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THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON, D. 0., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1882.
if
OUR SOLDIERS' -COLUMN.
Enlisting all (lie Veterans in a Good
Work.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
Flying- Bullets Btoiii Our
Comrades' Solid Column.
To the Editor National Tribute:
I read, with much interest, your paper from
week to week, and believe you to be the sol
dier's true friend, and therefore take it for
granted that you are a friend to soldiers' wives
also. And as one of these I wish to ask you a
few questions.
Are soldiers' wives allowed to take any inter
est with their husbands in any of the Post
eocieties; and if not, why not? True, wo
did not offer our lives for our country, but
wo gave iu many very many instances all
clso that wo had, and there are cases whero
offering of life is rather to bo preferred to a
continual waiting, watching, and anxious care,
if we could but make that sacrifice. But as
we could not, to us came the lonesome years of
Eiispenso and care and toil, trying to support
ourselves and save our husbands' earnings,
that we might share them together, fully
trusting that whatever there might bo of pleas
ures or honors they would gladly share with
us, if they were fortunate enough to return to
us again. The emblem of the society is Fra
ternity, Charity, and Loyalty. Are soldiers'
wives usually opposed to the fraternal and
friendly fellowship existing between soldiers?
and aro we opposed to deeds of charity, and
unwilling to assist, in the" same? "Would we
not be even more loyal to our country and to
them for sharing their honors and pleasures, of
which they have so very many ? I have yet to
learn of an iustanco where we were permitted
to share with them unless our services were
required somewhere. Mr. Editor, the meanest
stay-at-homo rebel sympathizer has the same
privilege and interest, if they wish, as we, and
the rebels themselves aro allowed more interest
with our soldiers than we are allowed to have.
I know that in this I express the sentiments of
many soldiers' wives in this vicinity, and I
believe all over the country, if they would give
it expression. Will you be so kind as to en
lighten us a little on this subject, and you will
do a great faver to Soldieus' Wives.
KEEP THE GUNS AT "WORK.
To the Editor National Tribute:
Your card came to hand, requesting my help
snd influence. You have both. I have sent
you one club, and as I could not attend to it I
persuaded Comrade Cox to get all the subscrib
ers he could, and I would help him all I could,
lie has already sent you a number of subscrib
ers, and will continue on. I consider your
paper the soldier's friend and protector, and if
everyone who has barcl his breast to the mis
siles of the enemy and endured the hardships
of the many campaigns during the four years
of bloody warfare, will give their mite to sup
port such a friend, and will give their mighti
est might to protect its rights and man the
guns of Congressional affairs, sending in shot
after shot loaded with petitions a mile long,
the floors of Congress will be swept with such
a rush that its members will listen to the wails
cf our suffering comrades. The ex-soldiers that
aro able have a duty to perform to gain the
promised rights of the destitute. Let us go, as
of old, shoulder to shoulder, with our banners
spread to the free air of heaven, shouting the
battle-cry of freedom and equal rights. Let
every soldier send his petition, and as many
more as lie can get, to his Congressman, and
keep it going all along the line, and give The
National Tribune an extra charge, in the
Bhape of a few subscribers, to keep her guns at
work for our cause. If wo do not work (those
that are interested) how can we expect others
to work for us. I have just mailed a petition
to Hon. John Sherman and George H. Pendle
ton with 200 names of legal voters of this place.
Noaa, hoys, come on, and keep it up until wc
get our rights. We have got a c7 more solid
bhot left yet in our limber-chest, and until
they arc all gone, and our guns spiked, we will
not give up. We will fight it out on this line
jf it takes a lifetime to accomplish it, although
dark clouds olecure our wajT. The heroos of the
war will gain the da'!
Yours, in F., C, and L.,
S. M. ClIILDS,
N. L. Norris Post, No. 40, G. A. E
Chagees Falls, 0.
appreciating the tribune.
To the Editor National Tribune:
Endoscd find $1 for Tue.Tuiiwne for one
year. I am highly pleased with it, and I want
to a&sure you that your noble efforts in behalf
of the loyal men in this country, who left their
happy homes for the perils of the camp and
1. attic-field, who languished or died in south
ern prisons, will not forget those who stand by
us. You are doing a noble work in 'another
direction. Some weeks ago one A. L. Bourquin
wrote a letter of inquiry to The Tribune con
cerning the G. A. R. and its objects. That
letter was forwarded to our Commander at
Omaha, and by him forwarded to Department
headquarters in Illinois. As commander of
Post No. 140, Blooiuington, 111., it was forwarded
to me, and I take pleasure in announcing the
fact that at our next meeting we muster II. L.
Bourquin into our ranks. Thursday and
Friday, November 2d and 3d, "The Union Ex
Prisoners of War Association" met at Decatur,
111. All enjoyed a glorious time.
Yours in F., C, and L.,
E. H. Miner.
Bloomington, III.
AN EVANGELIST FOR THE TEIBUNE.
To the Editor National Tribune:
I have just received a postal from your office
this morning. I can say as for myself I have
been an evangolist going about through the
countiy, trying to get comrades converted into
working for tno interest of themselves and
other comrades by subscribing for your valuable
aper. You need not look for any club from
me, but I shall keep on working for your paper.
