The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1881-03-11
Van Wyck Of Nebraska.

THE KIND OF STUFF TO MAKE SENATOR
WHO SUPPLIED SOLDIERS WITH PORK.
lChicago Timesl
The new United States Senator from
Nebraska, Van Wyck. is not without
record, though 1t was acquired not il
Nebraska, but in New York. He is
native of Sullivan county in that State
and before the war was well known il
the Hudson river counties as a lawyer
of marked ability. He practiced law il
Middleton and Newburg, having for {
partner in the latter place ex Judge Ful
lerton, now of the city of New York.
"Charie" Van Wyck, under which
familiar title he was best known to the
farmers, busines, men, boys aud every
body else in that section. was elected to
congress in 1868, and reelected in 1860
Ia common with Ben. Wade, Thad
Stevens and Burlingame of Massachu-
setts, he was stalwart of the stalwarts
on the slavery question, and manifesto d
n disposition to back up his words with
his acts.
During the exciting session of con
giess which preceded the breaking out
of the war, numerous exceptions were
taken by southern members to his vigor-
GUS denunciations of the "institution, "
and threats of personal violence were
freely made.
Late one night while passing along
street near the capitol, he was
ATTACKED BY THREE MEN,
who as they bounced out upon him, in
formed him that in consequence of his
comprehensive abuse OF slavery, they
were about To "do for him" in first-class
plantation style.
At that time "Charlie" was in his
prime, broad across his shoulders, above
medium hight, and solidly built in with
hard muscle. In addition to this he was
something of boxer, and was gifted by
nature with that article so useful 10 the
world known as pluck.
He squared himself at once, and but
few moments after putting up his
hands for business the southern gentle
men were looking for the last ditch.
From that time on he was very rigidiy
let alone.
In the summer of 1861 he raised the
regiment which went into the field as
the fty-sixth New Yoik, but was better
known by the title of the Tenth le-
gion." The legion was composed of ten
companies of infantry, two of cavalry
and two batteries of artillery. 1t was
incorporated into the army of the Poto.
mac as IA regiment in It's entirety, but
was shorn OF Its cavalry and artillery ap-
pendages.
The cavalry companies were the nu-
cleus around which were gathered the
first New York mounted rifles, which
did excellent
SERVICE IN VIRGINIA,
and Maryland until the close of the war.
The artillery companies were after
wards designated as the seventh and
eighth New York independent batteries.
The fifty sixth, with its commander.
Col. Van Wyck, participated in Nc Clel-
lan's peninsular campaign. sufferlag Sc.
verely in the battle of Fair Oaks where
Col. Van Wyck was slightly wounded
by piece of shell. After the battle of
Antetam the command was ordered to
the southwest and Col. Van Wyck was
decorated with the straps and buttons of
a brigadier.general.
A FRANK REPLY.
In the spring of 1862 when McCIellan's
army lay in front of Yorktown, Van
Wyck. while in command of the New
York volunteer infantry regiment. was
also a representative in the house of
from one of the western
New York districts. Although in uni
form he was still the home citizen, solicit
Gus for the welfare OF his many neigh
bors in his own regiment and other mil
itary organizations from his section of
the country. One dark, rainy night,
just before TAPS" had sounded, he hap.
pened to step into . battery park, and
a private soldier who recognized him re-
quested him to frank letter. The
privilege was then not limited
as it is now. Certainly" replied the
citizen soldier and congressman, "I'll sit
lp all night 10 frank letters for soldiers"
The declaration was scarcely uttered be-
ore it passed from soldier to soldier, and |
hen from camp to camp. Soldiers from
very direction brought their envelopes
o Col. Van Wyck to frank. The Col
seated himself in suit
ers tent and went to work The suit
srs supp'y of envelopes rapidly disap-
eared, aid when reveille sounded in
he morning the colonel was still sitting
n his camp stool, with hard-tack box,
5hich he had improvi-ed as a table be-
ore him. franking letters for 1.-THE boys"
n many homestead in central New
'otk to-day may be found, no doubt, the
arefully preserved envelope which
rought the message from the soldier
, the field, who never came back him.
elf. bearing on its face the f,mili sr au.
,graph Of Charles H. Van Wyck.
I. c."
DIDN'T KNOW THE BUTCHER.
1t was during the peninsuar cam.
aign. Just before the battle of Williams
urg, that Gen. Mcclellan had issued an
rder forbiddiag foraging under penalty
severe punishment. A section of ar
llery had been supported by he fifty
Z IA New York volunteer infantry in
tile skirmish late in the evening, and. /:
wing to some misunderstanding. the
Ifantry and artillery were lett on the |
cket line till a late hour without any {
Itions. Darkness had closed in. and a
rm yard in the vicinity offered too
-eat temptation for the hungry artil. S
ry men to Iesist. Soon the fragrant /
'oma of roast pig drew more than one h
hcer to the vicinity of the improvised l
Irbecue. Among others was Col. Van b
'yck, the senior officer in command. 5
e was asked bv one of the improvised d
mp cooks if he would partake of the o
emu. Certainly replied the colonel. !
d with a sharpened appetite he at II
zee took hold of the luscious roast por- o
ne ribs. Suddenly staff officer rode j
'on the scene. With an unmistakable q
ench twsng he said: with de con- s.
iments of de general commanding, | z
sh to know who kilt dis roast hog" Z
l. Tell the general commanding" "rosred 4
i. Van Wyck. stretching his tall form 7
its utmost altitude. that Colonel Van a
yck never inquiries who the butcher is
zen he sits down to a gentleman's ta-
y
The staff officer was the Comte de q
ris Of Gen. McClellan's staff. No fur II
sr inquiry was ever instituted into the :
7stery Of this foraging expedition.