M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-03-16

dollars day,comlng and going. They
were numerous. 1t was a service of
two months: the amount to be incurred
was great. He incurred It'll and, as
will be seen, at imminent risk of his
own ruin.
This assumption on the Generals
part met the first great difficulty, but
there were lesser difficulties, still seri.
ous, 10 be surmounted. The troops
had receiAed no pay; clothes and shoes
were worn out: men were in no condi.
tion TOR march so long and so expos
ed. The officers had received no pay
did not expect to need money-had
made no provision for the unexpected
contingency OF large demands upon
their own pockets to enable them to do
their men justice. But there was pat
riotism outside of the camp as we'll as
within. The merchants OF Natchez
put their stores at our disposition-take
what we needed-pay when convent.
ent at Nashville. | will name one
among these patriotic merchants--hame
him because he belongs to a class now
struck at, and because | do not ignore
a friend when he is struck. Washing>
ton Jackson was the one mean-Irish
by birth, American by choice, by law,
and feeling, and conduct. | took some
hundred pairs shoes from him for my
regiment, and other articles; and | pro-
claim it here, that patriotic men Of
foreign birth may see that there are a
plenty of Americans to recognize their
merit-to name them with honor in
high places-and to give them the right
hand OF friendship when they are struck
at
We all returned--were discharged
disperced among our homes, and the
fine chance on which we had so much
counted was all gone. And now came
a blow upon Jackson himself-the fruit
OF the moncyed responsibility which
he had assumed. His transportation
drafts were all protested-returned up
on him for payment, which was impos.
sible-aDd directions to bring suit.
This was the month of May. | was
coming on to Washington on my own
account, and cordially took charge OF
Jackson'S case. Suits were delayed
until the result of his application for
relief could be heard. | arrived at this
city: Congress was in session--the ex.
Itra session Of the spring and summer
OF 1913. | applied to the members ot
Congress from Tennessee: they coulc
do nothing. applied to the Secretary
Of War; he did nothing. Weeks had
passed away, and the time for delay
was expiring at Nashville. Ruin seem,
ed to he hovering over the head OF Jack
son and felt the necessity of some
decisive movement. | was young then,
and had some material in me-perhaps
some boldness; and the occasion bro't
it out. | resolved to take a step, char
aclerized in the letter which | wrote to
the General as san appeal from the
Ijusticc TO the fears Of the administra,
ton" | remember the words, though
| have never seen the letter Siuce.
drew up memoir addressed to the Sec.
retary at War, representing to him thai
these volunteers were drawn from the
bosoms Of almost every substantial
family in TenneSsee--.hat the whole
State stood by Jackson in bringing then
home--and that the State would bt
lost to the administration if he was lei
10 suffer. 1t was upon this last argu,
ment that | relied-all those founded
in justice having failed,
1t was OF a Saturday m6rhing, 12tt
of June, that | carried this memoir tc
the War Office, and delivered it =
t Monday morning came back early, tt
learn the result OF my argument. Thu
Secretary was not yet in. | spoke t
the chief clerk, (then afterwards Ad'
jutant General Parker,) and inquired
If the Secretary had left any answer 10
Inc before he lett the office on Saturday
He said no; but that he had put tn,
) memoir in his side pAcket-the breas
poCket-ahd carried it home with hi m
sa, ing he would take it for his Sun
day S consideration. That encouraged
me-gave gleam Of hope, and a feeling
of satisfaction. | thought. it a goo(
>ubjec: for his Sundays meditation
Presently he arrived. stepped in be
fore any body to his Office. He tolc
me quickly, and kindly, that there wa!
much reason in what | had said, bu
that there was no way for him to 10 it
that Congress would have 10 give the
relief. | answered him that though
there was way Tor him to do it: it was
to give an order to General WIlkinson'S
quariermaSter general in the Southern
department to pay for SO much trans
ponatiUn as Gen. Jackson's command
would have been entitled to ii it had
returned under regular orders. Upor
the instant he took up pen, wrote
down the very words had spoken, di'
recled clerk to put them into FORM
and the work was done. The order
went off Immediately, land Jackson was
relieved from imminent impending ru.
in, and Tennessee remained firm to the
administration.