1 know of several that have subscribed for it on
my recommendation, but tho way I am situ
ated on the railroad I could not very well get
i.p a club ; but still I can work tho whole dis
tance of my run between Columbus and Indian
apolis 183 miles. I think I can help got the
100,000 subscribers for your paper, and also for
the Grand Army. As for myself I get so hun
gry that I can hardly wait until Saturday for
my paper. A comrade wanted the address of
Dr. J. F. Gabriel ; it is Piqua, Miami co., Ohio.
Yours, in F., C, and L.,
Columbus, O. Abel F. Greenwood.
WHITE-WINGED MESSENGERS.
To tho Editor National Tribune:
Your paper comes to mo like the white
winged messengers that came to us from fa
thers, mothers and sisters telling us how things
were going on at the old farms,in the work-shops
and tho mill. Many of the boys will remember
letters that came from ono too sacred for auy
save the eyes of the reader, and they would
steal away by themselves to read a love letter.
Now. 1 hope TnE Tribune, unlike the latter,
will be handed from comrade to comrade until
every soldier is a reader of your valuable paper.
In reading it, I seem to live over ngaiu my
army life, and am intensely interested in every
lino of it Twenty years a.co, at the battle of
Antietam, I received my discharge in the shape
of a bullet through the right lung, the ball
still remaining in me. Hoping a million will
take your paper, E. Wood,
1st. Co. Andrew Sharp shooters.
Cincoi'EE, Maes.
HALF OF HIS DAILY BREAD.
To tho Editor National Tribune:
I have received three copies of Tiie Na
tional Tribune, and I just think that it is
tho best paper in tho interest of the ex-soldiors
I havo ever seen. I shall never do without it
as long as I can raise $1 or even more to pay for
it. I was a member of the Sixteenth Maine
regiment, company G, until towards the closo
of the war. when 1 was transferred to company
K, Twentieth Maino regiment. I am in hopes,
sooner or later, to get a pension and more
iMiunty, as I was wounded twice and taken
prisoner several times, but slipped through
their fingers before I had the misfortune to
reach either of their cursed prison pens An
dersonville, or any of tho others. I am a hard
working man, and if there is any money for
me 1 would be pleased to get it. And I think
and agree with you that the more circulation
The National Tribune gets tho more
chances wc will stand of receiving what tho
Government honestly owes us. I havo but lit
tle time to canvass, but 1 shall call tho atten
tion of all my friends to tho good work that
your excellent paper is doing, and any time I
can get a subscriber for you I will do it with all
my heart. Don't fail to send it every week, for
it is half of my daily bread.
Very respectfully,
David Scott,
Co. K, 20th Reg't Me. Vols.
Duluth, Minn.
SMALL SHOT.
Sharp Cracks of tho Outline Anns All Alonj; tho
Line.
Maine. "I will subscribe for TnE Tribune
if I have to go foraging for the dollar." Emery
O. Pendleton, Waldo co. "I wish I could
put The Tribune in the hands of every loyal
soldier in the country." Wm. Wallace, Penob
scot co. .
New Ilampshire. "Tho boys are beginning
to realize that The Tribune is their staunch
friend." A. N. Latham, Cheshire co.
Ycnnont. " Nothing is so good for tho sol
diers digestion as The Tribune." Wm. Clark,
Washington co.
Massachusetts. "I take six weeklies, but
The Tribune has the first perusal." Wm. A.
Bice, Hampden co.-
"It brings back old Avar
E. P. Nichols, Hampshire
times to my mind."
co. "I have captured three more recruits for
The Tribune." C. C. Hosford, Hampshire co.
"Here aro four moro recruits to servo in
tho ranks of TnE Tribune." J. A. McGinloy,
Hampden co.
Connecticut. " The Tribune is a power for
the soldier." Wm. Brittoil, Windham co.
"Two more old vets fallen into line." Wind
ham co.
New York. "The Tribune deserves every
old soldier's earnest effort." Jas. F. Simmons,
Rensselaer co. "It is tho champion of tho
Nation's defenders." 11. E. Spicor, Jeffcraon co.
"The Tribune might be culled tho 'Sol
diers' Advocate.' " W. J. Brooker, Montgom
ery co. "The Tribune bus now becomo
indispcnsible in the household." John Lang,
Cattaraugus co. "It is tho noblest family
paper in America." O. F. Bucll, Jefferson co.
" The Tribune is a true and tried friend."
Jarvis C. Lincoln, Oneida co.
Pennsylvania. " The Tribune should be in
the hands not only of every soldier but every
American." D. R. Coder, Crawford co. "I
cannot get along at all without The Tribune."
J. W. Hall, Crawford co.
Ohio. "The spirit and general makeup of
The Tribune is excellent." James H. Pur
ges.'', Clark co. "The National Tribune
works for the welfare of the soldier." John C.
Carrothers, Richland co. " There is no true
medium between the soldier and tho Govern
ment except The Tribune." Alex. B. Glenn,
Lake co. "The Tribune is a good gun,
and shoots right at tho mark." Wm. Kirch
ner, Pike co. "I must fall in lino and sup
port the battery." L. C. Lyman, Morrow co.
