The National tribune., 1883-09-20
SMALL TALK
About Men and Things.


There are many rumors afoat in military
circles with reference to the probable disposi-
tion of the commanders of the departments
after the changes made necessary by Sherman's
retirement shall have been effected. 1t trans
pires, however, that the Secretary of War has,
so far, given the matter no consideration and
the stories afoat are Indicative simply Of the
desires of the officers themselves with reference
to the new distribution of "soft places" As
might be expected, General Miles friends are
busy scheming for his recall from the Pacific
Coast and his assignment to Fort Leavenworth
or some other Eastern station. Miles has come
up to the command of department by methods
which are very common to Washington society
quite as much as by fighting Indians. The old
Sherman party is again at work in his favor,
and the chances are that some officer without
quite so powerful social backing viii be sent
to Vancouver Barracks and relieve him of
position which is very distasteful to him, and
especially to Mrs. Miles, for whom the social
attractions OF the East are very strong.
The programme talked about among the
officers includes General Hancock's remaining
at Governors Island. This means that General
and acquaintance in New York.
General Sehofeld is booked for Chicago,
which, interpreted, means that he prefers this
to the far Southwest or the Pacific Coast
1t is too bad that all this fine arrangement IS
spoiled by the fact that Secretary Lincoln
makes these assignments and he has not yet
| been heard from on the subject.
Another officer, who viii have something to
Go with the new assignments, is Sheridan, and
| he, as no one else in the army, enjoys the con-
| fdence and friendship of the Secretary of War
He is particularly opposed to maneuvers of
the social set in the army, whose idols have
| been Miles, Schofeld and Hancock. Plain,
honest John Pope who would have no consid-
/ Grafton whatever in a programme laid out by
| the fashionabes of the West End, will not be
forgotten by Little Phil" The Secretary of
| War will take this matter up probably in No
| Yember.
| flag about which centers a great deal of
| historic interest, was finally put in place of
| permanent security last Saturday, where it
may be seen by any visitor to the Treasury
| Department, at the room of the Captain of the
| Watch. This is the flag which was given by
| the ladies of the Department TO the Treasury
| regiment when it started for the field. 1t is q
| large banner, made Of silk and fringed with
| gold On the 18th of April, 1865, it was bor-
I
| principal theater of Washington, to decorate
| the box which the President and General Grant
were expected to occupy that evening. 1t SO
| happened that General Grant decided to 90 TO
New Jersey to visit his wife and children that
| evening, and did not, therefore, attend the
| theater. As is well known. President Lincoln
| and family did attend and during the perform
| ance the President was shot by Wilkes Booth.
| AS the assassin made leap from the box TO
| the stage his spur caught in the flag and he
was thrown so heavily that one leg was badly
| shattered. After the occurrence of the shoot
! ing Mr. Ford returned the flag to the Depart
ment, and for years it was kept In the base
ment furled up on the staff. Finally it was
voted nuisance by the firemen and brought
up stairs, where the captain of the watch took
I charge of it. For the past nine years, until
| last Saturday, it hung upon the wall of the
captains room, over a large portrait of Presi-
dent Lincoln, exposed to the dust and destruc-
| tion by accident A case has been made for it,
| large enough to contain it unfurled showing
the Jagged slit cut in its folds by the spur of
Booth.
Some of the returning tourists from the Yell
lowstone Park relate several characteristic an
I eedotes of the visit of Roscoe Conkling to that
locality. At this time the terminus of the
| railroad was some fifteen miles from the hotel,
| which is located at the Mammoth Hot Springs.
Il 1nlS p0lflG WAS TtaCleO Ut aDUuS K U ClDCh III
the afternoon and the programme was TO re-
main on the ears all night taking the stage
the next morning. Mr.. Conkling. however,
insisted that it could only be two hours
drive, and that the party must go on TO the
hotel where he could obtain q bath. In spite
of all expostulations and advice, therefore, the
stage was started and the journey contin-
ued. The progress made however was slower
than Mr.. Conkling had anticipated. although the
| English vocabulary was ransaeked to emphasize
to the driver the Importance of haste. Finally,
after about four miles had been made, darkness
game down upon them in the mountains, and
the driver unhtched his horses, and in spite
of all remonstrances, refused to go another
foot. He explained to the lordly New York
statesman that every rod he proceeded he was
in imminent danger of accident, which would
cost the lives of the entire party. This story
Mr.. Conkling saw fit not to regard as credible
but for once he had met a man whose viii was
as strong as his own. and the party was obliged
to sit until daylight in the stage coach before
resuming their journey. Mr.. Conkling, how
ever, kept his promise to himself that he would
have bath before going to bed another night
.ss
/ The President viii remain In New York