Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-02-02
A GOOD WAR STORY
Of a Cholera Stricken Lawyer Over
a Poverty Stricken East Ten
nessean,
whether it is True or Not.

i was given u luISS blelnh W SoiiNSV
from a wealthy planter living in Ten
nessee. 1t was before the day Of rail
roads, and the swittest way to get
there was by sea. / went to New
York, sailed down the coast, landed at
Charleston, s.. c., and travelled across
the state Of Tennessee. They were
having the cholera south that year. /
caught it, and was laid up with it at
Columbia two weeks. | didn't have
much money with ne at starting, and
this sickness about used it up. l was
so weak when | again started on my
Tourney to Tennessee that l could
hardly walk. At last | reached
Greenville; my money was all gone,
and | presume | looked like q tramp.
/ remember it was a quiet Sunday
evening when | entered the place and
the church bells were ringing. /
wanted to 90 to church, but my shoes
were so worn out that | was ashamed
to 90 upon the ground floor. So |
crept into the gallery of one Of them
and sat among some Of the prettiest
girls l ever saw in my life. Told Andy
johnson about it years aiterward, and
he said that indeed they did have a lot
of pretty girls in Greenville at that
time. Next morning | started for my
| destination, thirty miles up the noun
tain. | had to foot it every inch OF
the way. When | got there | found
that my man had died, and that his
will was disputed. SO l skirmished
around and discovered that one OF the
men who was ~eontesting the will was
rich, and lived some four or five miles.
out Of town. He was one Of your
southern barons, had several negroes,
scores OF horses, and some bleodhounds.
| tried threatening him; he sat the
dogs on me. | killed one with a billet
of wood, and escaped to the town.
Well, there | was, without a cent; a
poor wretch, with no person of proper-
ty in the north who cared about me to
whom | could send for assistance. |
made my way back to Greenyille some
how, and resolved upon aSbold stroke.
l went into the first lawyers Office |
came to and said: My name is Ward;
| came from New York state to collect
a claim; the man has died and the will
is disputed; | would like to sell you
this claim for $50. | want the money
to get back to New York The law
yer was a kind-faced man. l remem-
Der he asked me why | didn't send for
| money to New York. and owned up
that there was no one there that |
could remember who would send it to
me. He finally said: We'll, ! will 90
out and see a friend about this BE
brought his friend back with him, and
they agreed to lend me $50. | signed
a paper and they gave me the money.
Then | put my hand deep in my
trowsers pocket and hauled out a gold
watch. | said: Gentlemen, | want
you to take this watch and keep it as
a sort Of security for what | owe you.
The first money [ carr ! promise you
it will be sent to repay you. They
wouldn't take the watch at first, but |
forced them to. | got home, and when
l had scraped together SIS | sent it to
| them. They took out their principal
and interest, and sent me the watch
and the money that was over. And
so apparently my connection with this
| Greenville man ended.
Twenty years passed, and | was a
member Of congress from this state.
1t was the time demonstration, and,
as a radical republican, | was a mem
her Of the reconstruction committee.
| had special charge Of the Teeonstruc-
ton of Tennessee. One day there was
a lot Of Tennesseeans before me in
relation to the affairs of the state
Horace Maynard, w. L. 3. Stokes,
Roderick r. Butler and Others. That
levening, at home, in glancing over the
papers, | saw that johnson had nomi-
nated a man named Milligan for Judge
of the court Of claims. 1t was at a
time when congress was having its
fierce wal with Jbhpson-so fierce
that the senate would confirm none of
his nominations, no matter how good
they might be. l thought this man
Milligan would have no chance, and
then turned to my wife and said: DO
you remember a man named Milligan?'
She replied hal she did not. Well,
said [, is there any circumstance of
my life in which | have been connect
ed with a man of that name? ? The
following morning, at the committee
room, | turned to Maynard and said:
I'Who Is this man Milligan that John
son has nominated for Judge Of the
+, court Of claims p He replied oh,
he is a lawyer living at Grcenville.
Tenn; n of Johnson's chums.
Was Milligan aunion man during the
WARP | thea further inquired. Yes
said Maynard, and such an outspoken
one that the rebels stripped him
G Of all of his property. He. is
q as poor as a church mouse
7 rs he a good laUyer& / then asked.
,qne Of the best In East TENNESSEE,
t says Maynard. Then, said l., rap.
t ping the table with my fist, by God
n sir, he shall be eonfrmed! They
were all amazed and inquired what
earthly interest ! had IN Milllgan. ]
didn't tell them, but went over to
c Conkling in the senate and told hin
IL the entire story / have told you, O.
. how this man Miiiigan helped IN.
when I was in sore trouble. Then
e went about the state getting votes 70.
y Milligan. | pestered Maynard nigh.
and day TO get his consent, and tn,
3 end oft was that Milligan was con
frmed. johnson sent for me 60,
II thanked me. The news OF the con
frmation got down to Tennessee, AM
Milligan started for Washington. II.
came from the railroad train directl
I. to the capitol, still wearing his dusteT
Roderick r. Butter brought me GU
to him and introduced US. Millighi
was then between sixty and sevent
!, and had a wife many years vOunqe