Illinois. "The Tribune's success means
tho soldier's success." O. S. Pratt, Peoria co.
"Hero is my first but not my last shot
into the enemy's camp." B. A. Andorson,
Perry co. "Here is the ammunition to fire
The Tribune this way for one year." S. C.
Buustine, Christian co.
The
Tribune
will get the soldiers their just dues." W. M.
Weissbach, Randolph co. "I have captured
three new recruits." Jas. R. Casoy, La Sallo
co. " You have got hold of the right end of
tho musket. Give it them over the head ! " Jas.
II. Seaton, Fulton co. "Tin; Tribune will
fight until every soldier has his due." J. P.
Ross, Tazewell co. " The National Trib
une is our standard bearer." Joseph Page,
Adams co.
Michigan. " The Tribune must and Hhall
be sustained." Abrara D. E. Clark, Kalamazoo
co. "TnE Tribune will soon silenco tho
enemies of tho soldier." Ingham co. "I
want to see it in the hands of 'all the hoys who
wore the blue." C. T. Evans, Barry co. " It
docs not take a premium to invito me to work
for TnE Tribune." A. Randall, Benzie co.
"The Tribune is thoroughly in earnest." A.
J. Wilson, Saginaw co.
Wisconsin. " The Tribune keeps the sol
dier posted as to his interests." llanncn Hill,
Jackson co. "It is the true and unflinching
champion of the soldier." J. R. Luce, Portage
co.
Minnesota. "Tho anecdotes of prison lifo
alone are worth tho subscription price. John
Squier, Freeborn co. " I admire the straight
forward and bold course of The Tribune."
Edward Meyer, Redwood co. "I am not a
soldier, but The Tribune interests mo deeply."
J. T. Smith, Hennepin co.
Iowa. "I believe every true soldier will
give The
Linn co.-
Tribune a lift." M. C. Carmody,
"The Tribune shall be a life-
long visitor to my fireside." J. R. Schofield,
Cass co.
Kansas. " It comes nearer to tho wants of
tho soldier than any papor in the country."
Nel?on Wright, Johnson co. "I cannot do
without my rations each week." Wm. Blun-
doll, Labette co. "I can't keep peaco in my
family without The Tribune." C. II. Demoss,
Lyon co. "I have started a recruiting otlico
for The Tribune." Isaac Greciau, Osboruo co.
Missouri. "With a few such organs to advo
cate our cause Ave should soon get our rights."
W. S. Davis, Piko co.
Nebraska. "It advocates tho rights of the
common soldier equally with those of the ofli-
cers." John Q. Robinson, Webster co. " The
Tribune is tho champion of the bravo men
who gave tho country its second independ
ence." P. I. O'Rourko, Lincoln co.
Texas. "The Tribune has done more for
tho soldier than all other influences combined."
G. N. Arnold, Ellis co.
Lay by something for a rainy day, my son,
if it's only an umbrella. Boston Traiucriyt.
BRAVE LITTLE RED CAP.
The
oiing Orderly of Monster Wirz
at Andersonvillc.
STRIPPING THE DEAD.
Brisk Speculations in
Sutlers' Supplies.
Bad
Continued from last Keck.
Tho month of April brought us sunny skies
and pleasant Aveather. Wirz moved his family
to a- frame house on tho line of the railroad,.
about a mile abovo Anderson villo aud an equal
distance from tho stockade, and spent his nights
there. He rode his famous gray mare, and his
route lay through the burying-ground and a
strip of Avoods that skirted the railroad. I sup
pose I knoAV the qualities of that mare better
than anyone hoav living better oven than did
Wirz himself for I had tho caro of her, and
used to exercise her daily in bearing messages
to and from tho depot, tho farm-house, and
military headquarters. She Avas a tine animal,
easy gaitcd and suro footed, and I became
greatly attached to her. It was on the morn
ing following that on which my young comrade
died that 1 became the commandant's orderly.
Existence had become intolerable Avithin the
stockade, aud AA'hen old Wirz asked mo to act
as his " errand boy," as ho called it, I Avas
nothing loth to accept. My duties, as I havo
intimated, Avero chiefly those of a messenger to
the depot and General Winder's headquarters,
and T had to make tho trip several times a day.
Wirz by this tiino had managed to incur the
ill-AA:ill not only of CA'ery inmato of the prison,
but of the majority of the rebel soldiers en
camped in the vicinity. On one occasion he
drcAV his rcA'olvcr on a guard Avho did not obey
his order to get up from the ground on which
he was lying with sufficient alacrity, and I
heard him say afterwards that he would ImA'o
shot the poor felloAV if ho had hesitated a mo
ment longer. Yet ho Avas at heart a great
coAvard. Ho rodo up to his otlico one morning
SAVcaring in the most shocking manner, and,
on being asked by the spectators Avho were
attracted to the spot by his blasphemous ejacu
lations, declared that some Yankee had
escaped from tho stockade during tho night,
and' having waylaid him, tried to knock his
brains out with a club. Wirz was in too great
a state of excitement at first to go into particu
lars, but wo learned presently that as he was
riding through tho Avoods a man had suddenly
jumped out of the brush, seized his mare by
the bridle, and tried to fell him to the ground
with a stout club. Fortunately for Wirz the
blow Avas badly aimed, and he only received a
smart rap on tho chin. His whito linen
trousers Avere stained Avith blood bolow tho
knee, but tho Avound AA-as of quite a trifling
character. It was tho occasion, however, of
my first introduction to his home, whither he
dispatched mo at onco to procure a clean pair
of pantaloons. Mrs. Wirz Avas quite as much
excited as her husband when I told her Avhat
had occurred, and denounced tho " mean, low,
dirty, Yankees " with a vehemence that at onco
convinced mo that instead of one. master, the'
inmates of Anderson villo had tAvo to deal Avith.
