GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 25. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, January 29, 1863. 
The Secretary of War with great regret announces the decease of 
another veteran officer, Colonel John J. Abert, late Chief of the 
United States Corps of Topographical Engineers, who died at his 
residence in this city, the 27th instant, at an advanced age. 
Colonel Abert entered as a cadet of the Military Academy in 
the year 1808, only six years after its first establishment by law. 
Leaving the Academy in 1811, he was from then until November, 
1814, employed in the War Office. While thus engaged, he volunteered 
as a private soldier for the defense of the Capital; and his services on 
that occasion were acknowledged by conferring upon him a land war- 
rant, under the existing laws. He was appointed Topographical 
Engineer, with rank of Major, November 22, 1814. At that time there, 
was no organized corps of those officers, but they formed a part of the 
General Staff and served with generals in the field. After the close of 
the war they were employed in surveys of the sea-cdast and inland 
frontiers, reporting to the Chief of Engineers; and the results of their 
labors were collected in a Topographical Bureau, established in the 
War Department May 5, 1820, as a part of the Engineer Department, 
under charge of Major Roberdeau. On the reorganization of the Army 
in 1816, Major Abert was retained. In 1824 he was brevetted Lieu- 
tenant Colonel for ten years’ faithful service in one grade; and at the 
death of Colonel Roberdeau, February 12, 1829, he was appointed to 
the charge of the Topographical Bureau. As the duties of his Bureau 
increased in magnitude and importance, Colonel Abert exerted him- 
self to cause it to be made a distinct branch of the War Department, 
which he effected June 22, 1831. At this time his corps consisted of 
six majors and four captains by brevet, and six civil engineers; besides 
which some twenty subalterns of the line of the Army were detailed on 
topographical duty under his orders. At length, by act of Congress 
approved July 7, 1838, the present Corps of Topographical Engineers 
was organized and created one of the Staff Corps of the Army, with 
the officer to whose fostering care and judicious management it mainly 
owed its existence, for its colonel and chief. Colonel Abert was, in 
fact, at the head of his corps for upwards of thirty-two years, until he was honorably retired from active duty the 11th September, 1861, 
having become incapacitated by long and faithful service from further 
attendance at his office. 
The Army and the country will not need to be reminded of the vast 
interest and value attached to the operations of this corps since its or- 
ganization. The geographical and other information concerning this 
continent which its officers have collected and published, has challenged 
the admiration of the scientific world; while the practical benefit of 
their labors has been folt in nearly every State and every Territory; the 
whole forming a proud monument to him who was its founder. 
As a citizen and a man, Colonel Abert was remarkable for the stead- 
fastness of his friendships, for his candor and unostentatious hospitality. 
Equally unostentatious, but no less sincere, was the simple piety which 
supported his declining years, and left behind an example which the 
proudest soldier may not be ashamed to follow. 
In respect to his memory, the officers of Topographical Engineers 
will wear the badge of mourning for thirty days. 
By order of the Secretary of War: 
L. THOMAS, 
Adjutant General. 
Official : 
Assistant Adjutant General.