The National tribune., 1883-11-01

TO support her family of small children. She has
lived among from childhood and is most
worthy woman. A large majority of our teachers
women. If it Is proper for woman to teach, 1t
is proper for woman 10 superintend teaching.
Mrs. Hemenway needs and deserves the office. She
be elected without doubt, If attention is only
called to the matter We believe every soldier in
and do all in his power her election Boys,
let stand by the widow and children OF our dead
connrade!-E B. Bascom, ii. p. Lane, w b. Cowan,
M. Godfrey, Ed. Coy. and Judson Purny.
The National Relief Corps have control of
one loom and have just ordered 2,o00 yards
more ribbon for badges.
DEATH OF GENERAL sTEEDMAN-A sTAUNcH
FRIEND OF THE RELIEF CORPS.
As write all that is mortal of Major General
James B. Steedman, familiarly known as : Old
Chickamauga," are lying in state in the Council
Chamber at Toledo, Ohio, where they have
been viewed by thousands who admired the
gallant gentleman. tho true patriot and the
great-hearted soldier-cibizen Among those
who sincerely mourn the loss of a staunch
friend and co-worker are the officers of For
syth Post Relief Corps, who received from
him from the very inception of their work that
sympathy and encouragement which is pecu-
Iarly grateful, as coming from one who has
held important commands upon the battlefields
of his country.
The writer of this has long since found that
the brayest heart is the tenderest, and of this
General Steedman was most iliustrious ex-
ample. Those who knew him well will never
forget how his eyes would grow strangely
moist and his voice become tremulous and
husky when brought face to face with the dis
tressed and needy, particularly when those
who were in need were the widows and orphans
of his soldier comrades. So it was that those
who took up the burdens of Forsyth Post
charity found ready helper In this brave,
strong, chivalrc leader, who lost no opportu-
nd oil
testimony to their efficiency
General Steedman, while serving as Depart
ment Commander of Ohio for the year
1873, was the first in the United States
to recommend, in general order, the
organization of Woman's Auxiliaries. He
was one of the most Jealous in helping
along the work for FORSYTH Post, of which he
was an nlustrious member, and eyinced his
| active interest in the same by bringing his
young wife into the Order. it was one day
| upon the street, soon after his marriage, some
| i've Or six years ago, that he met the writer,
who, as president OF the Auxiliary, was busy
arranging for a reception TO be given to the
Post, when he stopped and offered contribu-
tion in behalf of his wife and proposed her
name for membership.
She is a little young thing" he said, with
tears In his voice; but she is an old soldiers
wife, and she wants to do something for YOU"
| And together they did avery great deal, particu
| iarly In helping the poor and needy, and
| although their means were small, and Of late
years there has been much sickness IN the
house, and the general badly crippled with
rheumatism, yet many basket and bundle
found its way from the little home to those
| whose needs were great, who had no friends to
| help or homes to shelter.
For some years General Steedman had served
/ as chief of police, and a little incident which
occurred while acting in this capacity will
| show the quality of the man. 1t was a
| bot mid summer day, and, leaning heay-
/ lily upon his cane, one leg being very
! much stifened up with rheumatism, the
| square-set, imposing figure of the chief dark
ened the door of our little sanctum. He was
/ always pleasant man TO meet with a head
| like the head of Hercules and his Celtic warmth
/ Of manner aad address. But to-day he was
! troubled and his words were few.
There is German emigrant woman at the
station" he said, who has just given birth to
| a child. don't know what to do with her,
| he added, 1T is sad case. Won't some of
you ladies see what can be done for her?"
Expressing much sympathy and concern for
| the poor creature, alone aud by some Inischance
! separated from her husband and children, he
slowly and painfully moved away. 1t did not
seem long until several ladies were upon the
scene, carrying clothing and arranging for the
care of the woman but the general had antici-
they found, to their surprise. that the babe had
i been neatly dressed, and was supplied besides
| with quite little wardrobe. Upon inquiry, they
| found that General St.cdman had sent to his
! wife for the clothing being part of that OF
/ his own youngest child.
This act OF common charity is but a sample
! of his cooperation with the ladies in their
| Relief Corps work. and was always generous
| seif-sacrificng and Jealous in every benevolent
/ project They are Gods wGmen,n he would
| say of them, and they are doing Gods work. y
The writer had the privilege of conversing
! with General Steedman but once since return
ing from Denver. 1t was at meeting of the
trustees of the Toledo Soldiers Memorial As
sociation. He came forward with his hearty
clasp of the hand and said, =. / have been
| three times to see you and congratulate you
| on the splendid work at Denver, but never
| found you in. The faith of every old soldier
i is pledged TO that work, and it must succeed, y
he said.
You are making strong fight, General
| and we are all praying for your recovery
were the last words it was our privilege tC
speak, at the close of the eighth day of his last
illness, during which he had not been able tc
lie down or take any neurishmeDt save little
milk. His reply was yes. that he was making
| a strong fight, but was growing worse,-and Sc
| the brave spirit seon passed away.
General Steedman, like Abou Ben Adam
may not nave DeeIl enfOlieu among the Saints
but his name was enrolled among those who
love their fellow men, and in all things hs
was true to the glorious principles ofhis Order
Fraternity, Charity, Loyalty" He was among
the first to divorce the q. A. r. from partisan
politics ia Ohio and in the United States, anG
set the faces of his COM rades strictly to the full
fillnent of their VOWS in working for and witt
each other and for the widows and orphans o
comrades mustered out. The following stanza
written when he assumed command of the De
partment of Ohio. illustrates the confidence anG
esteem ne inspired:
Give US your hand gallant steedman,
Here is our own true and hearty.
Heroes not as plenty as
Or patriots plenty as party
Give your hand, old master of men,
Strong are orr steps and as steady
HaFk, It's his voice as he rallies the lines:
March your commander is ready! -
General Steedman, when colonel of the Four
teenth o. Y. l., was one Of the first to Offset th
opposition Of the surgeons and admit wemer
to the camp hospitals of Southern Kentuck,
and Tennessee, and to afford them facilities TO
| transportation with the troops. 1t was th
writer's privilege to know one Of these nurse
well, Mrs. Mary E. Burke, the wife of q cap
tain, who followed her husband TO the field
aud who did good work in caring for the sici
and wounded, beginning with the battles 0
{ Perryyille, Iuka, and Cornth. When upol
her death bed, a few years since, all the excit
f ing "reminiscences of those awful days seemed
to take on the eoloring of present scenes, ant
in many a story told General Stsedman wa
the humane friend to his men, as he alway
l...s,, L. I1xaI Iar