Whether it really Avas an escaped prisoner ;whp
assaulted Wirz or not, I was never able to dis
cover, but tho chances aro at least even that
his assailant was one of the confederate guards
AA'ho had suffered from his brutality.
TRISON PRIVATIONS.
About this time a fino rifled battery which had
been captured by the confederates at tho battle
of Olustee, Fla., was brought to Andersonvillo
and stationed AA-hero it would command the
prison enclosure As tho condition of the in
mates greAV morfj and moro pitiful the confed
erates became moro and more apprehensive of
an outbreak. Wo now had sunny Aveather, it
is true, and the lack of furl Avas no longer felt,
but constant exposuro to tho storms of Febru
ary and March, and tho Avant of nourishing
food, had undermined the constitutions of the
men gen orally, aud thoy Avero in no condition
to successfully resist tho inroads of disease.
The majority, too, Avero in rags, and fresh
clothing could only be obtained by stripping
the bodies of the dead. Many a corpse awis
carried nearly naked to tho gates, and it Avas
tho invariable custom, as soon as a man died, to
remove all his clothing except his shirt, and to
the latter pin a little slip of paper, containing
simply his name, rank, company, and regiment.
The appearance of the dead as they lay stretched
out at Andersonvillo haunts me still. Their
features Arere distorted with pain and hunger,
and millions of lieo SAvarmod on thoir sunken
limbs and emaciated bodies. It AA-as ii hideous
spectacle, and God forbid that His sun shall
ever shine on the like again !
unwelcome visitors.
It is not a pleasant subject I know, but this
narrative would bo incomplete did it fail to
record tho plaguo of vermin which fell upon
the prisoners. Tho " grcybacks " as tho boys
called them infested tho wholo place, and it
Avas all a strong, healthy man could do to keep
his person clean by picking them off of his
clothes every day, while the sick and feeble
avcic literally devoured by them. It was as
much apart of tho daily routine of prison lifeto
remove the vermin from our clothing as it was
to eat or sleep or drink, and no expression was
moro common or uttered with moro seriousness
in our mess than tho loathsome ono: "Well,
comrades, let us louse ! " It seemed to us some
times as if all tho plagues of Egypt had been
let looso upon us. During the month of April
the average number of prisoners on the roll
Avas five thousand, and the official returns giA'e
a total of five hundred and soA'cnty-six deaths
during that period, or a daily mortality of
OA'er nineteen. The confederates had mado
shift to erect a hospital in tho nenrtheastem
part of the stockade, but it was utterly unfit
for tho purposes it Avas designed to servo. A
small portion of the enclosure had been railed
off from tho rest, a fcAV fiy tents erected, aud a
layer of pine leaves spread on the ground to
servo as beds for the inmates only this and
nothing more. Nothing was done to relievo
them from tho tortures inflicted by the lice,
nourishing food Avas denied them, and thero
was an entire lack of proper medical attend
ance. No wonder that the hospital came to bo
looked upon as tho gateway to tho graA'e. As
a matter of fact, seventy-six per cent.. accord
ing to the ollicial records of all tho patients
admitted died there!
and still tiiey come.
ToAvards tho close of tho month our number
was increased by tho arrival of two thousand
prisoners Avho had constituted the Federal gar
rison at Plymouth, North Carolina, and had
been allowed Avlu-n they surrendered to retain
their personal effects. They Avere tho best
dressed and finest looking body of men that wo
had seen, and nearly every one still had come
of his veteran bounty money in his possession,
but from the moment the gates of Andcrson
ville closed upon them they seemed to gi-o
thenisf'lcs up to despair. Tho contrast between
the life they had led at Plymouth and that to
which they noAV found themselves doomed was
so terrifying that thoy abandoned at once all
hope, und although tho older prisoners con
tinued to dig tunnels and undertake all sorts
of schemes of escapo they were never able to
enlist them in the Avork. These Avere gloomy
days Avith us. One morning word was brought
mo that a comrade of mine had died during
the night, and made a last request that I should
cut a lock of hair from his head, which ho
AA-ishcd me to givo to his wife and family
should I ever be so fortunate as to be exchanged
or make my escape AA'ith the message that ho
had gone to heaven. I clipped the lock and
carefully preserved it, but it never reached its
destination, for reasons that I will tell you
before I reach the end of my story. This long
ing for home Avas a disease Avith us. We used
to dream of it nightly, and I haA'o heard many
a poor felloAVsay in the morning: "Well, I was
at home last night for a while, and you just
ought to have seen the good time that Ave had."
