The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-05-31
Briradier General Harrison Allen,

bTtyuutcT WtneTut uur1ISOlt AtttIt,
We have carefully abstained from any
editorial comments upon the candidates
named by the Republican Convention
of this State, believing that an early ex-
posure of their public character and
record might lead to their withdrawal.
This cannot be done now. To use Lin
coins homely phrase at would be
swapping horses while crossing a
stream.D
But, as the Republican party is boast
ing of the military record of their can
didatcs, though we do not regard that
as the best test as to fitness for a civil
oflice-we propose to give that of "Brig-
adler General Harrison Allen"-their
candidate for the important Office of
Auditor General. Not that he is their
only hero on the ticket, because it con-
tains the classic name of Gen. Todd for
Congressman at large, as well as that of
Gen. White, who marched to Richmond
without a struggle. Besides, it is led
by the name of Maj. Gen. Hartranft,-
the hangman of an innocent woman at
the dictation of men who freed JEFF
Davis, and gave Office to Longstreet--
who was nominated for Governor
through the instrumentality of Gen.
Joshua 7. Owen, who was sentenced by
q court martial to be dismissed the
army on the charge of being found
drunk in the streets of Harper's Ferry,
and insulting the daughter of his Lieut.
Col.
Noto, however, we have to do with
the hero Allen, and we take extracts
from his record as given by the Yankee
historian of Penn'a soldiers, Mister
Bates, as compiled in a recent number
of the Patriot.
Harrison Allen, Major 10th Reserves
June 30, 1861.
Resigned, February IA, 1862.
The only mention of him in connec
ton with this regiment, whose gallan
try was illustrated on so many bloody
fields, is this: "On the 14th of Febru
ary, Major Allen, having been for a Ions
time in ill health, resigned, and Adju
tant Sion B. Smith was elected to sue
ceed him."
This is from Bates History, a WORK
in which heroes like Allen generally
managed to get all that could be favor
ably said about them, and often good
deal more. While he was with the Re
serves he did not even witness an atfail
of the pickets. When spring came, anc
preparations for an early campaign
commenced, he resigned. Had he beer
a private soldier he could have got NJ
discharge on his application on account
of disability.
After recruiting his health in the
summer of 1862, while his regiment wa:
in the swamps of the Chickahominy, he
turned up, in October, 1862, as colonel
of the one hundred and fifty first, (nine
month's) regiment. The first action in
which the regiment was engaged was
Gettysburg, but Colonel Allen was not
in command. He was "absent on fur
lough," and his regiment was led by
Lieut.. Col. M'Farland, who lost a leg
out with his regiment"
The name OF Harrison Allen does not
again appear on the rolls of the army
until March, 1865, when we find the
following entry: -
Promoted to Brig. Gen. March 13,
1862 r1 T. sU T.r"
The war closed about this time, ant
thus was Harrison Allen deprived o
the eagerly coveted opportunity of com
manding brigade. Such Is his record
His title of Brigadier is fraudulent
one. 1t was obtained, as seen by this
record, without merit and without SER
vice. Like many others it was procured
by base solicitation and mendacious
boasting at the back door OF the wal
office. While the true soldiers.of Penn.
sylvania were campaigning in, 1868, 1864
and 1865, this carpet knight who never
witnessed an action, at the close of the
war, nearly two years after his muster
out of service, is honored with the rank
and title of a Brigadier General. His
was one of those miserable partisan ap
pointments which 80 deeply insulted
the fighting men of the army, because
it was based on false and fraudulent
record of service. On this bogus mill
tary capital he traded for the nomina
ton for, auditor general. He and his
supporters. expect that it will serve tt
veil his sdisreputable career, in the legis
lature. They propose to veneer the bad
record of a legislative pipcher with q
fraudulent pretense of military service
Soldiers of Pennsyly Sania-R
licans, how do you like the war record
of your candidate?
Hereafter we will show that his civi
record is worse.