Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-02-21
An Hour with the Secretary Of War.

An Hour with the Secretary of War.
Secretary Sts~sep evidently has an Off
hand way Of dispatching business which
will enable him TO accomplish wonders in
the administration Of his onerous duties.
| Here is an interesting account, from the
Philadelphia Inquirer, of an hour spent in
his office among the crowd who throng it
To-day (Jan. 27) was the first day tha,
it was generally understood by the people
that any one could get TO see tie new Sec
retary of War, without an introduction or
having to wait in the lobby week or two,
as suited the convenience of some petulant
doorkeeper, or, as a military man would
say, the outer pickets. Mr.. Stanton occu.
pies the room formerly used by the pSevi-
Gus administration, n the head of the stairs
in the second story.
The adioinias room is used by NJ. Wat
sen, Assistant Secretary. In this room Mr.
Stanton receives the crowd in the centre
is table at which his amanuensis, Mr..
Moore, sits, and in the corner is Mr.. Wat
son, at his 6esk. The clock strikes 10, the
awaiting crowd rush in as the doors swing
open, and being among them, we soon find
ourselves in the presence Of the Secretary.
Now one stands in front of him, and with
a smiling oountenance he reaches out his
hand and takes hearty grip with a gray
haired man. "Well, sir what is your wish p
"My name is --- my son fought at
Springfield, and was wounded in the arm
he was on Frenont's staff, but is now with.
out commission / want one for him, that
he may sgais try his other arm here on the
Potomac, or in Missouri" You shall
have it sir," replied Mr.. Stanton, and turn
ing to his Secretary, he ordered him TO
note the case. F" Return home," he added,
the papers will be sent you" and as the
man attempted to thank him, he stepped to
one side to ladies who had just come in.
i" Madam, what can do for you!" "Want
clerkship for my son his father was
killed at the battle of Belmont" farming
again, he noted the ease, took the address,
told the lady to send him sample Of her
boys writing and he would care for him.
The other was connected with Mime
} sofa regiment over the river, and had some
complaint about the treatment she had re
ceived in camp from some of the officers
Madam, you must GO to the headquarter.
Of Gen. Mcclellan Il have been there
sir and they would not read my papers Of
; listen 10 my case" @Then give them IL
: me- and I'll sec why"
A sman bright-eyed boy, alone, was try
ing to work his way through the crowd
and the Secretary turned to him and asked
7 what he wanted. g | want my father go
out. sin he was taken at Bull Run, ant
has not come home with the rest" III,
gave his farse and regirsents it was noted
l and the Secretary, lifting him up, kisse'
him, upon the forehead, and said You
father should be proud of such a noble boy
i and Ill see that he is released"
: A man with a half military dress say
; he has been wrongei by the Examining
Board, and has been deprived of the com
u mand OF his regimen! Ga Philadelphia cav
airy regimen). "Sorry, sir, if it is not Al
e right; cannot 20 back 10 investigate th
c acts of my predecessor" The colonel in
: sisted that his case was plain one, if h
could be heard. We'll, said the Scereta
: ry, " if you will get the officers to recon
: slider il, viii then listen to it."
/ An individual has some new inventio
:, for firearms Go TO the Ordnance De
partment and get them to investigate i
and if they will recommend it, / Will
, glad TO see it adopted
A colonel with green uniform on som
passes he wants TO read: 6 Are you an al
my officer?" "Yes, sir" "Then yo
cannot be heard until to-morrew com
and see me then"
= A large and well-dressed man wanted
word in private. What about Z" Som
II little matter about contract he had fc
: horses. "Cannot interfere, sir; go to Ger
: Meigs. If there is anything wrong he wi
. rectify it." Another succeeds in getiin
II him off to the side of the room, and th
; conversation is inaudible until the Secrets
e ry replied: g No, sir on no account will
# interfere in any contract while am herr
a tcr anything from thimble up Ther
!. are men appointed to attend to that depart
# ment, and shall hold them to strict az
n countability for every action"
a Two soldiers wanted to be paid for III
y time they were ia confinement at Richmond
+ having just been released, and presented
). furlough they had received week aG'
and also an order for their pay for time an
rations. "Why do you not take this
u Maj Beckwith, and have him attend TO ii ;
u g We did. Sir; and he says he has no O.
der that will cover our case, and for want 9
o forms we are afraid we will be kept her
until our time is up, and we want to G
home and see the folks before going at