As I think Iioav many a lad aAveke from that
SAVcet dream only to find death at his side beck
oning to him AA'ith his icy fingers, the tears
again fill my eyes, and I can scarcely see the
pago upon Avhich these lines are scnnvled. Ah,
me! itAvas a positive rolief to us sometimes
AA'hen they died, for in their delirium they
would mistake us for Avifo or sAvcelhcart or
father or mother, aud AA'ould talk to us in tones
that Avould drivo us distracted.
BIRDS OF I'REV.
The Plymouth prisoners, as I have said, AA'cre
avcII provided Avith clothing, cooking utensils,
and money, the result of Avhich AA-as that a very
liA-ely trade sprang up in tho stockade. Our
circulating medium Avas increased ; it Avas A'a
riously estimated from twenty to one hundred
thousand dollars, and of course all sorts of
deA'iccs Avero employed by the older prisoners
to get a share of it. The prison regulations
forbado the guards to deal in tho moiioy of the
" enemy," but thero were few of them Aiio
Avere not Ailling to sell anything they had to
secure some of the coveted greenbacks. The rate
of exchango Avas about three to fiA'e in faA'or of
our money, and the staplo articles of trade-Avore
molasses, tobacco, meat, beans, flour, onions,
and wood. The latter AA-as supplied by a little
felloAV from Baltimore named Seldcn, Avho also
furnished the goods Avhich tho prison sutlers
Ira Be-crly, of tho One Hundredth Ohio, and
Charlie Huckelby, of the Eighth Tennessee, both
of whom I knoAV avcII retailed to the prisoners
at their shop on the north sidoof tho enclosure.
I ho prices were of course exorbitant. Common
black sorghum molasses was a dollar (in green
backs) a pint. Soldcn had been quartermaster
at tho time of tho establishment of the prison,
but had been removed to make room for one of
old Winder's sons, Richard. Ho AA'as a drunken
little rascal, and on ono occasion his fellow
confederates rodo him on a rail, to tho great
amusement of tho camp. Beverly and Huck
elby made a good thing out of their sutlership.
In tho course of thoir dealings thoy bought a
lot of securities, on the chance of their turning
out to be genuine; and I learned afterwards, at
Annapolis, Md., whither Ave Avent together on
being paroled, that they realized handsomely
on their investment. Their profits were esti
mated all the Avay from $10,000 to $50,000.
KEDDY, THE GAMBLER.
Aside from tho legitimate trading, AA-hich
made business brisk at this time, thero was al-
Avays a certain amount of gambling going on.
Dice, cards, chuck-a-luck boards, and many
other games, Avere resorted to by thoso who
Avere versed in sporting mattors to better their
fortunes, and I avcII remember one man in par
ticular as having mado somo lucky strikes at
those games. The boys called him "Roddy."
lie hod a little blanket tent closo to tho north
gate, and ho AA-as very fond of giving exhibi
tions of his gymnastic accomplishments. I
daresay many of tho readers of The Tribune
have cither seen or heard of him. Tho last
time I met him AA-as at Cumberland, Md., some
six years ago, under circumstances which led
me to believe that after leaving Andersonvillc
he resumed his old profession. He was not a
bad fellow at heart, but he could not control
his nimble fingers.
7b be continued.
Answers to Correspondents.
Sub., Lynnvillc, IU. Yes.
S. E. D., Charlemont, Mas3. You cannot.
A. D., Utica, Olm. Number 250,1(!0 may be
alloAved to-day, and No. 350,000 may bo pond
ing because incomplete. To illustrate further:
Supposing claim No. 100,000 through somo
causo or other AA-as incomplete; do you think
it would be fair for the Department to sus
pend the thrco or four hundred thousand
claims tiled subsequently, until No. 100,000 Avas
completed? Calls for CA'idenco in invalid
claims are being made in cases numbered as
high .'190,000, and in dependent cases, about
275,000.
J. W. A., Glemvood, la. There should be no
delay in the settlement of your case, if it stands
as you say it docs.
W. F. A., South Starling, Ta Tho widow for
feited her right by remarriage.
J. A. M., Athol Centre, Mass.l. Yes. 2. Sho
will not lose it if she completes the claim.
T. K. 11'., Mexico, Mo. Depends upon Avhcn
and how much bounty you rcceied.
A. F. G., Columbus, Ohio. I. Time varies
sometimes two or three mouths. 2. Reply to
question No. 1 ansAvers this interrogatory. 3
and 4. The Board of Reviow is in charge of the
Deputy Commissioner Avho has an assistant,
and expert examiners avIioso duty consists
in revicAving all claims before final action is
taken by the office.
A. S. R., Sugar Grove, 0. 1. A reply may be
expected in tAvo or threo months. 2. Not
necessarily. 3. Yes.
G. W. A., Fori Worth, Tones. About six or
eight Aveeks on an average
CM. ., Eidgcjicld, Conn. 1. You can employ
another attorney in your pension case. 2. It is
impossible for us to say Avhyyou have not been
notified of the condition of your case. 3. You
can procure certificate in lieu of lost discharge
upon application to tho Adjutant-General, U.
S. A.
JF. S., Sparta, Wis.l. No. 339,800 ; October
31, 1SS2. 2. It is not tho practice, but such
action is occasionally taken, if tho Commis
sioner thinks tho circumstances warrant.
