiwi], 1887, he was promoted to be brigadier general. Ile became a major-general in April, 1895; was in command of the Department of the East in 1897-98; was placed in command of the "United States forces in the Philippine Islands (q.v.) in Alay, 189S: and later in the same year was summoned to Paris to assist. the American Peace Commissioners there. In June, 1900, he was retired from active service.