James E. Mallon

      Acting Brig.-Gen. James E. Mallon.
        Acting Brig-Gen. MALLON, (of the Third
brigade, Second division, Second corps, Army of the
Potomac,) killed in action at Bristoe Station, Wed-
nesday, Oct. 14, was of Irish-American parentage,
and born in the City of Brooklyn, Sept. 12, 1836.
Having received a good commercial education, he
was employed first, about eleven years ago, in the
house of WRIGHT, GILLET &RAWSON, and subsequent-
ly in the firm of HOLCOMB & HARVEY, both in the
wholesale commission business in the City. A few
years antecedent to the outbreak of the rebellion, he
commenced the same line of business on his own
account, and speedily secured for himself an honor-
able position on the floor of the Corn Exchange,
and of the new Produce Exchange. No one of the
younger class of merchants was more widely known
or more highly esteemed that Mr. MALLON. He was
a most intelligent, energetic and upright business man,
faithful in the performance of all his duties, and
scrupulously exact in all his mercantile transactions.
 Having been a member of the Fourth Company
(Capt. ROBLET) Seventh regiment, N.Y.S.N.G.,
for many years prior to the present war, he cheer-
fully responded to what he regarded as the impera-
tive call of his country, and waiving all other consid-
erations, he went with his regiment as a private in
the ranks, in April, 1861, to Washington. On its re-
turn, after its first month's service--not anticipating
any further participation of the regiment in
the struggle, and enthusiastically eager to
do his share of patriotic duty to the Re-
public--of whose history he had been a dili-
gent student, and in whose position among the na-
tions he felt a robust pride--he joined as a First Lieu-
tenant, the Fortieth New-York Volunteer (Mozart)
regiment, then commanded by his brother-in-law,
Col. J.J. REILLY.
 After the Army of the Potomac had been trans-
ferred to the Peninsula, last year, Lieut. Mallon re-
ceived the complimentary appointment of Aid from the
late Gen. KEARNY, and for some time acted in the
capacity of Assistant Adjutant-General on the gallant
General's Staff. Of this appointment--which was
specially designed as a recognition of his intelligence
and intrepidity--Lieut. MALLON was very justly
proud, coming as it did from so distinguished an offi-
cer of his own race as Maj.-Gen. PHILIP KEARNY.
Soon after the death of KEARNY, Lirut. MALLON was
transferred by Gov. MORGAN from the Mozart to the
Tammany (Forty-second New-York Volunteers) reg-
iment, and promoted to the rank of Major for gal-
lantry and efficiency.
 On the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac,
under Gen. BURNSIDE, Maj. MALLON was detached
from his regiment and assigned to the position of
Acting Assistant Provost-Marshal of HOOKER's Grand
division. He was subsequently detailed for the per-
formance of the same duty, in connection with the
Secord corps, then under Gen. COUCH.
 On the death of the second Colonel of the Forty-
second, and on the direct and earnest recommenda-
tions of Gen. HOOKER, (then in command of the Army
of the Potomac,) as also of his immediate corps,
division and brigade commanders, Maj. MALLON was
raised to the Colonelcy of the regiment by Gov. SEY-
MOUR, against decidedly strong political pressure in
favor of another officer. Col. MALLON'S commission
moreover, was dated St. Patrick's Day, 1863, a
trivial circumstance in itself, but very agreeable to
his feelings. He commanded his regiment in the
battle of Gettysburgh in July, and that during that terrible
conflict was repeatedly under the immediate personal
leadership of Maj.-Gen. MEADE, who had swung
round from corps to corps, according to the necessi-
ties of each, the veteran fighting brigade, which in-
cluded Col. MALLON'S regiment. In subsequent con-
versing with the present writer about the glorious
victory of July, Col. MALLON was most enthusiastic
in his eulogy of the coolness, skill and valor of Gen.
MEADE, to whom he referred as an illustration of his 
high ideal of a most accomplished soldier.
 On the retreat of LEE'S army to the south of the
Potomac, Col. MALLON was detached, with orders to
proceed to New-York and secure a reinforcement of
conscripts for his war-worn regiment. He was in
this vicinity, in obedience to his instructions, through
the months of August and September. Some three
weeks ago, he once more and haplessly for the last
time bade farewell to his friends, to rejoin his com-
mand in season, as he himself expressed it, "for the
next fight." It was his last fight. His death was
caused by a gunshot wound in the stomach, which
unfortunately proved fatal in half an hour. He closed
his brief career gloriously, as became so noble a
citizen-soldier. He had often spoken to the writer, of
the enviable death of his former chief, the lamented
KEARNY. He felt the full force of a favorite poet's
words--
            "Whether on the scaffold high,
              Or in the battle's van.
             The noblest place for a man to die,
              Is where he dies for man."
 As KEARNY fell, so "in the battle's van," and in the
same glorious cause, fell the youthful and chivalrous
MALLON. A braver soldier, a truer patriot, a more
perfect gentleman never drew a breath of life. He
leaves an aged mother and a young wife, with two
small children, to bear the affliction of a most heart-
rending bereavement.
 Gen. MALLON was about five feet seven inches high,
and of remarkably sinewy frame. His manly features
were most expressive of the rare qualities of mind
and soul, to which were traceable the causes which
led to his rapid promotion from the position of a
private soldier, in the leadership of one of the most
efficient brigades in the service of the Republic.
 In religion, Gen. MALLON, like all his family, was a
Catholic; in political conviction he was a Conserv-
ative Republican; but he never had anything to do
with, had no taste for, practical politics.
 His remains reached the residence of the family
in Little Water-street, Brooklyn, on Monday, under
the care of his brother, Lieut. Thomas MALLON, who
was himself very seriously wounded in the battle of
Gettysburgh. His funeral, which will take place
early to-day, (Wednesday), will be strictly private,
in obedience to the frequently expressed wishes of
the fallen hero.                       M.H.