Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-04-06
A CURIOUS WAR STORY.

1ne IOllOWluS curlOus stoEy, "o unu ~ Iho
Rome, Georgia, Courier, the editor claiming
that it has never before been published:
"While Pickett's division was before New
bern, N. c., General Pickett received, by flag
of truce, letter from gentleman in Boston,
accompanied by package of money contain
ing two thousand dollars, in which the writer
stated that he had a brother,a Federal officer,
in the Libby prison; that his brother was
former comrade of Pickett in the Mexican
war, and appealed to him, by the friendship
of their old days, to forward the money to his
brother. The appeal touched the heart Of the
brave soldier, and he at once dispatched an
orderly, with the money, to the officer. The
orderly, tempted by the unusual sight of SO
much greenbacks, basely deserted through the
lines and escaped with the booty. As soon as
Pickett heard of the desertion, he immedi-
ately went to Richmond, and, by a mortgage
on his Turkey Island property, succeeded in
borrowing two thousand dollars which he car
ried to the prisoner, with an explanation of
and an apology for the delay. The officer,
when he learned by what means the General
had raised the money, declined to accept but
one thousand dollars ofit; but, with that nice
sense of honor which distinguished the true
Southern gentleman, General Pickett COM
PEELED him to do so. The two soldiers then
talked over the brave old days Of the past,
when together they fought under the same
flag, and as the conversation ripened into
friendly confidence, the prisoner frankly told
the General that his object was to escape, if
puss1ple, snu rhas he iurendun using some of
the money he had given him in the effort.
The General checked him at once by telling
him he could not receive bis confidence i'll
such matter; that the money was his own,
and Ihe had right to do with it as he pleased,
but it would be improper for him to become a
party to his plans He then left. The pris-
oner did escape. The war ended disastrously
to the South, and General Pickett's estate was
sold to satisfy the mortgage which he had ex-
ecuted to pay Federal prisoner in his hands
the money which had been stolen from him
by the connivance of the enemy.
REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.-The
committee on military affairs has agreed upon
a bill to reorganize the army, and ordered it
to be reported favorably to the House. 1t
does not reduce the present effective force of
the army, but reduces the number of infantry
regiments from twenty-five to twenty, and the
cavalry regiments from ten to eight; thus re-
ducing the number of infantry officers fifty
five and cavalry officers fifteen, and increases
the size of companies and regiments. 1t does
away with the regimental organization of ar
tillery, reducing the field officers of artillery
seventeen. 1t consolidates the quartermaster
and commissary departments into one, desig-
mated as the department of supplies, making
large reduction of officers. 1t provides for
board to examine officers, for the discharge
of all worthless and inefficient officers, and
for an examination of the condition of retired
officers. All officers who lose their places un.
der the bill are placed upon list of super
numeraries, and are permitted to resign with
one years pay for each eight years of service,
or remain in service to perform such duty as
they may be assigned to. 1t provides for the
education of non. commissioned officers and
soldiers by the commissioned officers, and for
the promotion of non.commissioned officers to
commissioned officers. 1t abolishes the Office
ofjudge advocate, fixes the pay of first SER
geants at $40 per month, makes the head
quarters of the general of the army at Wash
ington in time Of peace, and provides that he
may aot as secretary of war in the absence of
the secretary or temporary vacancy in the of:
fee. 1t tprovides that suffers and post traders
shall be first elected by council Of admins
tration, approved by the department com.
mander, the general of the army, and ap.
pointed by the secretary of war. It reduces
the staff of all general officers, and requires
the general of the army to report reforms to
Congress annually, and to look to economy
in ali branches of the army. The bill is ap-
proved by the testimony of many Of the best
officers of the army. 1t is reduction of
about two hundred officers, and proposes re-
forms which, if adopted, will, it is claimed,
add greatly to the efficiency of the army.