National Republican., 1883-09-13
VENERABLE VETERANS.
Annual Meeting Of the Survivors Of the War
Of 1879.
Only a Quatette Of the Aged Soldiers
Respond to the Call.
Interesting Proceedings and Important Facts Presented
by the Secretary, Mr.. James Lawrenson.
Sketch of tho Battles I'm Which Thcs,
Veterans Participated.
THE VETERANS REUNION


The wind sighed through tho telegraph
wires and whistled around tho street cor
ners. tho rain poured down in torrents, and
pools of water made the sidewalks almost
impossible yesterday at noon, when re-
porter of The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,
splashed and bufreted his way to the residence
of the venerable John ID. Clark, No. 1903 III
street northwest.
"Do the surviving soldiers of the war Of
1912 meet here ?" asked the reporter, as he
reached the house Of an old gentleman with
q nut cracker like countenance, just leaving
"Yes; this is their annual meeting. Walk
in"
Tho reporter entered, but had to wait a
short time before entering the room where
the association was in session, and the in
terval was supplied with the following inter-
estng facts The original association was or
ganized in 1916 with 13O members, under
the name of "rhe Associated Sur.
viving Soldiers of the War of 1872"
June 1s, 1855, the membership then num-
boring 1873, the association was reorgan-
lied. Col. w. w. Seaton was elected presi-
dent Col. John S. Williams, first vice pres-
dent Gen. st. John and b. l.. Skinner, Sec
ond vice presidents; James Lawrenson,
secretary; James A. Kennedy, treasurer;
Col William z. Young, marshal,
and DIR. William p. Jones, surgeon.
OF those officers Judge Lawrenson Is the only
survivor, and but 8 of the 1873 members of the
association as reorganized are now alive !:
Mai. Edward Sims president; Michael Cation,
vice president; Seraphim Mast, second vice
president; Capt. w. w. Moore, treasurer !;
James Lawrenson, secretary; John ID. Clark,
marshall Rev. French s. Evans, chaplain,
and John S. Anderson, executive committee.
The annual meeting yesterday was held at
the residence of Mr.. Clark by invitation, and
the members embraced the opportunity to
congratulate the venerable marshal on having
reached his ninety y-fourth year. The session
was held in the old fashioned but cozy dining
room. The stars and stripes gracefully fes-
tooned about the gas chandelier dropped its
folds over small, bountifully supplied table
of tempting dishes laid for four. The cloth
was of snowy whiteness and silverware pol
ished to unusual brightness. In one corner
of tho room an antique bookcase stood,
weighted with treasured lore of past ages,
and an ancient clock-a veritabe offspring of
grandfather's clock-lent its monotonous tick
with the measured perfection of a veteran.
On the wall q looking glass was Suspended,
emblematical of days gone by surmounted
with pastoral scene of brilliant hues that
sent the reporters mind back to a timo when
the "pattor of the shingle" was terror to
his soul.
One one side, near the window seated close
together, were four patriarchial looking gentle
men, the oldest 94 years old, the youngest Sc.
Each wore a suit of black broadcloth, with
black ties, and their old fashioned roll collars
and snowy linen was only rivaled in white
ness by their silvery, well arranged hair
Though wrinkled and bent, aud perhaps
a little unsteady in gait, health and content
ment rested upon each countenance, and their
n.
casual observer could scarcely have realized
that those -four old boys" had nearly CEN
tury ago carried arms and fought gallantly in
the defense of their country. The scene was
a study, and the kindly manner in which
Providence and the hand of time had dealt
with them was a tlattering commentary upon
their steady and we'll spent lives That they
should be spared for many more such pleasant
gatherings was the hearty wish of all visit
orS.
Mr.. Clark, who for so many years has been
the honored marshal of the association, being
the Oldest was perhaps the most feeble mem
ber present, his hearing being somewhat i'm
paired and it requiring an Of
fort for him to walk. He was
genial, wide awake host however, and his
guests fully appreciated his hospitality. He
occupied cushion seated rocking chair and
his long silvery locks were caught up in
reaches on the top and at the back of his
head. Beside himself, the other members
present were Messrs. Lawrenson, Moore and
Cation. Messrs Siinsand Mast were absent on
account OF sickness, and Evans and Anderson
on account of business engagements. After
the formal opening, the secretary read the
following letter, which had been prepared
for the special interest of the veterans:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Pension OF
LAwRENsuN, ESQ, sEcRETARY-Sir In reply to
your letter of the. twenty fourth ultimo
atrtn IN info Nntt ion. ala insN
soldiers % of % the war or or isa, the titles Of act. m
passed for the benefit OF soldiers who served in
that war and also requesting that copy the
last report of the commissioner of pensions be
sent to you, herewith transmit copy of nv
last report for the fiscal year ending June &c. 1882
together with such other matter relating to sol
diers of the war of 1912, as can be readily fur
nished from the files and records OF this office,
An acs was passed Feb Il, 1871, granting pen;
sion OF S. per month TO soldiers who had served
sixty days in the war OF 1872 or 10 their widows,
providing their marriage occurred prior to the
Under this net, and up to the first Of July, 1883
8O064 survivors, aud l27O3 widows have applied
for pension
granting the same amount OF pension to soldier:
who had served fourteen or more days, or to Their
widows, without regard to the date Of their mar
Tiage, 3,S67 soldiers and 30352 widows have ap
piled.
Under both of the above named acts 25,6i9 sol
diers ana 33,42l WIDOWS have been pensioned, and
mated, the names of 299 soldiers ana 2 $50 widow.
appear on tne Tolls OF the different pension agen-
cies as in receipt of pension this present date
For full statistics upto June 30 1882 your attention
is invited to pages ~ 2S 80 81 aud 32 ofmy report
Acts were passed Dec. "a, 1911, and Jan. 10, 1872
granting l6O aores of land to soldiers who had en-
listed for five years and who had received an hon
orable discharge from the service. Under these
acts q, ,OeS warrants We're issued Dec. H. 1874 us
special ipdncement for soldiers to Mist or JON
the Regular n my, An act was passed gFantilg 32l
acres OF land 10 soldiers Tor their hers) who had
received an honorable discharge from the service
ana l.lOl OF these warrants appear to have been
issued. Tho three above mentioned acts applied
only 10 soldiers of the regular army.
Under section of an act passed April l6,1Sl6
the minor child or children Of soldiers who hau
died while In service, or who had subsequently
died from wounds received or disease contracted
In the service, were allowed 10 commute their l6(
acres warrants for Ave years pension Of half the
monthly pay OF the soldier, and /, ,lSS certificates
of this Glass were issued.
This office, could not, without the expenditure
oimuch time ana labor, give the number of pen
siOns granted on account of wounds received ol
diseases contracted In the war of 1872, or the mum
Der granted ~ the widows of those who died by
reason of wounds or diseases a. their claims are
recorded and filed among the other Old war cases
and not separately.
acres Of land TO Canadian volunteers who served
six months, or more, in the United States army
and 2s5 warrants of this class were issued
In september, 1850, an act was passed granting
A. acres ofland for thirty days service in the wal
of 1872, 80 acres for six months service, aud 16C
acres for u years service; aud in March. 1855 aI
and granting 100 acres for fourteen or more days
service, and to such Rs had previously received Il
less amount warrant for suficient quantity OF
land TO make the entire grant equal to l60 acres
From an estimate made In the year 1872 22,5Ol
soldiers and IA $50 widows received warrants
under the of 1870 mud 100 800 soldiers aud O7,