<p style="text-align:center"><strong>SETH MAXWELL BARTON</strong></p><p style="text-align:center"><strong>No. 1434 · Class of 1849</strong></p><p style="text-align:center"><strong>Died April 11, 1900, at Washington, D.C., aged 71 years.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center"><strong>Interred at Arlington National Cemetery.</strong></p><p>Seth Maxwell Barton entered the class of 1849 from Virginia, being at the time he reported, July 1st, 1845, fifteen years and ten months old, having been born at Fredericksburg, September 8th, 1829.</p><p>As will be seen, he was below the customary age of admission by two months, and in person was slight and somewhat below the medium size, but in most respects he was decidedly more mature than many of his companions, who were very considerably older than himself; although extremely youthful in appearance, he had acquired habits of study and in many ways was well equipped mentally for the task before him.</p><p>He was so well prepared that he excited unusual expectations among his classmates as to his future success not entirely justified by the result; as he was content with a standing considerably below what his mental capacity warranted. He was fond of reading and gave more attention to the pursuit of general knowledge than to the specific requirements of the course; although he understood it probably as well as any member of the class, but he did not give his nights and days to the acquisition of class standing.</p><p>After he was graduated in 1849, Cadet Barton was attached as Brevet Second Lieutenant to the Third U.S. Infantry, and assigned to duty at Fort Columbus, instructing recruits. In 1850 he was ordered to his regiment in New Mexico. In 1851, on having been appointed Second Lieutenant of the First Infantry, he joined it at Fort Duncan, and served on the Texas frontier at various posts until 1853, when he was promoted to a First Lieutenant, and on May 1st, 1855, he was appointed Adjutant of his regiment, which position he held until 1857, when, on October 31st, he received his promotion to a Captaincy.</p><p>After a leave of absence, he returned to his regiment in 1860 and marched with his company from Fort Cobb, Indian Territory, to Fort Leavenworth, whence, upon June 1, 1861, having resigned his commission, he threw himself into the secession struggle which then involved his native State.</p><p>During his service at Fort McKavett, in 1857, he was engaged in a successful skirmish against the Comanche Indians on a tributary of the River Concho, he having volunteered with a party of the Second Cavalry, under Lieutenant Robert C. Wood, Jr., for a scout against roving bands of Indians along the margin of the Staked Plains.</p><p>The successful party was accompanied and guided by the experienced and brave Shawnee Indian scout employed at Fort McKavett and known as "John McLaughlin." Lieutenant Barton's experience and determination were not without their due effect in this gallant little affair, so creditable to all engaged.</p><p>At the beginning of the Civil War, Colonel Barton joined the Confederate troops and was assigned to duty with Stonewall Jackson as his Chief Engineer, and participated in the stirring events that characterized his valley campaign. Subsequently he was made a Brigadier General and sent to join Kirby Smith's command in Tennessee, bringing up finally in Vicksburg, during the memorable siege of which his command formed part of the garrison.</p><p>His later services were with General Lee in the Army of Northern Virginia, and such was the esteem in which he was held that he was about to be made a Major General, when events took such a turn as to put an end to the war, and to General Barton's career as a soldier.</p><p>Of his civil life the writer possesses little knowledge, but it is fair to infer that repose was not ungrateful to one who had mingled with such indomitable vigor in the stormy scenes of the Civil War.</p><p>He died at Washington in the early spring, in April, when nature was again beautifying his great and noble State, and he was laid to rest in her sacred soil, at Arlington, among those of his compatriots whose careers terminated in the tremendous struggle to change her destiny.</p><p>General Barton was a man of noble sentiments; chivalrous in his conduct, gentle and tender and true in all the relations of social life, but of a stern, unbending, fearless energy for the right as he understood it; brave, uncompromising, sincere, a fine soldier, a noble gentleman, and a true, honorable, upright man.</p><p>It has been well said, that there is only one real failure in life that is possible, and that is, not to be true to the best one knows.</p><p style="text-align:right">� S. B. Holabird</p><p style="text-align:center"><a href="https://usmalibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/aogreunion/id/12676">Annual Report, June 12, 1900, pp. 138�141 · U.S. Military Academy Library</a></p>