New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-01-04
The Trials of the soldier ii, RIsnmond. /
From the Richmond Examiuer.l Jz#

- From the hichnond ESaH1ufr.l
We have alluded on more than one occasion to
the unkindness and abuses imposed upon sick, dis
charged soldiers by the pertness, insolence and
sovereign carelessness with which they are treated
by Government officials, in the course of the rou-
tine through which they have to go before they 4
are permitted or enabled to leave for their homes.
One has only to go to the pay office OF the Govern
ment in Bank street, to witness scenes OF suffering
there, and Of official circumlocution and delay to
which the sick soldiers are subjected, calcnlatedf
not only to move their pity, but to excite, on the
other hand, the strongest indignation. The office
is daily crowded with poor sick, wounded and DIS
Many Of these wretched, diseased men viii tell
you that they have been in the office at O'Clock
every morning for more than week, and are ap-
parently no nearer getting their pay than when
they first came. They will beg you to buy. their
claims at fifty cents on the dollar, and will tell
you, with all sorts Of entreaty OF their anxiety to
get home. Sts +fstH Il 4tS'e5ss1a.t-Fs $,aSst
{ One day this week two gentlemen on the estre ct
were accqsted by a poor, diseased soldier, wrap I
ped ID the fragment Of blanket, who asked dtrec-
{tion to brokers' office where he might sell his
pay order. The gentlemen immediately enquired
who had sent him on this errand, ana was told that
it was a Government clerk or employs, One Of
the gentlemen Was an army otlcer, and learning
that the sick soldier was from his own state
Georgia, at once generously determined TO sees
Justice done hin, no matter at what Inconvenience
and trouble I'd himself He accompanied the SOL
dier to the Office Of the Paymaster and with but
little regard for the claims Of official importance5
or the terrors Of official nsoence, entered within
the sacred railing intended to- fence off the vulgar,
and confronted at his desk q sleek clerk, whose
look Of surprise aud injured dgnity were alike
disregarded by the officer The following colloquy
which ensued suggests the best description of the
scene . e - ..yi,gt.ss lsa,.s !
Officer--I have come sir, to inquire about the
pay claim Of sick soldier, who tells rne that he
cannot get it. 1t is only seventeen dollars and he
tells me that he registered his name last Saturday
and that since then he has been put off from day
! to day. His tavern bill, while he has been kept
] waiting, must be now almost as much as his pay.
/ Would like to know if he can get his pay to-day.
H. Clerk brusquey-We've got no money.
Oficer-Will you please state when he will be
sClerk-We,ve got no money. E+zs 81
| \ Oficer-That's no answer to my question. II ls
hard ihing for poor fellow to fight the battles
Il of his country and then sick and diseased, to be
CLERK, getting impuaeut- We've got no money
4 Let him wait. What's that to you? st5@ ss ar5
Il Officer, getting excited-lIook here, by Co.
have come here for straight and civil answer, AM
will have it. have been told by Mr.. Benjamin
4 Secretary of War, and by Mr.. Stephens, Vice Pres
ident of this 5Confed deracy, that there Is no nee
whatever for delay in paying of sick, discharge
4 soldiers, that the money is ready for them. fo
can't put me off with your nonsense and nsolence
II You can give no batter answer for this poo
man, Twill go the Secretary of War, and get a
Clerk, becoming very polite of o sudden-M
| dear sir , I assure you it would be pleasure to m
to pay your friend-but, really,we have no none
!. just now. qytr5 80 a@5 SG%s
D Offcer-It would be no pleasure for me t
q receive it, sir. 1t would be a pleasure to me
e though, to see you doing your duty and as 20
# don't seem to know when you will get money 7
y pay off claim you have already put Oft for thre
days, think had better seek explanation else
|, where. &, Il 3,s ~. ,z9.
a ClerkGMy dear sir, will have some money i
r halt an hour. 80,
J. Sure enough, in half an hour the sick soldier re
q caived hs nav in good Confederate money. A
the officer who had espoused his cause passed on
he was laid hold of by the crowd Of poor fellows
1t hobbhGg up to him on crntches and canes, VIII
l. had witnessed the interview and its success, an
N besought by every variety of plea to buy the
d claims at any sacrifice Some Of them had bee
there for weeks supplica,ng their pitance OF pay
All were anxious to go home. But in all their pit
full speeches there was no word OF complaint