The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-06-25

candidate; he was elected, and We
have never had reason to regret it.
Colonel Seward soon recovered
and soon returned to the the field ant
led his regiment at the battle of Mo
nocacy. There he was wounded
and in the hasty retreat of the ma
tional forces he was left on the field
The rebels rushing wildly in pursuit
did dot discover that under simple
blue blouse was anoflicer of so much
Importance. He played "possum,
as they say in the Army, waited for
them to get out of sight, then caught
a stray mule, mounted it, and came
in the lines at Washington. The sim.
pie and unconspieuous uniform saved
him, as it saved many of our officers
in the campaigns. Had it been other.
wise he would have been discovered,
and probably would have ended his
life in one of the murderous Southern
prisons.
Colonel Seward-afterwards gener-
al-remained in service during the
entire war, resigning only on June |,
1865.
IN November, 1864, Frederick
Seward was in New York on official
business. On descending the stairs
at the Astor House, he fell and broke
his right arm at the elbow. He was
consequently confined to his house for
several weeks, and threatened with a
stiff arm the rest of his life. He,
however, recovered the perfect use of
it, and resumed the duties of his Of
fee.
On the 9TH of April, 1865, the See
retary and Frederick Seward rode out
to paw an official visit to one of the
foreign ministers. As the carriage
stopped in front of the house the dri-
yer descended from his box to open
the carriage door; from some reason
or other, probably from an uncon-
scious pull at the rein, the horses
started, dragging the driver. They
soon became unmanageable, and few
off at frightful speed. Both Mr.
Seward and Frederick, seeing the
danger, jumped from the carriage
Frederick was unhurt, but Mr.. Sew
ard could not rise; people rushed to
his assistance, and found that he
was seriously injured, the blood
streaming from his mouth, and his
right arm lying powerless by isside.
He was Immediately carried to his
house, not a block distant.
found him in his bed, his face
frightiully bruised, his lower jaw
completely fractured ON both sides,
his right arm fractured, also, near
the shoulder. He was in great pain,
and it was with difficulty that he
could be relieved. His condition,
considering his age, was perilous in
the extreme. Suifusion soon took
place, his right eye closed, and the
right side of his face became blue
from the confusion. His lower jaw
was hanging down, and being frac
tured on both sides, he could not
raise it for mastication The right
side of the jaw, upon which he evil
rdently fell, became greatly tumefied
and infamed, so much so that he
could not bear the slightest bandage.
His sufferings became Intense, high
fever rose, which greatly aggravated
his condition.
Mrs. Seward and Fanny, after re-
covering from the shock that this new
misfortune caused them, were unre-
mitting in their attentions; every ca
price that feverish Imagination
would excite was promptly gratilied
by those tender and loving hands
His nights became SO restless that
he required a constant watch. His
jaw was in such a condition that it
was difficult problem for surgeons
to decide how it could be kept in CO.
aptation, so as to favor ossification
and the knitting together of the bro
ken ends. He took his food through
a tube and with great difficulty. His
right arm was in splints, and Mr..
Seward lay helpless on bed of ag-
ony
On the 9th, four days after the ac-
cident. the news reached Washington
Of the surrender of Gen. Lee. The
bells chimed the joyful tidings; the
people rushed to and fro in their in
toxication of gladness. The Presi-
dent and the Secretaries received the
ovations of the people, and he, the
great premier, the man who had con-
tributed so much to the salvation of
his country, was held down by re-
lentless physical suffering.
The city was thrown in blaze by
a general and spontaneous illumina-
ton; the cannon resounded from Cv-
cry fort, and from the centre of the
city the peals of gladness. Even
the sympathizers with the South rejOi-
ced that the end of the war had come.
His own house was a beautiful trans
parency of rational flags, yet he
hardly dared to move 4 finger for fear
of drawing an unwilling groan. His
face bespoke, however, his joy within,
for the play of his features could not
hide the emotions of that stout heart |
If the family sorrow was not for
gotten ut that moment, it was not un-
alloyed with happiness, for even that
noble lady whose heart was filed
with grief, gave evidence that she
too shared in the nations joy.
For five days our city, the capital
of this redeemed land, wore the garb /
of festivity. The people were 10th
to settle down, so great was the mag
ic effect OF the late events. The eX- i
citement seemed now and then to al |
lay, but only to break forth in some
new form. Every little incident was
made an occasion for gathering,
which ended in the deafening hur-
rahs for the Union, for the country, !
for the General, for the President,
and for whatever favOrite chief
On the l4rh of April, Mr.. Lincoln |
was to receive an ovation from the
people at the theatre. Preparations
were made on large scale for this
soulful reception by the people Of
their President At 8 o'clock l went
to make my evening visit to the See
retary, and found that his condition
was amelorating sensibly; staid