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"TO CARE FOR HIM WHO HAS BORNE THE BATTLE, AND FOR HIS WIDOW AND ORPHANS." r & ESTABLISHED 1877. SOME FAMILIAR PLACES. IN AND ABOUT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. The Old Capitol Prison Central Gnard-IIouse Camp ConTftleKccnt The Toting Hero Anotlier Incident of Hospital Life. For The National Tribune. "We shall never forget one little incident that occurred in Dr. DeWitt's -ward while we were one of its occupants. Upon a cot not far from ours lay a member of the Twentieth Massachusetts who had been wounded at Groveton, the hall passing through the shoulder just above the armpit, in its course fearfully lacerating one of the principal arteries. The location of the injured vessel was such that it could not be properly taken up, and in spite of all the appliances of surgical skill it was apparent to even a casual observer that the boy (he was only sixteen years of age) could not long survive. A short time after being brought to the hospital he was informed that he could not live, and then he told this story to his attendants: His father had been a sea captain and was a man -ordinarily kind, 1 -x when under ''.-m;. rong drink which he was . V;iu. ou a ! i with the hi creatioD. misi 1 ; "te. r mother of boy, in the ;. . h tl ' 1. . mer. The -was an only a, ,. i his father, i knowing th ! oic s :nted many dranliVii scei. 1 - !o mother a beating by threatening to runaway to sea. "When the war came the father, .Tlio had for a year or so been a teetotaler, took to drink. His son threat ened to enlist, and, finding the threat had no effect, evdfetually left home secretly and did so. Prom that time down to the date of the last letter from his mother, who was informed of his whereabouts, the father had remained a sober man and kind husband. The boy showed the letter, only some two weeks old, and said that "if only father would keep so" he could die content, and yet he WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE HOME FACES, O, so much ! Dr. ,-De Witfrimmediately-iHfclegrapked -to -the-father stating his son's condition and received .a response that he would start at once. Then began a struggle with death over the boy-soldier such as was rarely if ever before or after wit nessed during the whole war. The day the telegram was sent a fresh hemorrhage occurred. Compresses were applied but proved of only temporary use; and from thence on and until death closed the scene, either the doctor or a trusty assistant sat by the boy's side staunching the flow of blood and endeavor ing to preserve the flickering light of life in the dark eyes until the expected one should arrive. But alas ! the youthful soldier died shortly after midnight; and for an hour thereafter the sur geon walked up and down the ward in an agony of mind, murmuring, now and then as if to him self, "Why could not I have saved him? Too bad. Too bad." Next morning, between eight and nine o'clock, the father, a fine appearing man, arrived. Dr. DeWitt met him as he entered the ward, and as the two walked past our cot we noticed that tears were coursing down the cheeks of both of them. "What followed is too sacred for the touch of pen, and WE DISMISS THE SOMBRE THEME by hoping that the sacrifice of the young life proved efficacious in the redemption of his father for whose and a mother's sake it had been so freely offered. After nearly twenty years that sad event drifts before our mental vision, and is now feeblv re produced to show in part the noble and sympa thetic nature of at least one of the many to whom was entrusted the care of our wounded men and brothers during the time when all the land went sorrowing. "When the hour of his suffering and departure from earth shall come, may he be as tenderly and devotedly cared for as were his old time patients. "We have only time left for a brief glance at one or two other pictures memory has left with us, and among them THE OLD CAPITOL PRISON, now a block of elegant private dwellings, one of which is occupied by Mr. Justice Field, of the Supreme Court of the United States. The entire appearance of the prison has been changed. On the east, extensive improvements have been made, the buildings north and north west have been torn down, and their sites now form a part of the Capitol grounds. The old wall and iron fence and the miniature forest that used to stand west of the place where Wirz and other prominent rebels were confined, are gone. It would be difficult for one of the men who used to stand guard in that locality to recognize it now. Another historic building, the old Central Guard House, where the victims of the Provost guard and patrols used to bring up occasionally, stands on Louisiana Avenue, as of yore, but considerably altered in appearance. Hooker's division yet lies to the westward, but the barracks are fewer and the force has dwindled down wonderfully since the period of which we write. WASHINGTON, THE OLD CANAL, that used to wind its muddy, filth-ladened course from west to east through the city, has been filled