W. IT., Wellington, Kan. Your attorney AA'ould
bo the proper person to keep you advised as to
tho condition of your case. Wo could not tell
why tho delay occurs. You Avill probably hear
from the Commissioner in a few Aveeks.
Scott, McComb, Ohio. 1 and 2. The call upon
tho Adjutant-General does not signify that the
case is complete.
JJ1 J., Forestvillc, Cal. If you have proved
origin of injury, you should endeaA'or to fur
nish neighbors' testimony as to your physical
condition from discharge to tho present time.
AVenreoblincd to answer certain Inquires of tliesruno
nature In caih issue of our paper. While we chetirfullv
furnish information to subscribers in this column, we
aujiKt that much labor, tirno, iimi expense mav lie -xivetl
bofh to ourelvri and to our correspondents, ff all sub
scribers would krep a nlc of the paper. Thoy could then,
at any time, turn lo the file awl probably nnd tho very
Inquiry answered about which they would have written
to u. Wfi tni't that erory subscriber will prolit by this
suggestion. En.
Tho Ulb'ht .Tingle.
From the Guthrie Co. (Iowa) Journal.
Wo publish this Aveek a long editorial from
Tin: National Tkiiiune. This strikes us
Avith a jingle of truth and justice. Wo AA'ant
that every soldier Avould read it and recom
mund that eVry soldier that feels himself ublo
take The National Tiuiiune. It is published
at Washington. I. C It is a largo Aveekly paper,
devoted entirely to the interest of soldiers and
congressional iioavs. You can most always liud
a copy at our otlico. Call aud sec one.
JUSTICE FOR PENSIONERS
An Iowa Editor Refutes an Infa
mous Slander.
JUSTICE LONG DELAYED.
How a 'Republic Should Pay
its Great Debt.
From the Ioua State Fegislcr.
A Democratic paper of the South asks : "Is
thero a single paper in the Avholo land that en
dorses the infamous arrears of pension act a
grab and steal that takes a hundred millions of
dollars out of the national Treasury?" Yes,there
is one that aa-o Iciioav of. This paper endorses
it, and considers it as noble an act as Congress
ever passed, and as noblo a deed of plain and
bounden duty as a nation ever performed.
First, it simply mado its bounty to the volun
teer soldiers of tho army that saved tho Na
tion's life equal to all alike. Second, it comes
to such of its soldiers as were broken
down in its service, iu their older age and
need, and from its bounteous treasury saves
them from Ha'cs of actual suffering and deaths of
beggary and burials as paupers. No doubt
some, and even very much, of the vast sum
goes through fraud to unAA-orthy purposes. But
what great sum of Governmental money is over
expended AA'ithout I033 and fraud? Put it at
its Avorst, and admit even that half of it goes
to dishonest claimants, Avhich i3 a greater
ratio than any one claims, and who will say
that the honest half of it in goingto crippled or
destitute soldiers and their starving families,
is not accomplishing a great and noble Avork
that h worth moro to tho Nation, and to the
grateful satisfaction of its pcoplo, than it all
costs?' Grant that there are many SAvindles
perpetrated in its name and on its fund, as no
doubt thero arc. Craut that many men sharo
in its bounty AA-ho do not deser-o and AA-ho
ncA-er earned it. Grant that CA'ery neighbor
hood knoAA-s of such abuse of it. Grant that it
is an enormous sum, and that no other Govern
ment on tho face of the earth has ever dealt so
bountifully with its soldiery as this act deals
Avith the soldiers of the army of 1SG1. Grant
all this, and as much more, by way of objec
tion, as may be justly or unjustly added. And
still tho fact remains that the good it has done,
the suffering it has relieved, ontA-oighs all the
Avrongs and outAveighs all the objections. For
there is no neighborhood in the North whore
this grateful almonry of a preserved Republic
has not gone to holp somo Union soldier, or his
family, out of n condition of present AA-ant and
threatened starvation. There can bo no per
son, with intelligence enough to criticizo
tho pension at all. aa-Iio does not know of
some ono deserving soldier in his own ac
quaintance, to A-hom it has como like manna
from Heaven. Wo venture to say that thero
is no neighborhood in the North, from Avhich
a dozen men went out to the war, which has
not had, to tho knoAvledge of all its people, a
case of suffering relieA'ed by this act. It Avent,
like an angel of mercy, to the hut of a soldier
in.jrcGregor,Jn .his utter blindness and beg
gary, and lifted from the edge of starvation
himself and children, and put him in a littlo
home of his'oAvn, with some money left OA'cr to
feed him in his remaining days of helplessness
and bliudness. Who, in Clayton county, or in
loAA'n, Avill say that the help it gives to that
man in his blindness and helplessness, cau.ed
by the AA'ar, did not outweigh all the frauds
perpetrated iu its name in IoAA-a? A year ago
u printer in the Register office, Avith an inA'alid
wife and fiA'e littlo children, AA-as dying of con
sumption, engendered by his service in tho
army. Charity had been feeding this proud
soldier all that ho had eaten for somo time, and
all that his 'helpless family had eaten, and he
AA-as dying face to face with tho aAA-ful fact that
he Avas leaA'ing them all to beggary and AA'ant,
and perhaps to the alms-house. A Aveek beforo
ho died this pension came, and put in his pal
sying hand enough to buy a homo to put his
family in, and enough to enable the mother to
keep her littlo children from hunger and out of
tho poor-house. What man in all'tho Nation,
whether he staid at home during the Avar and
made money, whilo this soldior AA'recked his
lifo and lost his health, or Avhcthcr he has
grown to man's estate since, and has prospered
in the Republic that theso soldiers helped to
sao, AA'ould begrudge all that ho Avill pay to
this fund if only this ono soldior and his family
had beon benefited by it?
