The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-09-14
THAT $4OO!!
A Soldiers Story AbOut Hayes
and His $500.

Some days ago saw inyour paper
an account of Governor Hayes con-
nection with the s4OO bounty of the
deserter Hall, and being somewhat
familiar with the circumstances of
the case have determined to write
you my account of it, every word of
which | am willing to swear to.
Twas q member of the Twonty-third
Regiment; | enlisted as a substitute
at Cincinnati at the same time that
Wilton, or Hall, did, and was for
warded in the same squad to Column
bus, where our money was taken
away from us by the commanding
officer, who told us it would be re-
turned to us when we got to our reg
iment. We were kept at Columbus
Il few days and then sent to Wheel
ing, where we were kept close pris-
oners for two weeks, and were then
forwarded to our regiment by way Of
Pittsburg and Baltimore TO Monocaey
Junction, where the regiment was
then located. The officer having us
in charge carried our money all the
way in a traveling-bag, and when
we got toNlonocacy we we're marched
to the brigade headquarters and the
money was handed over to General
Hayes, who was then commanding
the brigade to which the Twenty
third Regiment belonged. We were
then divided into squads and the
money was paid to us by Hayes Ad.
jutant, after which we were marched
to our respective companies.
| travelled in company with Hall
all the way; we were in each others
company constantly, and we became
well acquainted. When he found
that he was to be attached to the
Twcnty-third Regiment he became
very Respondent and frequently cried
bitterly. He would wake up in the
night and cry terribly. None of us
then knew what was the reason, but
it became clear to us aftGrward. He
had enlisted in the Twelfth Regi-
ment, which was then in the Army
of the Potomac, and his old regiment,
the Twenty-third, was in West Vir-
GINA; but while we were on the way
they had been consolidated. He
learned this at Wheeling, and it
frightened him very much. He was
first recognized while we were ford
ing the Monocacy, just before we
reached the Brigade Headquarters,
by soldiers of the Twenty-third, who
were standing by. 1t so happened
that he was attached to the very
from which bo had desert
cd the year before, and the members
of which he had robbed. When he
found they were going to attach him
to that company he requested them
two or three times over to send him
company. General Hayes
then ordered him undor arrest, and
he was shot the next day.
So much for narrative, now to the
main point of this letter. | think
that so far from this $500 business
being SANDER on Governor Hayes
that it is very far short of the full
amount of his profits III" that trans
action. We started from Columbus
with about two hundred recruits for
Hayes brigade, every one of whom
received from $500 to $500 bounty
This money was all in the hands of
The officer having us in charge on the
way, and was handed to General
Hayes on our arrival at the Brigade |
Headquarters. Oftho two hundred
men nearly one-half of them desert
ed on the way, leaving their money |
in the officers hands. They were
professional bounty jumpers, and
feared the same fate of Hall. When
hey enlisted they did not know that |
.hc money would be taken from them
1t Columbus, and they intended to
lesert at the first opportunity, with
out going to the front. When they
'ound that they must go to the front |
to get it they determined to jump out
without their money, While we
we're crossing the Allegheny Mount
lins on the Pennsylvania Railroad
hey deserted. Now, what become of
Ill this money? Not less than sew
men deserted, leaving their
in the officers hands. This
money was handed over to Hayes
What did he do with it2
| remember that the boys at the
lime all believed it was divided up
the officers at the Brigade
Headquarters, Hayes, of course get
ling the lions share We never
heard of its being handed over to the
Government or expended for any
public purpose. If it was, of course
Hayes has receipts for it. ] think
here can be no doubt but that Hayes
md his officers pocketCd it.
JOHN SoMERToN.