up, and streets and buildings now are to be found where belated and top-heavy sons of Uncle Sam were wont to bring up or down in a by-no-means desirable bath. Another spot to be re membered is Camp Convalescent, not far from Alexandria, where the men discharged from hospitals were sent, and from whence they were distributed to their respective commands. The camp no longer exists nor does a trace of it remain. The land is mostly under cultivation at present, and has been for years ; buildings have sprung up here, there, and everywhere, and all things betoken that a new era has dawned in the Old Dominion. And yet what a miserable place CAMP CONVALESCENT wasn war time. Canvas tents arrayed in divi sions according to States, pitched upon the low ground that could never get dry, the scrubby cedar bushes that used to be made into floors and bsds in those days, the scanty grub, the want of system, (or, rather, too much of it,) in everything, well, we are heartily glad Camp Convalescent has been gone so long that it is almost forgotten. There are, doubtless, thousands of others who are " " 1 to know that it no longer finds a , -... . map of the present. To be continued.) ! MISSION TO PERU. diplomatic mission to Peru in r : h, it is reported, the State Depart- .. Jr. ,..h C which.it is said, is for Jvrt purpose of investigating the unhappy state ol affairs following the late jug-handle war be tween Chili and Peru, is certainly a fixed fact, inasmuch as the party left here last Friday night at nine o'clock, for New York, whence they sailed at noon on Saturday, in the steamer Colon, foF Aspinwall. The party consisted of Hon. "William H. Tres cott, of South Carolina, Special Commissioner; his son, and Mr. Miguel T. Dooley, of this city, who goes as Secretary and Interpreter. Assistant Secretary of State "Walker Blaine also accom panied the party, and they will be absent at least five months. THE STAR' RQUTE CASES, j, -j . .J:- - , . -.rT r . -v r- . T-r' Tne irrana lurv, among otners, nave niec r ' ". following indictments : Four against Mr. Fred erick B. Lilley, late deputy Sixth Auditor. First, for violating section 1781, Revised Statutes, by aiding to procure a contract with the United States for carrying the mail for George F. Brott; second, accepting a bribe for procuring said con tract ; third, violating section 5493 and assisting in supporting a claim against the United States ; fourth, receiving money paid for the purpose of influence. George F. Brott was indicted, first, for offering and promising money to an officer of the United States to influence his official action in securing a contract; and, second, for giving and bestowing money to and upon an officer of the United States. THE PRESIDENT OF PERU A PRISONER. A letter from Panama says : Calderon, for some time provisional President of Peru, is now, with his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Galvez, a prisoner in Chilian hands. He was arrested on the 6th instant as he was returning from mass, and was allowed a few minutes in which to prepare for a visit to Chili, the length of which he nor no one else can tell. He was then taken to the palace, where he had a private interview with Admiral Lynch, sent on a special train to Callao, and there placed on board the iron-clad Almirante Cochran. He was courteously treated, and was told he might take his family with him (he was recently married), and jany friends he desired to accom pany him. The first favor he declined, but the second he accepted, and selected several who share his exile. The reasons alleged for this arbitrary act are not yet public, but Admiral Lynch is understood to have acted under orders from Santiago. No one in Lima supposes it is done out of de fiance to the United States on account of the at titude assumed toward the Chilians by General Hurlbut. There are surmises that it was be cause Calderon disregarded Lynch's order pro hibiting the exercises of any other authority within the Chilian lines than that of the Chilian commander or government. Others say that the new government of Mr. Santa Maria believes Pierola to be the strongest man in the country, and has banished Calderon to make way for him. The removal of Calderon makes room, however, for Montero, who has announced his acceptance of the vice-presidency of the provisional govern ment, provided he is :iM.ivd of the support of the United St:ut. THE GARFIELD MEMORIAL PEW. Mr. Robert A. "Whin h-.uui has made for the ladies of the Christian Church an elegant solid silver plate, which has been already placed on the pew of the late President Gaifield, in that edifice. The plate is perfectly plain, in the shape of a shield, and is inscribed "James A. Garfield. Born November 19, 1831. Died Sep tember 19, 1881 ." The name is engraved in circle and is a facsimile of the late President's signature, Svhile the remainder of the inscription is in black letters. The pew has been kept draped in mourn ing since the President's death, and will be kept in mourning in the future, (and be known as the Garfield memorial