The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-22

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end the recruiting oficef, when I was made
soldier Of the Union army once more. 1 was
requested to be seated for o few moments. Soon
alter the broker asked me 10 take "a glassp /
went with him TO an Old drinking-saloon in
Cherry street, where found brokers numbers
one and two, who Immediately recognized me,
but expressed no surprise at the meeting. My
successful escape from the Cedar street head
quarters convinced my friends that was an
old expert in tricks of the trade.
Their admiration for me became so great that
they received me into ull fellowship, regarded
me as a shrewd member of the bounty-iumpng
brotherhood, and after freely discussing their
plans and prospects. declared me to be ''per
feet trump Propositions were made to enter
into partnership at once.
| was greatly amused while listening to the
exploits Of EACH as he in turn detailed them.
One related that at certain period he left New
York. and having enlisted at Albany, Troy,
Utica, Buffalo, and Chicago, returned via
Elmira, at which place he likewise enlisted.
Another had enlisted at every rendezvous from
New York TO Portland, Maine; while third
boasted OF the amounts he had received, and
mentioned those paid to recruiting officers sur
geons, brokers, and detectives, The den in
which spent the evening was favOrte haunt
OF the bounty jumpers 1t contained a ward.
robe of wearing apparel, consisting of both sol
dleIs and citizens' outfits. The idea of this ]
| easily comprehended; here the jumpers could
| assume whatever dress they pleased, to carry
| out their designs. Three times that night be-
| fore O'Clock, | saw the interesting operation
| performed
/ selected one Of my assistants to experiment
| in this military lottery. He dressed himself in
the appropriate apparel, and in one day enlisted
| three times he was sent to the Island, bought
himself of, and reported for duty the follow
| ing day.
The scenes described were followed by num-
berless arrests OF bounty-brokers, bounty
| jumpers, and other in the business, and conse-
qpently by the disclosures of their crimes,
which have since attracted much public
| attention.
/ shall select only one additional, very pecu-
liar, and highly interesting narrative from the
mass of fragmentary materials in my possession
that OF the kidnapping OF the idiot boy Corne-
| Illus Garvin, of Troy, n. Y. Some of the facts
found their way into the newspapers at the time
| OF their occurrence.
Mrs. Garyin, the mother of the boy, was
| poor, but honest and respectable Irishwoman
| who supported her family by hard daily labor
She had placed her imbeeile son in the Aims
house at Troy, happy in the consciousness of his
safety, and being near enough to visit him occa.
sionaly. The child, while PLAYING IN the
grounds, was carried off by bounty brokers,
and transported to Albany, where he was en-
listed and sent to the 'front.'
The mother upon receiving the news, became
nearly frantic, and, leaving her work, managed
to get TO Washington, where, through the inte-
rest which her story awakened, she gained an
interview with the President.
That good man. whose ear was ever open to
the appeals of humanity and justice, gave her a
note to lbe Secretary of War, who referred the
case TO me. detailed q detective to accom-
pany her I'd the battlefield. Nearly month
was spent in the truitess search for the lost
boy, Notwithstanding it was proved that "poar
Con" was somewhere in the army. The disap-
pointed but not discouraged mother went back
to her toll again, to get money to bring her
once more 10 the capital.
Seven months passed over in the search, with
no clue to the boy officers lent their assist
ance and no means were lett untried to find the
wanderer. The persistency Of purpose, the un{
dying hope and affection OF the sorrowing
mother for her simple ''Con," were hardly ever
surpassed in human experience.
Unable TO read or write, she carried always
in hea apron large number OF letters, and
other memoranda from prominent officers and
others, given to aid her unrewarded search.
Yet she could, as If by intuition or the iusplra-
ton OF her love, place her hand upon any of the
documents she desired to use, and repeat their
contents. And whenever she found an inte
rested listener to her mournful story, she would
select the particular document she wanted and
give its statements.
After exhausting the subject she would sit in
amusing mood, gazing into vacancy for several
moments, and then start from her revery
gather up her treasure of manuscripts, and eX
claiming, 'My poor Con; must go and fine
him ~ She would start again on her tourney
amCng the regiments of the Union army.
Wien the money which was given her, arc
earned by the severest toll, was gone, she woulC
get back to Troy, replenlsh her purse by hel
daily labor, and return TO the hunt for Con,
along new path OF adventure on which ha(
suddenly fallen ray of hope from some quarter
respecting the absent boy.
Thus month after month passed away, anC
the undying love of this mother for the imbe
Gle child, over whose unsteady steps and aim
less wanderings she had watched with a fond
ness intensified by his very helplessDess led hel
along the army lines, and into the camps, a.
the heart of the great and bloody war.
poor Con z" was OH her lips when she sought
brief and restless sleep, and at the dawn of day
when she resumed the travel which would have
no pause until darkness made it impossible.
While she was roaming at will, followed by
the sympathiZing interest OF the President, anC
the humblest officials in the army, l received
the following letter.
BUREAU OF MILITARY JUSTICE, WAR DEPART
MINT. June 1886 Colone-1he case OF Cornelius
OF New York Volunteers, has been referred TO this
AMI ng the papers in the case letter ofyours tc
the Mayor of the City Of Troy, New York In which
the hoy is supposed 10 have been-refused, or ne
stSenr 70 GeSeaedy assured That he Was in his eo@
pany, under an assumed name; but, instead o
vates Of his company who were disposed to aid in the
B LEASED 10 furnish this bureau with any proc
that may be in your possession of the statements
| ferred TO, or which may otherwise throw light on
Il is desirable that any mater al information you
ba e in the case should be communicated az your
Your obedient servant
MsJor and Judge Advocate tor Judge Advocate
10 co1ON1s1 L. c, BAKER. Special Agent War De
MIR. Trott nom This bureau has twice called al
your Office on this subject
But all efforts to find Cornelius Garvin were
! in vain. Several times the mother seemed to
be near him; but the joy at the prospect ol
| meeting him soon faded before cruel dlsappoint
II was rumored that he died in the army,
which was doubtless true, for no further tidings
to this hour, believe, have been received oi