Litchfield enquirer., 1846-08-13

utmost rlgorS, when dark cloud hung owe
the fate OF the country, when misfortune at
tended its arms and bankruptcy its treasury
the courage of her citizens failed not. The
records Of her towns, the votes of recruits tc
the army, and of bread to the suffering
showed that she had counted the cost of the
struggle and and was willing TO meet it
1t may we'll be supposed that the resources
of so Jealous an advocate for the war as
General Wolcott, were not withheld Eve
ny dollar that could be spared from the main
talnance of the family, was expended in
raising and equipping men; every blanket
not in actual use was sent to the army, and
the sheets were torn into bandages or cut in
to lint, by the hands of his wife and daugh-
tiers. During almost the whole of this win
ter had he been with Congress, and his alb
sence threw upon young Oliver an almost
in>upportable burden, in obtaining fuel and
provisions for the family, and in keeping
pen the roads for the transportation of
stores. At that time the line of travelling
and carriage, from New Hampshire, Massa-
chuSetts and Rhode Island, to Pennsylvania,
had in consequence of the incursionS of the
enemy, been turned nor,hward of the High
lands of New York. Much of the army
stores and ordnance had been deposited at
Litchfield, and in his capacity of Quarter
Master, the charge of providing for their
safe keeping and conveyance, fell upon
him.
One family anecdote is interesting and
may be mentioned here, although the circum
stance occurred earlier in the war. Before
the revolution, leaden equestrian Statue of
George ILL.,, stood in the Bowling Green in
the City of New York. At the breaking
out of the war this statue was overthrown,
and lead being highly valuable, was sent to
General Wolcotts at Litchfield for safe
keeping; where, in process Of time it was
cut up and run into bullets by his daugh-
tiers and their friends. An account of the
number of cartridges made by each, is still
preserved among the family papers. This
conversion of a monarch into practical ar
guments of the people, as may be supposed,
furnished abundant material for the wits of
the day.
The Inequalities of his house and his
fathers public character, introduced young
WolCott to many persons of distinction in
the army and in Congress. In the year
1880, he thus received General Washington,
who, with his suite, among whom were
Hamilton and Meade, passed through the
district The arduous duties thrown upon
him at so carly period of his life, and his
constant intercourse with men, were high
advanta ,es in their influence in forming and
ripening his character.
In January, 1881, he became of age, and
was Immediately admitted to the bar. He
shortly after removed to Hartford. Such
was his poverty, that he left home with no
more than three dollars in his pocket, and
to defray his expenses, on reaching Hartford
he accepted a clerkship in tie Office of the
Committee of Pay-tabe, with a salary
amounting to about fifty cents per diem, in
specie value.
His diligence in this employment attract
ed the notice of the General Assembly, wh(
in January, 1882, unsolicited, appointed
him one of the members of the Committee
at that time the central board of accounts
Being the junior member, it became part
Of his duty TO call upon the Council of Safe.
ty al their almost daily sittings, and receive
and execute their directions. There, under
the keen inspection of Governor TrumbulI
and the Council, he became initiated into
the system of public affairs, and personally
known to many of the prominent charac'
teIs in different depa rtments. His labors
from this time to the end of the war were
ural to his age, and at twenty one thrown
upon his own resources, in situation ar
duous and responsible, associating with
men of ability, he acquired the self conf.
dence, the intense application to business
practical habits and iron perseverance which
formed the basis of his success in life.
In May, 1884, he was appointed Com
missioner for the State Of ConnIcticut, il
concert with Oliver Ellsworth, with full
power to adjust and settle the acconns anc
claims ofthe State against the United States
with the Commissioner on the part OF Con
gress. In May, 1888, the committee o
Pay-Table was abolished, and the office o
Comptroller of Public Accounts instituted
Wolcott was appointed Comptroller, an'
continued to discharge the duties of the OF
with general acceptance until the establish
ment of the National Treasury, in the fal
Of the succeeding year.
In 1875, he had married Elizabeth, thu
only daughter Of Col. John Stoughton, de
scendant of one of the families who settled