Ward B. Burnett

              OBITUARY
        GEN. WARD B. BURNETT
   Gen. Ward B. Burnett, of this city, died 
in Washington yesterday morning after a linger-
ing illness of several years. Gen. Burnett was
born in Pennsylvania, and in early life was sent
to the Military Academy at West Point, where
he was graduated in 1832. During the succeeding
four years he served in the Black Hawk expedi-
tion, in making drawings at West Point, in
garrison at Fort Jackson, Louisiana, as
Assistant Instructor of Infantry Tactics
at West Point, on topographical duty, and on
ordnance duty in Florida. Evidently wearied
with this routine, he resigned from the army in
1836 and became a civil engineer. When the war
with Mexico began he enlisted as Colonel of the 
Second New-York Volunteers, and was sent to
the seat of war, where his career was of more
than ordinary brilliance. He was engaged with
his regiment in the seige of Vera Cruz, in the
battle of Cerro Gordo, in the battle of Contreras,
and in the battle of Churubusco, where he was
severely wounded. His regiment was disband-
ed Aug. 1, 1848, and he afterward re-
ceived the thanks of the New-York Legis-
lature, and subsequently was made Brevet Brig-
adier-General of New-York Volunteers for gal-
lant and distinguished service in the war with
Mexico. Other testimonials showered upon him
were a silver medal from the corporation of
New-York City, a gold medal from his old regi-
ment, and a vote of the surviving members of
the regiment in 1859, by which he received the
gold snuff-box in which the freedom of the city
of New-York had been presented in 1819 to
Major-Gen. Andrew Jackson for distinguished
military services, and by hime bequeathed "to
that patriot of New-York City who should be
adjudged by his countrymen to have been the
most distinguished in defense of his country and
our country's rights."
  Soon after his return from Mexico, Gen. Bur-
nett became superintendent of the dry dock in
the Philadelphia Navy-yard, and in 1852, he took
a similar position in the Brooklyn Navy-yard.
In 1853-4 he was chief-engineer of the Brooklyn
Water-works, and in the year following he
made new plans for the works. Previously he
had made plans and estimates for the Croton
Water-works in New-York. In 1856 he went
South, and took charge of the Water-works at
Norfolk, Va. From 1858 to 1860 he was United
States Surveyor-General of Kansas and Nebraska
Territories.
  The remainder of Gen. Burnett's life was
passed quietly, much of his time being spent at
Washington. Upon his retirement to private
life his health began to fail, and of late years he
was little better than a confirmed invalid. His
death was not unexpected. Funeral services
will be held in the Church of the Epiphany at
Washington. The interment will be at West
Point.