The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-10-31
JIM BEARDSLEY'S MILITARY PRE-.
TENSIONS DISSysCTED.

Mr.. EDIToR-ln looking over the Union
of last evening observe the leader is devoted
to the extraordinary military achievements of
Major j. NJ. Beardsley. the negro-sufrsge
candidate for county clerk Of Rock Island
county.
To military eye this eulogistic summary
presents some significant features. Without
entering into the facts therein stated. (which.
by the way. are shock;ngiy msstated, as, for
instance, that the 18th III participated in
the action of Lookout Mountain" the Is tn
Corps being the extreme left with Sher-
man, while Lookout Mountain was on the ex
t-eme right of the Federal line, it is patent
that MAJOR Beard-ley was. during these OPP
erations, acting rs Division Inspector or
the staff of Brig. Gen. Osterhaus.
Now.eyery soldier knows that staff appoint
meats are soft things" as they are termed
in the army. It is a well known fact tina;
when an officer wants 10 escape the dangers,
fatigue and privation incident TO Line or
RegimeDtal duty, he goes "tOadying" around
Head Quarters TO get one OF the ''soft things"
within the gift of the Commanding General,
and if he, fortunately, has an ally on the
Staff in the shape of Surgeon. of smooth ad
dress, unblu-hing etf-ontery and Munchsusen
proclivities, he generally succeeds in getting
detailed on the staff the Mutual Admir-
alton Society" of all armies. Major Boards
ley enjoyed this doubtful and sycophsntic no.
sition.
1t appears, from the document ne has para
ded before the public, that he was Acting
Assistant Inspector General Oh the Staff of
Gen. OsserhGus, and Dr.. Plummer Surgeon
in Chief" OF the same Division Thy the way. q
title not then known in the army both from
the same regiment. both throwing their rsgi
mental duties on some one else. because the
Staff position was easier and esteemed less
dangerous and fatiguing. Major Beardsley
enjoyed this position of imperative ease and
safety, rode horse, was attended by a coup
lie of orderlies, drew a Majors pay (some $40
per month"; lived on the fax of the Commissa
nv Department, because the Division Commits
sary was one OF tue Mess" and had the run
of the Suffers "Snehang" free gratis for
nothing" because Suffers know that Assist
ant Inspectors are influential chaps at Head
/ Quarters. And, IL crown all, Major Plum
mer had charge OF the Medical Departm emit
/ of Gen, .Osterhaus' Division through whose
hands all the Sanitary Stores passed. such as
/ liquors, jeiiies, etc, I'VE all know what An
Arissites the Doctor isl aud who was in the
same "Mess" with Major Beardsley while
! his competitor, Burton IL. Cook. was pri
vate in the ranks. trudging along afoot with
/ his musket on his shoulder. his knapsack on
his back, his ''torty rOuads" constantly by
his side, aud his fpe days ration of "hard
tack and SOW belly" in his haversack-sll for
Sl3 a month
! The sequel is: Major Beardsey got OF
with II scratch on the arm and forthwith he
PUSHES home TO parade his gaping wounds"
| upwards of year before the war closes, be-
mantle of the county clerkship, as an heir
loom IN the family.
Cook comes home, at the end of the war,
with frightful wound in the chest unhealed.
@ broken constitution, and a widowed mother
| to support.
| To an impartial eye, the private who has
borne the cheat and burden of the day"
should be remembered in the distribution of
| civil ofices-and when Staff appointees come
| in competition with them, the fact should be
remem bered that officers who have enjoy ed
the "soft things" of the army should ut
least be honorable enough to tell the whole
truth, and modest enough 10 keep back the
J -
that worked with irrepressible energy within
the charmed circle of Gen. Osterhaus' STAFF.
YERITAs.