There are thousands of cases like this one,
in help of the blind soldier at McGregor, and
like this other, in holp of a dying soldier at
Des Moines hundreds of them in Iowa, and
many thousands of them in the country at large.
There is not a county in tho AA'holo North, and
scarcely a neighborhood, which has not had its
caso of a suffering, needy soldier relic-ed by
this pension of a strong and wealthy GoA'orn
ment coming in between him and his family
and utter Avant or tho poor-house. Who wants
tho men Avho made up tho Union army to die
in AA'ant, or their families to h:wc the alms of
GoA'crnment only through tho poor-houao? On
Avhom has tho burden of this pension money
fallen so heavily that, in'his health aud strength,
he feels it at all, much less suffers by reason of
it?
Theso men Aent to the help of tho Republic
Avhon it AA'as iu diro poril, and Avhen all tho
property in it was in extreme jeopardy.
Thoy said, Ave leave our homes and our fami
lies, and our comfortable living, to imperil
our lives and perhaps loo thorn forj-ou, and
avo ask only $13 a month not half as much
as any of us could earn at homo. We do this
freely, because avc love tho Republic, and are
Avilling if need be to dio for it. Wo arc young,
strong and healthy. Wo ak but littlo while
you havo so littlo. We offer till that avc have
and all that Ave are, and if avo shall save tho
Republic, CA'en if avc die, or become cripples,
or life-long invalids and helpless incurables,
avo knoAV the strong arm of the Government
and tho wesilthy people under it, Avill not
see us suffer, or our families starve. This
AA'as tho unwritten agreement in time of AA'ar
botAveon tho Republic and its sons that tho
Republic is iioav in time of peace trying to re
deem. And bountifully as it is doing it, the
burden of it is not felt by it nor by any of its
people. It is not money given aAA'ay that it
giA'es to these soldiers. Thoy earned it all in
tiio AA'ar, and simply did not claim it whilo
they Avere strong and the Government was
weak. Noav that thoy aro Aveak and in need,
and tho Government is strong, it is simply
paying to thorn tho money that they earned
twenty years ago. It cm aa'cII afford to pay it
and the intorest. For they seo tho great pros
perity that it has had, and all the great for
tunes and good livings that all its people have
mado since, all are due to tho A'alor and deA'o
tiou of these soldiers Avho saA-ed it in the Avar.
It is but a small titho this great pension, at
its greatest that this Nation and its people aro
paying to theso soldiers or thoir families iioav.
It is merely interest, and but a begtr.irly in
terest, on Avhat they earned at cost of health or
life tAventy years ago.
So wo say it is money avoII spont. Wo say
even more : Many of. tho inou who mado up
the Union army Avero forty and fifty years old
then. They are uoav sixty and seventy years
old. All the men above sixty should be paid a
pension AAiiether thoy are entitled to it under
this last act or not. There must be thousands
and thousands of them in need, and very few
of them can be able to support themselves noAV,
and there is probably not one of them AA'ho is
not enfeebled in his old days by the rack and
Avear of his serA'ice in the army. Not ono of
these old men can this great Republic, in
justice, suffer to go in AA-ant and not ono of
them should it suffer to die in the common
alms-house of his county. All that tho Re
public can do to keep any one of its soldiers
from AA-ant it should do ; and let it cost Avhat it
may, the sum Avill yet be small for so great and
wealthy a Nation to pay to those Avho saved its
life, and gavo to it the prosperous career it is
enjoying now. Let the rich groAvlcr at the
pensions to needy soldiers prepare himself for
more to come. For this debt of gratitude not
of grace at all that the Republic oaa-cs to its
soldiers Avill not be less for many years, but for
many years Avill increase instead. No Govern
ment and especially no Republic can afford
to accept of the life of one of its citizens, even
the humblest, whether he died in the war, or
from the effects of it aftenvards, and let his
family go unsuccored in beggarv because of it.
Eesac.i After Eighteen Years.
Philadelphia Times.
Veteran .Too Johnston, worn with the rubs of
AA'ar and marked nnder the harness of many
political heat3, must end his campaigning soon
in surrender to the grim felloAV Avith the scythe,
but the cover that he built for his array at this
place bids fair to stick tho century out in per
fect form. When Storekeeper BroAvn, avIio be
caxno my guide, shut up shop aud led me a few
hundred paces westward to the southern end of
the rebel lino of AA'orks, I Avai surprised to seo
Iioav avoII the fortifications uro preserved. Wo
Avere near the Oostanaula river, and it was our
purpose to Avalk along tho works more than
three miles to the Counasauga. At the time of
tho battle Johnston's army AA'as in tho elbow
made by tho tAA'o rivers, which unite abovo
Resaca, and Sherman wa3 stretched across tho
country to tho north Aveat. On some battle-fields :
it is hard to understand the positions of the op
posing forces, but at this placo tho scratches
upon old Mother Earth are too plain to let tho
visitor lo3e the trail. Tho reason for tho cood
condition of tho AA'orks may be found in tho
peculiarity of the soil, which is of yellowish
slate. Bits of slate cover the sides of the mound,
Avhich runs waist-high on an average wherever
it passes through timber.
