The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-02-12
WASHINGTON Ian % 1850

get chance to See the new Secretary vi War,
without all Introduction or having To Wait in the
lobby Tor week or two, ne suited the conven-
iencc OF some petulsnt doorkeeper, or as a mill
rary man would say, the outer pickets. Mr.
Stanton occupies the room formerly used by the
previous administrations, at the head OF the
stairs in the second story.
Th. adjoining room is used by Mr. Watson,
Assistant Secretary. In this room Mr.. Stanton
receives the crowd; in the centre is a table at
which his amanuen-is, Mr.. Moore, sits, and in
the corner il Mr.. Watson, at his desk The
clock strikes 10 the awaiting crowd rush in AZ
The doors swing open, ard being among them, we
soon bnd ourselves 10 the presence OF the Sec
retary. Now one stands in front ct him. and
with smiling countenance be reaches out his
hand and takes heart. grip with gray haired
man. "Well Sir wha, is YOUR wish 2"
"My name is -; nv son fought at Spring.
field, and was wounded in the arm he on
Fremont's Staff. but is DOW without commission;
| want one for him that he may again try his
other arm on the Potomac. or in Missouri"
"You shall have il sir !" replied Mr. Stanton,
and turning to his Secretary, he ordered him TO
note the case. Return home, be added the
papers will be sent you;" and as the man at
tempted to thank him, be stepped 10 one side 10
two ladies' who had just come in. Madam,
What can DO for you:" want a clerksh,p
isr my son /; his father was killed at the battle
of Belmont" Turning again he noted the case,
took the address. told the lady to send lin
sample of her boys Wi ing, and he would care
for him
The other ID connected with Minnesota reg
ment over the river, and had some complaint
about the treatment she had received in camp
from some OF the officers. MADAME, you must
| go TO the headquarters Of Gen Mcclellan" :" l
have been there. Sir, and they would no. read
my papers or listen to my Case" "Then give
them to me, and Iii see Why"
small, bright-eyed boy, alone, was trying
to work his way through the crowd, and the
Secretary turned to him and asked what he
wanted. IL want nv father got out, Sir !;
he was taken at Bull Run, and has not come
home with the rest" He gave bis name and
regiment, it was noted, and the Secretary, lftirg
him up, kissed him upon the forehead. and said ::
Your father should be proud Of such noble
boy. and LII see that he is released"
| A man with half military dress says he has
been wroDged by the Examining Board, and has
been deprived Of the command of his regime nj
ia Phi adeIpha cavalry regimeEt) "Sorry, Sir,
# it is not all right; cannot go back to inves
tigate the acts OF my predecessor" The Colonel
insisted his case was plain one. if he could be
heard. "Well," said the Secretary, if you
will get the officers 10 reconsider il, I will then
| listen to it,"
| An individual has some new invention for fire
arms; "GO TO the Ordnance Department and ge,
| them to investigate il. and if they will recon.
mend il, will be glad to see it adopted"
A Colonel with a green uniform on has come
passes he wants to read: Are you an army
officer:" Yes, Sir" - Then you cannot be
| heard until Tomorrow come and see me then.
| A large and well dressed man santed word
in private "What about:" Some little matter
about a contract he had for horses. Cannot
interfere, Sir; go to ten. Meigs. II there Is
anything wrong he will rectty it." Another
succeeds in getting him of TO the side OF the
room, and the conversation s iuaudibie until the
Secretary replied: No, Sir; on 10 account
sill interfere in any contract while am here,
TOR anything from thimblc up. Taere are ner
appointed To attend 10 that department, and
shall hold them to strict accountability, for ev
cry action"
Two soldiers wanted to be paid for the time
they were in confinement az Richmond. having
Just been released, and presented a furlougt
they had received week ago, and also an order
for their pay for time and rations. "Why DC
YOU not teke this 20 Maj Beckw,th, ard have
him attend TO its" I'VE did Sir and he say
that he has no order that will cover our css,,
md tor want OF forms are aft ad we will bs
kept, here Until our time lie up, and We want IL
20 home aud see the folks again" Turning &
mis- Secretary. he ordered him 10 write TO Majo'
| Beckwi h, ard order him TO report forthwith ~
| writing why these men were hot paid up, insteac
of being kept waiting. IL vas dove /; he signec
il himself, and said, Here, take that TO hin
and bring an answer"
A Western man, who said he hailed from tbs
Reserve in OHIO, had about dozen qure o
paper written over two or three times, witch b.
said was an ' Essay on Cheese" The Secretar.
laughed! "You mus, go TO the Commis.ar,
General; he has charge Of the feeding of tb'
army" Il have been at frs, one and snothe
all summer, and somehow or other do not ge
any further ahead, and that is Why l want yO,
10 investigate il" and commenced TO unrol BIZ
papers. Indeed, Sir. do not know how cheese
would agree with the soldiers"
"Thats just why want You to read thes.
papers and examine these certi6cat s.
" But have not time, Sir" All hands com
neuced laughing but the Ohio man suck to i
bravely. II assure you that there is DO; sol
dier in the army who does no; ike crackers and
cheese, and I can make il for three cents
pound" "NOw tell you what you bad bette
do, go TO Senator Wilson, and get him TO put i
il bis bill il will then pass the Senate and be
come an army regulation to give out cheese "a
tons" "WeIl. could you not endorse 1T, ARD
then it would be sure TO be passed." "No,
caunot indosse it, because l know nothir g abou
it." "Oh, well, / will leave these papers, an'
he made for the table. 81 will never read then
if you do, until the var is over" With . lool
Of despair, Ohio made for the door, inouirin,
Of every one be met if they knew where Senate
Wilson lived.
Judge Wilkins, of Pittsburgh, here came in
received hearty shake of the hand. and mum
Der of congratulations passed between them
The doorkeeper Of the little room announced
the President, and of the Secretary went 70 se'
him. He soon returned, however. In cam
Mai Beckwith, With the note sent by the return
ed prisoner.
why are those men kept waiting" Be
T cause have DO order for their special case"
. or Wilson, issue an order that will cove
all the prisoners tnas NAV be released in future
and allow them full pay tor every day they Ar
confined in rebel prisons. Major. l have jus
learned there are over $50 nov waiting for thei
pay every man must be paid to day, and spee'
them on to their homes"
A tail man wants q commission IN the reguia
| arny. Have you been in any battle yet, Sir!
, "I Vas in the Mexican var" "That won't do
tthas il teo far back" Il vas At Great Bethel