Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-02-08
Five Hours with the New Secretary
of War.
WASHINGTON. January 81


To-day was the FIRST day that it was gene.
rally understood by the people that any one
could get to see the new Secretary of War,
without an introduction, or having to wait in
the lobby week or two, as suited the conve.
Dence OF some petulant door. keeper or, as u
military man would say, the outer pickets -
Mr.. stanton occupies the room formerly used
by previous Administrations, at the bead of
tho stairs 10 the second story
The adjoining room is used by Mr.. Watson,
Assistant Secretary. 10 this room Mr.. Stan
ton receives the crowd in the centre is a
table at which bis amanueusis, Mr.. NJ oore. is
sitting, and 10 the corner is Mr. Watson. at
bis desk. The clock strikes ten, the awaiting
crowd rush 10 as the doors swing open, and
being among them, we soon fud ourselves 10
the presence OF the Secretary. Now one
stands in front Of him, and with a smiling
conntepance be reaches ont bis hand and
takes hearty grip With a grey haired man.
Well sir, what is your wish 2"
MY name is -; nv son fought at
Springfield, and was wounded in the arm
lie was on FremoDts staff, bat is now With
out commission; | want one for him that
ne may again try his other arm here on the
l'fotomac, or in Missouri" You shall have
1t sir j. replied Mr.. Stanton, and turning 10
bis Secretary he ordered him to note the
case; return bOme," he added, "and the pa
Pers will be seut you :" and as the man at
tempted to thank bm be stepped to one side
to two ladies' who bad just come 10.
M adam, what can do for you?" Want
cierRsblp Tor my son his fatuer wss killed
at the battle o! Belmont Turning again be
ooted The cose, took the address, and told the
lady to'se1d him sample of her boys wri.
ting and be would care Tor him. The other
! connected yvit
over the river and had some complaint abou,
! The treatmeat she Lad received ip camp from
some OF the officers. M adame, you must 90
to The head quarters Of Gen. McClellau." IL
have been there, sir and they would not read
! my papers or listen 10 my case" Then give
them 20 me- and III see why"
| small bright eyed boy, all alone. was trp
ing TO work bis way through the crowd, and
the Secretary turned to him und asked what
be wanted. 81 want my father got out, sir;
he was taken at Bull Ron, and has not coma
home with the rest" He gave his name aud
regiment, it vas noted, and the Secretary.
lifting him up. kissed him upon the forehead,
and said :--"Your futher should be proud of
such noble BOY, ard III see that be is re.
leased.
mau with half military dress savs he
has been wronged by the Examining Board.
aud has been deprived OF the command of his
regiment Ia Philadelphia Cavelry Regimentl.
sorry, slr, It IL is not all right cannot 20
pock to investigate the acts of ny predeces
sor" The Colonel insisted that bis case was
plain one, ii be could be heard. well"
said The Secretary, ''if you will get the officers
10 reconsider it, will then listen to it."
An iodlvidual has sUme new iuven,on for
fre-arms. Go to the ordnance department
and get them to investigate it, and if lhey
Will recommend it, l will be- glad to SEQ it
adopted" A Colonel with a green uniform
on has some passes he wants TO read. Are
you 40 army officer 2" yes, sir" "Then
you cannot be heard until TO morrow; come
aud see ME then"
large and well dressed man wanted few
words iu private. What about ?" "Some it, |
tie Natter about contract have for horses -
Cannot interfere, sir go to Gen NJ eips: if /
there is anything wrong be will rectify IT,
Another succeeds iu getting him ofi to the |
side OF tae room, aud the conversation 10
lnaudioie until the Secretary replies IN !
sir on no account will interfere with any
contract, while am here, for anything from /
thlmble up. There are men appointed TO !
aiteDG to that department, ard | shall bold !
them to strict accountability Tor every /
action"
Two soldiers wanted to be paid for the time !
they were IN coDbnement et Richmond, having .
just been released, aud presented n rurlough !
they had received u week ago, and also On .
oroer Tor their pay fer time and ralions.-
why do you not take this to Mai. Beckwith /
and have him to attend to it ?" ave did, cir.
and he says he has no order that will cover
our case, and for want Of Iorns' We are
afraid we will be kept here until our time is
up and we want to 20 home and see the folks
DEtOFp a in il,
Secretary be ordered him to write TO Major
Beckwlth, and ordered him to report forth
with in writing why these men were not paid
up, Instead OF being kept in waiting. 1T vas
doue be signed it himself and said Here,
take this to him. and bring me an aDswei."
A western man, who said he hailed from
the Reserve in Ohio, had about dozen quires
OF paper written over two or three times,
which he said was an essay on cheese" The
laughed "You must go TO the
Commissary- y-General he has charge of the
feeding of the army" IL have been first at
Que and then at another oil sumner, and
somehow or other, do not get any further
ahead, and that ia why want you to invest.
gate it !" and be commenced to uurol his
papers. "lndeed, sir, / do not know bow
cheese would sgree with the soldiers"
"Tbat's just why want you to read these
papers and exsmine these certificates" but
have not time. sir" All hands commenced
laughing, hut the Ohio man stuck it out brave
ly. 81 assure you there is not soldier 10 the
army who dofs not like crackers aud cheese,
and can make it for three cents pound
Now tell you what you had better do; go
TO Senator Wilson, and get him to put it into
bis bill it will then pass the Senate and be.
come an army regulation to give out cheese
rations," "Well, could you not endorse it,
aud then it would be sure to be passed 7" mo,
cannot endorse it, because know nothing
about it," "Oh, we'll, | will leave these ia.
pers," and be made for the table. 81 will
never read them, il you do, until the war is
over" With look Of despair, Ohio made
or the door, inquirDg of every one he met if
hey knew where Senator Wilson lived Z?
Judge wilkins, OF Pittsburg, here came 10,
hearty shake of the hand, and
lumber OF congratulations passed between
hem. The door-keepsr of the little room
announced the President, and off the Secre
ary went to see him. II soon returned,
In came Maj. Beckwitb, with the
,ote sent by the returned prisoners. "Why {
ire those men kept wsiting1" because / {
lave no order for their special case" "Mr.
Wilson, issue an order that will cover all the 4
prisoners that may be released in future, and
'lIow them full pay for every day they are