acquire possession ol' that territory, and had the satisfaction of seeing the invader retreat, '• leaving behind him," as he observed in his report, " in dead and wounded, and in sick and prisoners, one half of his original force." He was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general of volunteers, 31 March, 1862, and, after transferring the command of the forces in New Mexico, he went to Washington, where he rendered valuable assistance to Sec. Stanton in the war department. He took com- mand of the U. S. troops in New York city and harbor during the draft riots of July, 1863, and, by his energetic measures and resolute bearing, as- sisted materially in the suppression of the rioters. He remained there until Novemljer, 1863, when he resumed his place at the war department. At the opening of the campaign of 1864, Gen. Canby re- ceived the rank of major-general of volunteers, and was placed in command of the military divi- sion of west Mississippi, a place that he held until some months after the close of the war. His first act in this field of duty was to take charge of Gen. Banks's retreating forces at the Atchafalaya and conduct them safely to 'New Orleans, where for want of troops he remained inactive throughout the summer and autumn of 1864. While on a tour of inspection on White river. Ark., 4 Nov., 1864, he was severely wounded by confederate guerillas ; but, as soon as he was sufficiently re-enforced, he proceeded, with an army of from 25,000 to 30,000 men, against Mobile, which, with the assistance of the fleet, was captured, 12 April, 1865. On learn- ing of the surrender of the confederate forces in Virginia, Gen. Richard Taylor, who commanded west of the Mississippi, surrendered to Gen. Canby, and hostilities ceased. On 13 March, 1865, Gen. Canby received the brevets of brigadier- and major- general of the regular army. He remained in com- mand of southern military departments until 1866, when he was transferred to Washington, and re- ceived, 28 July, 1866, the full rank of brigadier- general in the regular army. After the surrender he was placed in command of the different districts having Richmond as its centre, and assumed the responsibility of permitting the paroled cavalry of Lee's army to reorganize for the suppression of " bushwhacking," which was rife in the neighbor- hood. The measure was entirely successful, and no bad results followed. Subsequently he was ap- pointed a member of the special commission for deciding claims on the war department, and of the board to prepare plans for a new building for the same department. Afterward he was placed in command of the department of Columbia, and was during the winter of 1872-'3 actively engaged in bringing the Modocs to accept the terms ofliered them by the government. He was specially adapted for this duty. He had never shared in the bitter hatred of the Indians, so common on the border, but had always leaned to the side of humanity in his dealings with them. Only four days before his death he sent a despatch to Washington, which, read in the tragic light of after-events, shows both his generosity to his slayers and his sagacious doubts of them : " I do not question the right or the power of the general government to make any arrangement that may be thought proper ; but I think they should make such as to secure a perma- nent peace, together with liberal and just treat- ment of the Indians. In my judgment, permanent peace cannot be secured if they are allowed to re- main in this immediate neighborhood. The Mo- docs are now sensible that they cannot live in peace on Lost river, and have abandoned their claim to it, but wish to be left in the lava-beds. This means license to plunder and a stronghold to retreat to, and was refused. Their last proposition is to come in and have the opportunity of looking for a new home not far away, and if they are sincere in this the trouble will soon be ended. But there has been so much vacillation and duplicity in their talks that I have hesitated about reporting unlil some definite result was attained." On 11 April, in company with two other officers, he met " Capt. Jack," the leader of the Modocs, on neutral ground to confer regarding a treaty of peace. At a pre- concerted signal the Indians killed all the commis- sioners before the escort could come to the rescue, and escaped to their stronghold in the lava-beds. Subsequently they were captured, and " Capt. Jack," with two of his subordinates, was tried and executed. Gen. Canby was a remarkable instance of an officer of high rank and universal popularity without enemies in his profession. He was so up- right that he was very rarely criticised by his brother officers, save by those who gave him reason for official displeasure. He had little ambition be- yond his duty, was always satisfied, or appeared to be, with any position to which he was assigned, and never engaged in any of those squabbles or in- trigues for preferment which deface the record of many able soldiers. He had a singular power of inspiring implicit confidence among those who served under his command. His assignment to any department where, through incompetence or lack of zeal on the part of the commander, affairs had drifted into confusion, was the signal for the inauguration of order and discipline. The time- honored but often misapplied phrase, "an officer and a gentleman," admirably describes this soldier of the republic. He was tall and athletic, in man- ner courteous, but rather reserved and silent, the ideal of a thoughtful, studious soldier.
CANCER, Luis, missionary, b. in Saragossa,
Spain (or in Barbastro, Spain, according to other
autliorities); d. in Florida in 1549. He entered the
Dominican order in Spain, and went as a missionary
to America. He was first stationed in Vera Paz,
but afterward took up his residence in the city of
Mexico. While there his thoughts were directed
to the conversion of the natives of Florida, and he
resolved to seek assistance in Spain for this object.
He sailed in 1547 with Las Casas, landed at Seville,
and at once repaired to the court at Valladolid.
The king ordered the board of trade of Seville to
supply him with everything necessary for his mis-
sion, and he also obtained a royal decree command-
ing that all the natives of Florida taken by De Soto,
and held as slaves in Chiapa and Guatemala, should
be released. He was unable to enforce this decree,
as some of the Florida Indians had become mixed
with the Mexican tribes, and those he discovered
were unwilling to return to Florida. The vessel
that was to take Father Cancer and his companions
to Florida stopped at Havana, where he found an
Indian Christian woman named Magdalena, who
consented to accompany the expedition as inter-
preter. The ship reached the coast of Florida on
Ascension day, 1549, and a boat was sent out to re-
connoitre. Father Cancer wished to land, but the
captain would not permit him, as his destination
was the bay of Espiritu Santo. After wasting sev-
eral days in search of it, the Dominicans insisted on
landing. The sailors refused to accompany them
unless they were allowed to take their arms with
them ; but, as this was contrary to the custom of
the missionaries, Father Cancer debarked with two
companions and Magdalena. He gained the good
will of the Indians by presents, and explained his
mission through the interpreter. The natives