A WALK ON THE EREASTWOEKS.
At tho point Avhero Ave struck this remark
able relic AA'e went upa hill, climbing constantly
over banks of upturned snb-soil. Passing out
of these remnants of artillery fortifications we
folloAved a path that Avound along the top of the
embankment for infantry. At short intervals
Ave came upon transverse sections where thero
AA-erc double lines, and doAvn tho slope we saw
many rifle-pits. As it seemed to mo tho lino
Avas more complete even than Hancock's lino
which remains undisturbed along the Brock
road in the Wilderness. I AA-as interested to
learc that the planters use the trenches as cut
lets for water, nor was it less curious to hear
that the banks left by Johnston serve in tho
placo of fences here and there over tho battle
field. MA2TY SIGNS OF GALLANT TVOES:.
Along strode tho guide, and after him plod
ded the sight-scer. Now, on the right avc saw
.a stretch of loAvland,. with a feAV darkies pick
ing cotton, and again, looking through trees
far to tho west, we caught sight of the range of
hills beyond Camp creek, on the crest of which
had been the Federal lino. It seemed that aa'o
had walked more than throe miles, never losing
trace of Johnston's line, Avhen the guide, halt
ng significantly, said: "This is the place of
Hooker's big fight ; look at the trees I" The
trees are always the tell-tales on a battle-field,
nere, where hundreds of largo oaks and poplars,
now fallen and half-Avasted away, bore their
innumerable marks, the Twentieth corps had
breasted a bloody tide. Every foot of earth
roundabout had been trodden by the quick heel
of adA'ance. The stream of spring water uoav
trickling at the foot of the slight slope had
caught red drops that belonged of right to tho
hearts of boys in tho Adirondacks and of
fellows who still should be chopping for bread
in tho Northern Tier. Good Asa Churchill
once sat on this hill pressing his death-wound
as he sent his Bible and his lovo to his wife in
Bradford.
In this way Guide BroAvn showed me tho
wholo lino of defeuso until we camo to tha
thick timber on the western bank of tho Con
nasauga, Avhere tho works end. Having seen
this lino and having visited several points occu
pied by the Union troops, Ave found ourselves
almost at tho end of our Resaca rope. A
ruined house or so, with chimneys standing in
tho midst of rank weeds, particularly fino
patches of Egyptian clover, to which uoav
clung romantic interest, and a few forgotten
graves in the woods served to make the rest of
tho ramble interesting. Nor Avero these popu
lous acres found at every place of combat left
unvisited. The Federal dead of Rcsnca woro
moA'ed to Marietta, btit tho Southerner aa-Iio fell
remains on the field. Many Georgian, Ala
bamiahs, Tennesseeans and men from Missis
sippi rest in a cometery near tho village. Somo
of tho graves have Avhito headboards, whilo
others are marked by iron plates shaped liko
scrolls. A marble monument is to bo seen iu
ono corner of the enclosure, AA-hilo in the centro
is a gxauitc cross topped Avith cannon balls.
Hovr Western Cities Grow.
fVoju the Philadelphia iVejc.
A Avestorn man has been telling some Phila
delphians hoAV western cities grow. . Hesaysho
AA'cnt off into tho mountains hunting, and,
night coming on, he Avent to sleep in a tree to
be out of the Avolves' reach. He AA'as aAvakcned
early the next morning by some Avorkmen, who
tohl him to get doAvn and finish his nap on tho
court-house steps, as they wanted to turn that
tree into a Hag-pole for the hotel across the Avay.
Ho got down, and, while rubbing his eyes, Avas
nearly run over by a street car and got his
feet tangled in an olectric-light Avire.
SONGS OF THE CAMP.
Tramps Tramp, Tramp, tho Hoys aro Jliirclilny.
In tho prison cell I sit, thinking mother dear of
you,
And tiie bright anil happy dnys noAgone before,
And the tcara they fill my eyes, spite of all that
I am do,
'Tho I try to cheer my comrades and bo gay.
Ononcs. Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys aro
marching.
Cheer up comrades they Avill oome,
And beneath tho starry Hag wo will
breathe tho air aguin,
Of the free land in our own beloTed
home.
In tho battle front we stood, when their fiercest
charge they made,
And they swept us off, a hundred men or moro,
But before they reached our lines, thoy Avero
driven back dismayed,
Then a-o heard tho cry of A'ictory o'er and o'er.
OuortL'S. Tramp, tramp, tramp, etc.
So Avithin tho prison cell avo aro Availing for tho
day
That shall come to open Avido the iron door,
And tho holloAV eye rtoaa-s bright, the poor heart
almost gay,
As I think of seeing home aud friontls onco
more.
Cnoncs. Tramp, tramp, tramp, etc,
