Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-09-05
SEPTEMBER 3, 1879.
HIS BRAVE AND SUCCESSFUL STETGGLE 10
LIVE down INJUSTICE And BUHD UP 4
REPUTATION.

HIS BRAVE AND SUCCESSFUL STRUGGLE 10
LIVE down INJUSTICE AND BUIID UP \
REPUTATION.
The New York Tribune gives an interest
ing history OF the ease of DIR. W. \. Ham
mond, formerly surgeon general of tho
army, who has just been vindicatcd from
the injustice done to him by tine court
martial which dismissed him fifteen year,
ago. His experience during these years is
best given in his own language.
when was dismissed the service" said
DIR. Hammond, Il resolved to 90 to the
biggest place in the world and live it down
and 50 came Immediately 10 New York.
made no effort To get reinstated at the time,
and determined not to do so until could
achieve success in my profession, and could
ask To he restored to the list without hack.
| present or future pay or allowance Of any
kind whatsoever. When | arrived here
had nothing, and was obliged 10 borrow
money from whomsnevcr would loan it to
me in order 10 support myself. There were
times when ! really did moi know how | was
To get my next meal. | supported myself
as best | could. took to writing for the
newspapers Amongst those that published
nv articles were the Nation and the Round
Table. and also contributed to other peri
Odicals. Nv struggle at times was desperate
came home in September 1874, hut did
not begin to have any kind Of practice until
January, 1865. then opened an Office but
during the entire month did not take in
one cent. In February | received S45; in
March, $50; in April $40; in May S2O5 !;
in June $40; in July $500; in August, not
Il cent; in September $50; in October,
S215 began to think | should never get
along, and should probably not have been
able to remain here if it had not been just
about this time in fortunate moment,
was engaged 10 go 10 Europe with Eugene
Langdon, grandson of the original John
Jacob Aston. My engagement was for six
months. | was to receive fee of $40, 900
for my attendance, and my expenses were
all TO he paid. This brought the sum total
Ia about 81 900 currency. ! received one
half, or $1,000, in advance, the balance to
he paid ON my return. We left New York
in November, 1865, and did not return until
June, 1866, when the amount due me was
paid and this gave me Il start. ! resumed
my practice here, but in the month of July
of that year ! only tpnk in $40. In August
| received so, in September and October
nothing, in November so, and in December
SO. may say that my practice really
began in 1867. During that year my
receipts were 50 265, and in 1868 they
increased 10 $500. Since then they have
yearly increased, until in 1873 they reached
upwards of $50, 1000" BY the decision DIR.
Hammond takes his place on the retired list
with his former rank, and becomes subject
to army regulations, SO far as they apply to
retired officers. He il privileged to wear
the uniform of his rank, and is not permitted
to leave the country without the authority
Of the Secretary of War His position in
the service corresponds with that of Gen.
Daniel Z. Sickles and Gen. 4. \. IIumph-
rics, late chief of engineers, [. 5. A. \
pleasant feature connected with the occasion
is the fact that Gen Hammond received the
news on the morning of the fifty-frst ami
versary of his birth, he having been born
on August 2S, 1928.