pew.) D. C, SATUBDAT, DECEMBER 10, 1881. OFFICERS OF THEJSOUSE. A BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF EACH. The Speaker, Clerk, Scrgeant-.it-A rns. Doorkeeper, and Postmaster All Union Ex-Solfters Some of Them Disabled in thu'prvjice. We give below brief sketches; of the new officers of the House of Representatives chosen on Monday last. THE NEW SPEAKER. General Joseph W. Keifer, the tew Speaker of the House, was born in Bethel Township, Clark county, Ohio, January 30, 1836. His early education was obtained in the common schocls and at Antioch College, and until 1836 he labored upon a farm, near Springfield. In the latter year he began the study of law, and two years later was admitted to the bar. He opened an office in Springfield, and, though brought into competition with such men as Samuel Shellabarger, Sampson Mason, and Charles Anthony, from the very first week he entered upon a paying practice. When the first call for troops was made in 1831 General Keifer closed his office, hastened to Columbus, and just twelve days after the call was issued he was chosen major of the Third Ohio Infantry. When the regiment was reorganized in June, 1861, as a three years' regiment, General Keifer was again chosen as major. FOR HIS CONDUCT AT BiClt MOUNTAIN, West Yu rinia, in July, 1861, and at Cheat Moun tain and LiKwai ii in September, General Keifer received the commendation of his superiors. His energy and practical good sense attracted much attention, aud General Reynolds said "there was not a cowpath in all that region with which he was not thoroughly acquainted." In November, 1861, General Keifer's regiment was ordered to Kentucky. Early in 1862 he was made lieutenant-colonel, and during General O. M. Mitchell's brilliant campaign aljoivt Huntsville and along the Memphis and Chaileston Railroad he bore a conspicuous part. In the fall he was made colonel of Che One hundred and tenth Ohio Regiment. During the last Jf of the war he served in West Virginia aygrginia, most of $t1tixRtt-csAmrt?co f.btiilTftn'&r'jn.etitly , won high praise for his gallant conduct. He was for a short time, however, in New York city with a part of his command to assist in enforcing the draft of 1S63. He was wounded four times. TWO OF HIS WOUNDS WERE SLIGHT and did not keep him out of his saddle for an hour, but at the battle of the Wilderness both bones of his left forearm were shattered by a mus ket ball. He remained on the field until the con flict was ended, but his wound soon proved to be so dangerous that he was compelled to spend a short time at home. On August 26, 1864, against the advice of his physicians, he set out to rejoin the army. He fought with obstinate courage at Opequan, and was among the first to enter Winchester at the heels of the flying foe. At Cedar Creek he commanded a division, and there he did such valuable service that he was made a brevet brigadier-general. -General Keifer's Corps was remarkably successful during the last four months of the war, and he was made a brevet major-general for his services. At the close of the war General Keifer returned to Springfield and the law. Soon after he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-sixth United States Infantry, but declined. He was a member of the Ohio Senate in 1868 and 1869, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic in Ohio from 1868 to 1870, and a trustee of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home from 1870 to 1878, and has been a trustee of Antioch College since 1873. He was a delegate to the Cincinnati Convention in 1876, and'was elected to the Forty-fifth, Forty sixth, and Forty-seventh Congresses by good pluralities. General Keifer is possessed of a robust physical constitution and is a ready speaker. THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS, Colonel George W. Hooker, of Brattleboro, Yt., is a native of Londonderry, Windham county, Ver mont, and is about forty-three years of age. He was in early youth a traveling salesman for Bos ton firms. He enlisted as a private in company F, Fourteenth Vermont Volunteers, September 6, 1861 ; was promoted to sergeant-major Decem ber 16,1861; to second lieutenant, company F, April 21, 1862 ; first lieutenant August 1, 1862 ; to captain and assistant adjutant-general Sep tember 2, 1864. He was severely wounded June 3, 1864, in action at Cold Harbor, and was bre vetted lieutenant-colonel for gallant and merito rious conduct in the field, and honorably mustered out January 4, 1866. He served with the Army of the Potomac in the field during the whole period of service. He has been actively engaged in various business enterprises ever since he left the service, and has accumulated a handsome fortune. He is exceedinlgy liberal in supporting public and charitable institutions, and highly esteemed by all his neighbors and acquaintances. Colonel Hooker was assistant secretary of the National Republican Committee in 18S0. He contributed liberally toward the payment of the legitimate exjjenses of the late presidential campaign and gave six months of