Daily Republican., 1882-03-22
DEsTITUrION OF A SOLDIER.

Did or did not WIN. .. Russell
Fight ut the battle OF Cold Her.
bor-Was Company A LIST Dsla.
ware Cavalry sept cut Of Five
Months Pay1
For many years soldier of this city
belonging to Co. A, 1st Delaware CAY
airy, has been applying through a
Washington agency for pension. He
was badly wounded at tho battle of
Cold HarbOr In several plnces.
Amongst others in the head, the hand
and the right thigh. These wounds
prevented him from laborinR to support
his family. His goods were therefore
seized and sold for rent. Every
thing (bed, stove, chair, table and every
other article that he possessed that
would administer to the comfort of q
family was carried away, and he and
his household, Consisting of an indus
trious wife and four little children)
were compelled to lay upon the bare
floor, without q single thing to cover
them. One of the children, an inter.
esting boy, about four years old, on ac-
count Of the exposure for the want of
these necessaries, caught disease in
his eyes, and it is feared he will be-
come blind. His physician (Dr. Nc
Kay) gave the soldier piece of car
pet to cover the child at night, and
protect it in measure from lne sever
ity of the weather.
The soldier In his extremity, applied
10 OK City Treasurer Francis Vincent
to aid in collecting the evidence in his
case so that he could get his pension TO
assist In relieving him from his atilic-
tions. This the ex-Treasurer at once
undertook, and he soon laid before the
departments the necessary evidence to
have ibis pension granted. But here
comes a hitch. A MIR. William G.
Russell, who resides at Iron Hill near
Newark, testiried that he was o soldier
In this Company A, 1st Delaware Cav
airy. and that when he (the distressed
sOldier) was shot from his horse, he
charged over him rs he was immedi-
atsly In his (Russell's) front. He
also sent on further testimony and
made representations Of his deplorable
case to the Department. But upon an
examination of the military records,
the Pension Office found that according
to the United States Registry, that
VIM. b. Russell had not entered the
military service until some months
after the battle of Cold Harbor. This
kept back the pension and threw a
doubt upon the testimony as 1t was
evident II Mr.. Russell did not enlist in
the military service OF the United
States until some months after the bat.
tie of Cold Harbor he could not In that
battle be Immediately in the rear Of the
distressed soldier, and ride over in the
charge when he (the distressed sOldier)
fell wounded from his horse.
Mr.. Vincent then informed Mr.. Rus.
sell Of the information he got from
that he (Russell) was not
in the battle Of Cold Harb0r, and did
not enlist in the U. S. Service until
some months after it was fought.
Upon receiving this information Mr.. |
Russell reiterated his assertion that he
was in that battle, and at once made |
affidavit that his first statement was
and that he left Wilmington
with his company at the same time |
with the rest of the soldiers. That he
did see the distressed soldier fall from
his horse. That he did ride over him
TO the charge and that he did partici-
pate in the Cold Harbor fight. He also
stated that the company went away
from Delaware as company f. and was
changed to company A. afterwards.
Other soldiers and citizens made afiida-
Wit stating that they had seen Mr.. Rus
gel depart from Wilmington with the
rest of the company in uniform. The |
soldiers made affidavit also that he par.
in the fight and Mr.. James |
Vantz a carpenter made affidavit addi- |
IiOnally that the soldiers of company
A. First Delaware, we're kept out of
i've months pay. This statement of
Mr.. Vantz was corroborated by several
who stood by whilst the
Treasurer was drawing up his atfida-
Wits.
This mistake it is thought occurred
from the change Of the name of the
from Il. to A.
Amongst the citizens and soldiers
who testified to this matter, were VIM.
Baker, James r. Mitchell, James
Vantz, VIM. Il. Russell and John W.
Baker.
Tuere has been complete reliance in the |
L uited States Military Records. But
this statement is true Chat is, that a
oody Jf soldiers from the State of Della.
ware have been IN settlement of their
accounts, kept out of five months pay
Justly due them from errors in the War |
that confidence will In a |