Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-03-16
THE PATRIOT MINsTRELS.

In the spring of 1861, there went
through New Jersey and other states
of the Union, cry that had never be-
fore been heard in them. 1t was a
thrilling appeal for and against the
Traitors who had dared assail our flag.
The people know how thousands of us
boys started in answer to that call.
Among others, who made sacrifices,
were two young men from the lower
part of our State. They were skilful
and most promising mechanics, but
they abandoned everything and
promptly answered the call of their
country.
One joined the gallant First New
Jersey Regiment. the other attached
himself to the Third Regiment. They
served faithfully for three long years
and more in the blessed old army of
the Potomac, and while making the
great raid in the Shenandoah under
buc uGIOlC L Liza. OhCn 1OSD I'LL
arm, which sent them to the hospital
q dread place for a brave soldier
Many days passed YEARLY in the hospi-
tai, our heroes, however consoling
themselves with the hope that the peo-
pie for whom they had fought and suf-
fered so much would not let them lack
for some means of employment when
they recovered.
But when this time arrived, the war
had ceased, and they were honorably
discharged and furnished with trans
portation to their homes in New Jer-
sey /; and after short rest, they set
about looking for employment, but this
was found much harder task, if posi-
BILE than their fighting. No one, not
even those SO full of love for the boys
in blue, had anything for them to do.
"Times were SO dull" they all said,
and it was in vain that each urged his
services to the country and for them.
Many people expressed themselves as
very sorry for them would help them
if they could, but really it was impossi-
BILE. The small amount of money
which they had managed to save from
their pay-$15 per month-(the boys
who enlisted in '61 be it remembered
never received any bounty began to
grow less, and with this their hopes
grew fainter. At last they succeeded
in getting into the "Soldiers' Home,
but three or four weeks ago, because
they would not subscribe to purchase q
gold-headcd cane for some one or other
of the officials, they were dismissed
from the Home, without knowing where
to lay their heads,
Some old comrades, hearing of their
double misfortune, made up purse of
money, and with this they purchased a
hand-organ, and since this the two
armless braves have been compelled to
go from town to town, patiently and
sadly earning pittiance in manner
that so is very repugnant to ones man.
hood.
Last week, these boys might have
been seen on Broad street, with their
cracked and rickety hand organ, receiv-
ing pennies from passers-by, this being
the reward for their services and suffer
ings. We cannot better conclude than
by giving few lines from Edward
Winslow Martins new book on the
"Secrets of the Great City," which re-
fer to similar case.
In a land SO prosperous, so favored
as our own, soldier of the Union, in
his garb of honor, who has given for
his country everything but his life, is
forced to resort to an avocation former
ly considered only for Migrants. 1t is
no discredit to him, for he bears him
self there as proudly as he did when
following the old flag: but there Is a