his valuable services to the committee. THE DOORKEEPER. The first ballot for Doorkeeper resulted in the choice of Walter P. Brownlow, of Tennessee, who NEW received 123 votes against 13 for Edward Jardine, of New York, and 3 scattering. The selection of Colonel Walter P. Brownlow for Doorkeeper was a wise one. He is a nexhev of the celebrated Parson Brownlow, was a soldier in the Union army, and has been a pronounced and consistent Republican. It was determined by the Southern Republicans to ask for but one position, and that of Doorkeeper was chosen as the one which would give them the greatest amount of patronage. For this there were sev eral applicants, but after looking the field over it was believed that Colonel Brownlow would be the most available candidate, and the others withdrew. Colonel Brownlow was therefore nomi mated on the first ballot. Colonel Brownlow is the editor of the Jonesboro, Tennessee, Herald, and controls a number of Republican county pa pers in Eastern Tennessee. He is a courteous gentleman, of good executive ability, and will no doubt make a faithful and efficient Door keeper. THE CLERK. Edward McPherson was born in Gettysburg, Pa., in 1831, and was graduated from Pennsylva nia College in 1848. For several years he was engaged in the printing business, and in 1851 be came editor of a paper in Harrisburg, continuing in that place until ill health compelled him to turn his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1858 he was elected to the Thirty-sixth Congress, and was re-elected in 1860. During the early part of the war he served as a volunteer aid on the Staff of General McCall of the Pennsyl vania Reserves. In 1863 he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue, serv ing in that capacity until his election to the Clerkship of the House of Representatives in the Thirty-eighth Congress. He was re-elected to that position in the two succeeding Congi esses. Mr. McPherson has published several political works, including a " Political History of the United States During the Great Rebellion," political manuals for several years, and other statistical productions. After his last term as Clerk to the House of Rep resentatives he was editor for a time, and until quite recently, of the Philadelphia Press. He presided at the Hayes convention. THE POSTMASTER. .Cantain. Harry Sherwood, the Postmaster,, be longed to the 'Fourth MichigaricavalryrAt-the battle of Chicamauga he lost a leg. He was Post master of the House of Representatives for sev eral years before the Democrats obtained the ma jority. He was turned out to make room for a confederate soldier. After being ousted as Post master he was made assistant to the architect of the Capitol. THE CHAPLAIN. Frederick D. Power, selected to do the gospel business for the House is best known as the au thor of an eloquent sermon upon the shooting of the late President wherein he said: "Had there been no Stalwart contest against the prerogatives of the Executive there would have been no such assault on the President's life.'' The Stalwarts having now taken him under their wing he may possibly change his views. OLD SOLDIERS TO BE RETAINED. On motion of General Henderson, of niinois, seconded by Mr. Updegraff, of Iowa, the following resolution was unanimously adopted on the first day of the session : Resolved , That the following named honorably discharged Union soldiers, minus a leg or an arm or both, and now borne on the soldiers' roll, House of Representatives United States, be re tained by the Doorkeeper of the House on said roll, subject, however, to dismissal for a just and sufficient cause; D. H. Decker, both arms off, Ohio; John Ryan, one leg off, Pennsylvania; James J. McConnell, one leg off, Indiana ; Hugh Lewis, one arm off, Wisconsin ; John Rome, one arm off, New Jersey ; Captain J. W. White, one arm off, Ohio. (Three of these maimed soldiers are Republicans and three Democrats.) A FRIEND OF THE SOLDIER. Hon. Ben Le Fevre, of Ohio, the friend of the soldier, is again in his place in the National House of Representatives, and, as usual, vigorously look ing after and pressing the claims of former com rades in the army before the Commissioner of Pensions. To this, and in all matters pertain ing to the soldier's interest, General Le Fevre is most untiring and devoted. Having himself passed through the ordeal and experienced all the hardships of army life enlisting at his country's call in 1861 and faithfully continuing until the end of the war he knows all the sufferings endured and appreciates the claims of the soldier upon the Government. Therefore he has great regard for him, and wounds and disability are the only testimonials required to at once secure the General's sympathy and aid. Commissioner Raum, of the Internal Revenue Bureau, says his idea of civil-service reform is a term of four years for subordinate officers, clerks, and employees. He also favors pensions to wid ows of persons who lose their lives in the revenue service. Tobacco brought the Government during the year revenue to the amount of $42,854, 991.31. The largest collections oi revenues were made in the First Ohio and Fifth niinois districts. SEBIES -yoi,. i., N-o. 17. FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. ORGANIZATION-ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Proceedings in the Senate and House Heading of the President's 3Icssage Introduction of Bills. Getting Ready for Work, etc. Congress convened at 12 m. on Monday. Im mediately after prayer in the Senate the creden tials of W. W. Windom were laid before the body, and after they were read Senator Hoar escorted Mr. Windom to the stand and he was sworn in. Senator Anthony offered a resolution that the regular hour of meeting of the Senate be 12 o'clock m. Adopted. Also a resolution appointing a committee to wait on the President and inform him that the Senate was in session and ready to receive any communication he might desire to make. Senator Sharon offered a resolution appointing a joint committee to take public action relative to the death of the late President James A. Gar field. Adopted. After the introduction of a large number of bills and resolutions, which will be referred to hereafter as they are brought up, an adjourn ment until Tuesday was had to await the arrival of the President's message. The House was the chief centre of attraction. The first business entered jipon was the election of a Speaker, and upon ballot General J. W. Keifer, of Ohio, was chosen. The business next in order was the swearing in of new members. The members-elect holding certificates were called up to the Speaker s desk, where the oath was administered to each. The election of officers was next proceed with, and resulted as follows : For Clerk, Hon. Edward McPherson, of Pennsylvania ; Doorkeeper, Colonel W. P. Brownlow, of Tennessee ; Sergeant-at-Arms, General G. W. Hooker, of Vermont ; Postmaster, Henry D. Sherwood, of Michigan ; Chaplain, Rev. Frederick D. Power, of Washington. Owing to the fact that the President's message was not ready for transmission the House ad journed, after completing its organization, with out transacting any business of general interest. Tuesday's proceedings in the Senate were de void of special interest, most of the session hav ing been consumed in listening io tho reading of the President's message. A number of bills and resolutions were introduced, among them the fol lowing: By Mr. Saunders : For the admission of Dako ta as a State. By Mr. Ingalls: Granting the franking privi lege to Lucretia R. Garfield. By Mr. Pendleton : To regulate and improve the civil service of the United States. Also : A bill to prevent extortion from persons in the public service, and bribery and coercion by such persons. By Mr. Windom : To enable the people of the Territory of Dakota to form a State Government and for their admission as a State. Mr. Beck offered a resolution calling for a com mittee to inquire into the succession in case of the death or inability of the President, Mr. Edmunds called up his resolution in refer ence to the continuance of the Senate commit tees, after which and some little discussion the Senate adjourned. In the House after the reading of the Journal Mr. Haskell offered a resolution " That Allan G. Campbell, Delegate-elect from Utah Territory, i3 entitled to be sworn in as a delegate to this House on a prima-fucie case," which created considerable discussion and resulted in the matter being laid over for future consideration. The members next proceeded to select by lot their seats for the session, after which the Presi dent's message was read and the House adjourned until Friday, to give the Speaker an opportunity to arrange the committees. On Wednesday the Senate met as usual. A portion of the morning hour was consumed in an uninteresting discussion upon the propriety of dispensing with the reading at length of com munications from heads of Departments addressed to the President of the Senate, the question aris ing upon a communication from the Secretary of War in relation to accommodations for the in creased clerical force in the Surgeon General's Office. The President pro tern, ruled that, in accord ance with the practice of his predecessor, the pa per would be read at length, unless otherwise or dered, and after remarks by Senators upon differ ent interpretations of what had been the practice heretofore, a vote was taken, when a single re sponse was given both in the negative and affirm ative. The Chair caused some little merriment by ob serving that as the vote was a tie he was obliged to exercise his constitutional prerogative, and would vote aye. The reading then proceeded. A large number of bills of a private nature, mainly for individual relief, were introduced and referred, after which the Senate adjourned. . . Eugene G. Barnard, a clerk in the Treasury De partment, charged with illegally prosecuting a pension claim, has been held in $2,000 bail to await the action of the grand jury. The law pro hibits any person in Government employ from prosecuting not only pensions, but all other claims against the United States.