Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-31
Five Minutes with the New Secretary Of
War.
Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Inquirer
WARRINGTON Ian 27 1862

the lobby a week or two, as suited the con- |
Venience of some petulant doorkeeper or as
q military man would say, the outer pickets. |
Mr. Stanton occupies the room formerly used |
by the previous administration, at the head |
Of the stairs in the second story.
The adjoining room is used by Mr.. Watson, |
Assistant Secretary. In this room Mr.. Stan |
ton receives the crowd; in the center is
table at which his amanneusis, Mr.. Moore,
sits, and in the corner is Mr.. Watson, at his |
desk. The clock strikes ten, the awaiting
crowd rush in as the doors swing open, aud
being among them, we soon find ourselves |
in the presence of the Secretary. Now one
stands in front Of him, and with a smiling
Countenance he reaches out his hand and
takes hearty grip with gray. haired man.
"Well, Sir, what is your wsh2"
MY name is -; my son fought at
Springfield and was wounded in the arm;
he was on Fremonts Staff, but is now with.
out commission l want one for him that
he may again try his other arm here on the
Potomac, or in Missouri"
"You shall have it, sir" replied Mr.. Stan
ton, and turning to his secretary, he ordered
him to note the case. "Return home" he
added "the papers will be sent YOU" and
as the man attempted to thank him, he
stepped to one side TO two ladies who had
just come in. Madam, what can l do for
your"
was killed at the battle of Belmont" Turn
ing again he noted the case, took the address,
told the lady to send him a 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.
Madame, you must go to the head
quarters of General Mcclellan"
cip
not read my papers or listen to my case."
"Then give them to me, and I'll see why"
A small, bright eyed boy, alone, was try
ing to work his way through the Gro wd, and
the Secretary turned to him and asked what
be wanted. 81 want my father got out, sir;
he was taken at Bull Run, and has not come
home with the rest" He gave his name and
regiment, it was noted, and the Secretary
lifting him up, kissed him upon the forehead
and said: "Your father should be proud
of such noble boy, and Pll see that he is
released"
An individual has some new invention for
FIRE arms; go to the Ordnance Department
and get them to investigate it, aud if they
will recommend it, l will be glad to see it
adopted" A Colonel with green uniform
on has some passes he wants to read "Are
you an army oficer?" eyes, sir" "Then
you can not be heard until TO morrow; come
and see me then"
A large and well.dressed man wanted
word in private. "What about?" Some lit
tie matter about contract he had for horses.
I "Can not interfere, sir. Go to General
Meigs; if there is any thing wrong he will
Iectify it," Another succeeds in getting him
off to the side of the room, and the converse
| ton is inaudible until the Secretary replied:
mo, sir on no account will interfere in
any contract, while am here, for any thing
from thimble up. There are men appointed
| to attend to that department. aud shall
hold them to strict accountability for every
action" ...
Two soldiers wanted to be paid for the
time they were in confinement at Richmond,
| having Just been released, and presented q
furloue6 they had received week ago, and
also an order for their pay for time and ra.
tions. "Why do you not take this to Major
| BeckWith, and have him attend to it?' "We
did, sir; and he says he has no order that will
cover our case, and for want OF forms we
are afraid we will be kept here until our time
is up, and we want to go home and see the
folks before going at it agai1." Turaing to
his Secretary he ordered him to write to
| Major BeckWith, and order him to report
forthwith in writing why these men were
not paid up, instead of being kept waiting
1t was done; he signed it himself, and said
"Here take that to him, and bring an an
swer"
A Western man, who said he hailed from
the Reserve in Ohio, had about a dozen
quires of paper written over two or three
times which he said was an Essay on
Cheese" The Secretary laughed. "You
must 90 to the Commissary-G he has
charge of the feeding of the army" 81 have
been at first one and another all summer
and somehow or other do not get any fur
ther ahead, and that is why want you tc
investigate it," and he commenced to unrol
his papers. 'Indeed, sir, do not know how
cheese would agree with the soldiers"
"That's justw want you to read these
papers and examine these certificates" "Bu
laughing but the Ohio man stuck it ou
bravely. II assure you that there is not {
soldier in the army who does not like crack
ers and cheese, and | can make it for thre,
cents q pound" "Now | tell you what yoI
had better do; go to Senator Wilson and ge
him to put it in his bill, and it will then pas
the Senate and become an army regulation
to give out cheese rations." "Well, coulC
you not indorse it, and then it would b.
it, because know nothing about it," "Oh
well, l will leave these papers, and he mad
for the table. ~ will never read them,
you do, until the war is over" With lool
of despair, Ohio made for the door, inquirinj
of every one he met if they knew wher
Senator Wilson lived.
In came Msjor Beckwith, with the not
.. sent by the returned prisoners.
"Why are those men kept waiting2
y because have no order for their especit
? case"
"Mr. Wilson, Issue an order that will cove
all the prisoners that may be released
future, and allow them full pay for ever
a day they are confined in rebel prisons. Me
ior, l have just learned there are over on
hundred and fifty now waiting for their pa,
every man must be paid to day, and spec
them on to their homes"
r A tall man wants a commission in I'll
regular army. "Have you been in any ba
: tie vet, sir2" 81 was in the Mexican war
"That won't do; that is too far back"
O was at Great Bethel" "That is better.
!. will examine your record myself and infor
Y you if you are appointed"
e A stout, healthy young man wanted
i commission or clerkship "Have you bee
o in any battle?" mo, SIR" "Then it wi
d be of no use to apply, for / shall make O
i my appointments from the list of heroes.
Il those who fight the country's battles mu
It be cared for FIRST"
IS A man in citizens clothes wanted an a.
I. pointment in the army. "Well," said 81
/. Secretary of War, "what are your claims
it 81 was an aid. de-camp of Col. Geary at Il
/. fight OF BoliVer, and am recommended f
d the appointment by the President" "a
% righth said Mr.. Stanton, ~ will attend
/ your case" Individual insisted upon havlI
F. promise inasmuch as he "had got the il
@ dorsement of the President" The Pres
d dent sir, is very excellent man, and won
= E.