The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-13
Colonel Crawford not Osman PaShn.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE WIFE OF THE FOR
uER-HER HUSBANDS ADVENTUROUS LIFE
MEMORIALS OF 4 MILITARY CAREER-TlfE
FLAG or TIE FIRST TENNESSEE ARTILLERY.
Especial dispatch to the New York Times.I
VISELASD, n. j., September 10.-The no.
toriety given to Colonel r. Clay Crawford
bv the highly-colored and circumstantial re-
port OF bis identity with Osman Pasha, the
Turkish defender Of Plevna, which was first
made public by the Louisville C0urier-Jour-
7dl has created ferment OF excitement
in the ordinarily quiet little town OF
Newticld, situated about four miles
north OF here, on the West Jersey
railroad. There, in scclusion, holding
hardly any intercourse with their neigh
bors, reside the family OF Colonel Crawford,
consisting OF his wife and three children,
two bows and girl. aged ten, nine, and seven
wears respectively. Mrs. Crawford has
made her home in Newfield for several
wears, while her husband has been wander
ing about the country, living there with
her parents, whose names are Pelton. She
is u cultured and intelligent lady, very re-
firing in her disposition, and reserved in
her conversation, giving up her whole time
to the education OF her children, Of whom
she takes exclusive charge. When the
subject Of her husbands reported eN-
ploits in Turkey was introduced she became
interested at once, and her face gloWed
with enthusiasm as she recounted incidents
in his past career, and dwelt lovingly on the
present, in which, as made known to her in
the results OF Osman Pasha's daring and
dash, she honestly believed. Colonel Craw-
ford, she said, was born in Rogersyile, Haw-
kins county, Tenn. At the age OF fourteen
he went to Mexico as a soldier, running
away from home to accomplish his object.
At sixteen he was appointed to West Point
By bis lifelong friend Andrew johnson,
who then represented his district, and who
always made him an especial protegf. The
account Of his life, then, as already pub
Iished, she admitted to be true. At the
age OF twenty he accompanied Walker
on his filibustering expedition. At the be-
ginning OF our civil war he entered the
Union army, rising rapidly in the confidence
OF his superiorS. and early in the conflict
was in command OF the First regiment OF
Tennessee artillery. At the close OF the
war be went to Mexico, figuring there rs
the hero OF Bagdad. During the war OF the.
rebellion, in 1864, Colonel Crawford was
married to her in Brooklyn, n. Y. Since
his return from Mexico her husband, she
said, had not been permanently located any
where, but Fad been travelling about in
search Of adventures. He was last at
home one year ago the present month,
and this fact in itself, without the
authoritative statement OF the Turkish Min
lister made public this morning, is enough
to disproye his reported identity with Us.
man Pasha. Yet. for all that, she confessed
that she knew his whereabouts previous to
that time, and that he had been all the while
Sha spama1 Inf9tl1ntpI
with the idea that within the brief space OF
a year her husband had risen to the dignity
of Turkish commander, and was indeed
Osman Pasha. It WAS so characteristic,
she said, and then earnestly added: "lt
must be hc." Since Colonel Crawfords
departure q year ago she has not heard
word from him, directly or indirectly, and
when he went away he said he was going to
Mexico, because, he affirmed, there was
going to be trouble there.
Mrs. Crawford's residence is perfect
storehouse OF memorials OF her husbands
past military career. One room Is devoted
exclusively to his possessions, and is full OF
them. A fine oil-painting OF the Colonel
himself hangs on the wall, and it represents
a man OF intelligence and courage. 1t Is
fine face, with high forehead and magnii-
cent mustache and whiskers. His sword,
presented to him by the enlisted men
OF the First Tennessee artillery, is also
there. as we'll as his rich uniform OF
a Mexican major-general-a green coat,
yellow vest, and red pantaloons-also
his commission, bearing the signature
and flourish Of Santa Anna himself. a
bureau-drawer contains diary covering all
his service during the rebellion. There are
also abundant mementoes OF his connection
with the Masonic fraternity, in which order
he has held high official position. But the
most interesting and historic relic Of all is
a siiken flag, torn and stained, with the
union in tatters and the stars clinging to
mere threads.