The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-04-22

Never once since LndC eFeuC has Sue WlSueu
for change.
Correspondence Cincinnati Gazette.
How a Confederate Outwitted the ''Yanks."
WASHINGTON, April /, 1875.
If the "Yanks" had their already acute
senses sharpened during the war, as all who
come in contact with them will surely admit,
the following story will prove that at least one
Confederate made full use of his opportunities
The attempt to settle the accounts of Maj.
Calhoun, for several years United States Pen
sion Agent at Philadelphia, has led to unearth-
ing such a career as is seldom rewarded by
public position, on the ground of military SER
vice.
When Calhoun was found to be a defaulter
the Pension Office in Washington took hold of
the matter and found it necessary to explore
his antecedents. He had been endorsed and
urged for position by the Union League, on ac-
count of alleged military service He was com
mander of the Grand Army of the Republic
for Pennsylvania. On all sides he was cordially
sustained by ex-Union soldiers. Senator Cam
eron gave him earnest political support because
of supposed military merit, and afterward went
on his bond. And yet when search was made,
his name could not be found on any of the army
rolls for Pennsylvania and although he had
lost leg above the knee and, as he stated,
while private soldier, there was no trace OF
his case among the pension records. These
things taken in connection with the fact that
he had always evaded specific answers to letters
from the department asking for his military
record, excited suspicion, and led to some ex-
tended investigation. These developed the fol-
lowing remarkable history.
"Major" Calhoun-the title, as will presently
be seen, was acquired after his entry into the
Union service-was in the Confederate service,
and about the time the Union Prisoners were
making escapes from Libby Prison, he was put
in there by the rebel authorities, dressed as
Union soldier, to watch the prisoners and to
detect and report plans for escape. He was
plausible and talkative fellow, always in good
spirits, and part of his business was to make
himself popular.
When the Union successes about Richmond
began to make the rebel cause look gloomy,
Calhoun seems to have made up his mind to
leave the sinking ship. In pursuance of this
idea, when Richmond was captured, he began
to play the role of Union soldier with vigor,
and was sent North with one of the first de-
tachments. On the way to Philadelphia he
managed, through sympathy with his hard ex-
perience, to make good friends and secure some
money.
Arriving in Philadelphia, he plunged into
the midst of things. He secured an introduction
at the Union League, and made himself init
mate and quite at home about that aristocratic
and intensely loyal spot When the whole
North was shouting over the crowning vlcto..
res, and doing honor to all who had helped
achieve them, it was easy for prisoner fresh
from the horrors Of Libby to make himself
hero. Calhoun neglected none of his opportu-
mites. The moment he gained footing ne
set busily and ostentatiously to work organizing
posts of the Grand Army of the Republic. In
this work he met with most hattering success,
and, as has been stated, at latter period he
rose to the head of that order in the State.
In the local politics of the City of Brotherly
Love- Calhoun made himself we'll known and
very conspicuous. In all political senses his
course was upward. And very speedily he rose
to a position where he thought be could spy
the position of Federal office-holder He
had only to intimate his desires to his Union
associates at the league and elsewhere. 1t was
a great pity, to be sure, that one who had SUIT
fered so much for the Union cause III the field,
and in prison, and who had left leg on the
battle-Gelds Of the republic, should be without
a fat office. Would he indicate his choice
With his accustomed diffidence he suggested
the pension agency Nothing could be more
fit" cried Union league and all, in concert.
And with Senator Cameron to pull the politi-
cal wires, and the Grand Army and the league
to wave the stars and stripes, Calhoun walked
over a pathway strewn with flowers into the
coveted position. Here, also, he improved his
chances to the utmost. From the first he lived
in clover, and the good things of life which
money can bring flowed in upon him. With
the custody of large sums, his previous shrewd-
ness appears to have deserted him, and his ex-
travagance attracted the attention of his bonds
men. Senator Cameron, after a slight investi.
CATION quietly obliged him to give up his bond
and obtain another. This was heralded among
his loyal friends as political persecution of the
Cameron influence, because the Major would
not perform the behests of the Winnebago
Chief.
Loyal friends rallied in force, and new
bond was soon drawn up, signed and executed:
For time all went smoothly, and the star or
Calhoun rose higher, and shone brighter for
Cameron's persecution. But the bright Union
orb shot from the heavens at last. The MAJOR
was suddenly found to be defaulter, was re-
moved and disgraced. After long contest his
devoted bondsmen are about to make his detl-
cheney good
Calhoun has left the environs of the Union
League, resigned the command OF the Grand
Army turned his back upon the "4anks" OF
Philadelphia, and transferred himself to Geor,
gia, where he now edits newspaper devoted
to Confederate Democracy. If this meets his
eye, please copy.
When the human being looks at the suf-