The National tribune., 1882-08-19

HOW PRESIDENT LINCOLN PAID THE BOYS.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
happened to be in Delaware when the war
broke out and resolved to offer my services to
the Government, and proceeding to Washing
ton city helped to start a company and was
elected sergeant in company B, Turner Rifles,
ID. C. volunteers. Gen. Mcdowell mustered us
into service in front of the White House. Our
services were much appreciated, as we had to
he I'M every day and night for fear that the
Government buildings would be fired, and l
tell you it was no funny business in those days,
for YOU could not tell who was secesh" and
who was Union" After our term OF service
had expired there was some lack IN getting our
nav. Where the fault lay we knew not, but IL
SO happened as / was standing on one OF the
avenues talking with some of the Connecticut
bows Oh their way home, a carriage drove up
Its occupants were President Lincoln, Secretary
Seward. and another gentleman. Hearing
familiar name mentioned ] turned, when the
driver beckoned to me, requesting me to come
up TO the carriage, as the President wished to
sneak to me- Mr.. Lincoln greeted me very
kindly and questioned me in regard to the
regimcnts that were on the sidewalk, as to
their number, what State they were from, and
where they were going He stated that he was
very sorry that they were on their way home.
! He then told the driver TO 90 on, as the boys
we're blocking up the avenue to get glimpse
! at their beIoyed President. Before starting l
! told the President that had little request to
| make He asked me very kindly what 1T was
| stated that our term Of service having cx-
pircd there was some delay in getting our pay
! that all We wanted was our pay; we would then
| 20 home, see our folks and come back again
The President turning to Secretary Seward
said " How is this; this matter must be looked
into" The Secretary nodded in the atfirma
tive. / thanked Mr.. Lincoln very kindly, and
| with three cheers for our President the car
riage moved on. The next morning our cap
tain came rushing up il hot haste, saying
| "Boys. who asked the President to pay us?'
| Well, he had me spotted l remarked that
| knew the Presidents kind feeling toward us
and, therefore, thought it no harm to ask wha
was Justly due us. "Well," said he, "you art
brick" and we will get paid this afternoon
which we did, and that in gold coin. That il
the way President Lincoln provided for th'
soldier.
Now, why don't Congress do the same? The.
owe it to us. There are thousands that receives
hundreds of dollars of bounty. But those wh
offered their services in the most trying hour
of danger, men that sacrificed homes ant
money in behalf of the Union and saved thu
most valuable property from destruction arr
ignored. fulfilled my promise which CAV
the President, went home, came back, and thel
went to Roach Mill in Virginia and enlisted il
the Twenty-ninth New York volunteers {
serve two years as soon as discharged. serve
twenty two months and was honorably mus
tered out of service on account of sickness.
, did not re-enlist. / then went to California
and at various times during the last thirtee
years made application for my bounty throug
proper channels and spent $50 to procure wha