The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-01-22
TIED BY RED TAPE.
Pursuing Justice for Nearly Half
Century.

The Washington correspondent
of the Chicago Inter-Ocean tells q
sad story of the perseverance of an
army official in endeavoring to re-
cover a position of which he was
wrongfully deprived during the adj
ministration of Andrew Jackson.
1t is one of the most remarkable in
stances on record of the ever recur-
ring struggle between justice and red
tape, in which the cause of tie form
er is usually hopeless one. James
W. Shaumberg, in 1886, was second
lieutenant in the First Regiment of
Dragons, stationed at Fort Des
Moines, la. Edwin V. Sumner,
Phil. Kearney, Philip st. George
Cooke, Daniel H. Rucker, Richard
| S. Ewell, Abe Buford, Alfred Pleas
anton, David Hunter and other men
who now have a place in history,
were his comrades. Shaumburg's
father lay dying at New Dreams.
He applied for leave of absence, but
1t was refused him. In his anxiety
to see his father before his death,
Shaumburglresigned his commission
with the usual three months leave
of absence before his resignation
should take effect. The father
died. On his return from New
Orleans to the north Shaumburg
learned that a general order had
been issued by direction of An
drew Jackson, in which occurred
the following paragraph:
All officers now absent on leave,
with view of quitting the army,
and whose designations have been
accepted to take effect at some pros
pective da.e, are hereby required
either to resume their duties as Off
GERS of the army, or at once vacate
their commissions. If any officer
choose the former, and join his reg
iment, his resignation will be con
sidered as annulled. The officers
so absent will make their election
and report to the adjutant general
accordingly. In conformity with
the foregoing ali leaves
of absence heretofore granted with
a view of retiring from the service,
are hereby countermanded.
By order. etc.
r. JONES, Adjutant General.
The only motive of Shaumburg's
resignation was to attend upon his
fathers dying bed, and, having
performed this act of filial devotion,
he at once gladly seized upon the
opportunity to be restored to the
army. He therefore notified the
acknowledgement of his acceptance
of the provisions of the general or
der, and returned to his post.
While he was en- route he was pro-
NOTED to a first Lieutenancy,
and his promotion was confirmed
| by the senate. But shortly after
his arrival he received official no.
tice, in general orders No. A, of the
acceptance, by the secretary of war,
of the resignation of First Lieuten-
ant Shaumburg. He had been in
formed that his resignation as sec.
ond lieutenant had been cancelled,
according to his request, and he had
not resigned, or thought of resign
ing, his commission as first lieuten
ant. He was sure there there was
mistake somewhere, and wrote to
the war department to have it cor
rected, but no notice was taken OF
his letter. The officer next in rank
was promoted to his place, and an
other man was assigned to his COM
papy. The commandment of his
post notified him to vacate his
quarters. He came to Washington
and appealed to Lewis Cass. then
secretary of war, but received no
satisfaction. He appealed to every
body in authority without satisfac
ton, and found himself thrust out
of the army against his will, by
what he at first considered a mis-
take, but later believed TO he a con-
spiracy to deprive him of his COM
mission. He made 1t the motive of
his life to vindicate himself, and
has been working forty-three years
without success. Patience and per
sistency have accomplished moth
ing, and to-day Lieutenant Shaun
burg is asking of Secretary Ramsey
the same justice that he asked of
Lewis Cass in 1886. After working
in vain for seven years, Lieutenant
Shaumburg went in 1843 to 1.-THE
Hermitage" to obtain from Andrew
Jackson an Interpretation of his
order, under which he recalled hts
resignation.
jackson reviewed the case in
long letter, and in conclusion says:
l have gone through the memo
randa and various documents, and,
as L progressed, my interest was ex
cited, as the case presents in itself
SO much of wrong. You
have been improperly treated. and
should have come to me when / was
president. You have
never ceased to be an officer of the
army. You did not resign your
commission as first lieutenant. You
were fully entitled to the benefit of
my directions, published in general
order No. 43; as you applied for or
ders under them. You were fairly
and justly so entitled, and your con
start efforts to have your rights
recognized are creditable to you 1
hope you will persevere.
If were President of the United
States l would put you back, if it
made you colonel of your regiment,
and l hope President Tyler will
order your rein statement and pro
motion to the rank your position as
first lieutenant and the law entities
you to. You are at liberty to pre-
sent this letter to President Tyler.
1 remain, very respectfully, your
friend, ANDREW JACKSON.
Upon the receipt of General Jack
sons letter, President Tyler inves
tigatea the case, and on the 14th Of
January, 1914, directed that Lieu
tenant Shamburg be restored TO the
army ION the happening of the first
vacancy of captain in the first Regi-
ment of Dragons, and, il prior TO
the happening of q vacancy in the
grade of captain vacancy shall oc-
cur in the grade of first lieutenants,
he shall be placed at the head