The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-27
D1sGRAcED FOR cowARD1cE.


the Former was Reinstated.
Saratoga Letter in Chicago News
General Roger A Pryor, OF New York, is
one OF the most familiar figures at the
states" He had most remarkable escape
from disgrace during the war He was the
colonel OF a New York regiment, ana for
some remiSsness of duty he was cashiercd by
Stanton, He was dismissed from the army
In disgrace. and that in war times was equiv
alent to social death. He took the only
possible way to retrieve his position. He
enlisted at once as a private soldier. His
! bravery and faithful attention to duty Sc
cured his promotion step by step back to Il
colonelcy, and when the war was closed he
went home with the brevet of a brigadier-
general.
But how different was the fate of Durbin
ward, said an old officer, as he looked at
Pryor moving about, honored and respected
by every one. "Durbin Ward was a colonel
OF fine New York regiment. | do not
recollect Its number He was in the army
of the Potomac. He was the most pheno-
menally brave man in the army. He always
led his regiment into every battle. ct the
Wilderness at Malvern Hill, all the great
battles about Richmond he was ever at the
front. He was wounded any number Of
times There was never place where he
took the least pains to avoid danger when he
might have as we'll as not. His name was
known throughout the army for reckless
/
army for cowardice, and is now living in
obscurity, a di sgraced man, who has never
taken the opportunity to redeem his shame
How is that?'
" will tell you how 1t occurred. One day
Colonel Ward was marching at the head of
his regiment through neck of woods to join
forces held in reserve to back mp some attack
upon Lee. A rebel regiment lay I'm ambush.
The day was clear, bright and still Without
word or sound of warning the rebel ann
bush poured terrible volley into Ward S
men. Instantly Colonel Wards horse
wheeled and bolted to the rear. Colonel
Ward, instead OF trying to hold the horse,
| spurred it on and fled as if in the maddest
terror. He was found, sonre hodfs after tif-
teen miles back in the country, IN the most
profound detection, seated by the side of the
road holding on TO his horse. He made no
defense when placed under arrest Stanton
| ignored his past record, and issued an order
cashiering him. His men fairly sobbed
| when they saw their old colonel broken for
the great military crime of cowardice. Ward
went home and never took one step to regain
his lost foothold"
Colonel Poe, of Sherrnan's staff, said he re-
membered the case of Durbin Ward very
| well. He did not believe he was a coward
No one in the army believed he was. His
courage had been tried too often. Upon that
day when he lost himself the nervous shock
of the unexpected attack demorarzed him.
He was practically insane. Major Fassett
else of the army, said no one in the army
believed Ward to be a coward. He was an
extremely nervous man, and fell before a
misfortune that might have happened TO any
man with similar temperament There is
some talk among the army people of having
Wards memory cleared but this is impossi-
Bile The victim has never complained, but
when approached on the subject has said that
his sentence was most lust.