Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-11-08
The Silver Spread-Eagle.
AN INCIDENT OF THE CAMP
BY MARK MEDLEY.

The last year l resided In Ohio was
devoted almost exclusively to the OBJ
taining Of pensions, extra and back pay
and land warrants for soldiers who had
served their country in our War Of In
dependence, or in some Of those which
have since transpired.
In this way many curious incidents
came to my knowledge, some of which
are as we'll worthy of record as any that
have graced the page of personal his
tory, though destined, most likely to
sink into oblivion for the want of suit
able chronicler.
There is one, however, that I must
rescue from the probable fate of its fol-
lowers, as it possesses some of the true
elements Of romance, and in the county
where spent my early boyhood, there
lived an eccentric old man, who, on all
the days of general muster, for as many
years back as | can remember, came
early to the shire town to spend the
day. crafty his martial pride, and re-
count his military exploits in the wars
against the Indians Of the West during
the first Presidency.
Many Goubted whether the old man
had ever served his country in the way
he claimed, though they listened to his
stories with much interest; for, however
obtained, he possessed large fund of
information connected with those wars,
and related numerous adventures. full
of daring and danger, in some Of which
he sustained the part OF hero.
His name was Joseph Walgamott,
though he was universally known as
Spread eagle, which was his common
cognomination. 1t was bestowed upon
him derisively, but very soon lost its Of
fensiveness, and in time came to be re-
garded by him as title of honor. 1t
originated in the fact, that he always
wore on the front of his cap a large
silver buckle, in the form of spread
eagle, which he said had been bestowed
upon him by his beloved old general,
Mad Anthony Wayne.
Of course, nobody believed the story
for the difference between a comman-
der-i n-chief and a common soldier
seemed entirely too immeasurable to ad-
nit Of such possibility. Yet there are
instances on record, and not a few, where
merit has been recognized in the hum
blest positions, and suitably rewarded.
And long afterwards, | demonstrated
that'it was equally true of Spread eagle.
1t is not many years since the Pen
sion Law Was SO amended as to embrace
in its benefits the hardy pioneers Of the
West, who voluntarily shouldered their
rifles and left their cabin homes to do
battle against the merciless savages OF
the wilderness. No soldiers Of our
country were better entitled to such a
consideration.
AS soon as reliably informed of the
change of the law, addressed a letter
on the snbject to Spread eagle, who
though in easy circumstances, Was not
entirely destitute of that human quality
phrenologically called acquisitiyeness
| was then residing in another county
and it required some days for two letters
one after the other, in contrary direc'
tions, to pass the intervening distance
But as many weeks elapsed before
heard from Spread eagle, and then he
addressed me in person.
| knew him the moment he set foot
in my office. He had changed very
little, though years had elapsed since
last beheld him. His hair was whittier
and longer perhaps, and his cheeks less
full and ruddy, but in all other respects
he seemed the same-six feet in height
straight as an arrow, and martial in hi'
bearing.
In the manner customary few year.
previous among the pioneers of th'
Western wilds, he was dressed in deer
! skin hunting shirt, elegantly fringet
with silver threads of the same material
and ornamented with beads and needle
work On his head was large, wolf
skin cap, a trophy Of his own skill as