The Osceola times., 1884-10-25
A HERO or MANY WARS.
Gen. BarDey. the Great Indian Fighter,
in Washington.

still lives at the age OF eighty -four, and
with the exception ofa somewhat i'm
paired vision and slightly defective
memory, enjoys excellent health. He is
now on little pleasure tour from his
home in St Louis, and with his adopted
daughter, Mrs. st. Cvr, is comfortably
quartered at the Ebbitt house. During
his journey he has been the recipient of
friends and admirers.
In New YORK Maj j.-Gen. Hancock and
his son, Russell, called to pay their re-
spects to the old veteran, and Gen. Han
cock laughingly reminded him of an in
cident in which his son and Gen. Harney
figured. A few years ago Gen. Hancock
and his little boy called upon Gen. Har-
ney in a Western town, and while there
an Indian came pay his respects. Gen.
Harney while conversing with ;iim was
toying with piece Of string, and little
RIssell Hancock, having read of his
penchant for hanging redskins, said
pleadingly:
please don't hang him, general; bu,
then if you DO" he added, a smile of ex-
pectancy lighting up his boyish face,
give me his bow and arrows, wont
you?"
A reporter had long and pleasant
chat yesterday with the general, who,
when he rose, lowered considerably
above his visitor, his height being feet
3 inches. and his figure s,ill erect and
soldierly, He injured his leg a few
weeks ago, and 1t is little lame, but
treats the matter lightly. He spoke with
modesty about his exploits, and several
times allowed Mrs. st. Cyr to relate Incl
dents of his long and adventurous career
81 was in command in Miss uri when
war broke out" said the general during
the conversation, ''and had | not been re-
lieved by President Lincoln in May,
1861, ! am sure there would have been
no blood shed in that state; but | never
blamed Mr., Lincoln, for he and ! were
old friends. So much political pressure
was brought to bear upon him by Frank
p Blair and others that suppose he had
to relieve me. And yet" continued the
general, smiling, Nh. Lincoln never saw
me without reminding me that / once
saved his life"
How was that, general?'
"Well," said the general, laughing.
"Mr. Lincoln was captain of a company
of volunteers and | was captain Of a
company of regulars during the Black
Hawk war. | remember well how Capt.
Lincoln used to come to our rendez-
vous, Gen. Taylor's headquarters, and
tell stories that amused us immensely
He used to lie on the grass, and very fre-
quently would say: That reminds me,
and begin funny story.
"One day Lincoln said to me- i say
Harney. let's pick out four or five good
shots from our commands and 20 gun
ming for Indians on our OWL hook 'All
right, Lincoln said /, but do you know
anytl ing about Indian fghting?' well.
not much, hut Pm a pretty good shot
That will do to start on said ] but let
me tell you one thing-never look for a
redskin in front of you; look out for your
flanks.' Well, we started out, and soon
came in sight of redskins. All of a sud-
den. while ! was watching the f1anks,
| saw an Indian drawing bead ON Lin
coin. As quick as could possibly do so,
leveled my rifle and fred didn't
hit h.m-at least he didn't fall-and he
ran away. Ever after that Capt. Lincoln
insisted that had saved his life"
"You are not graduate cf West Point
general?"
"No, was born at Haysborough, near
Nashville, Tenn. Down there the boys
indulge in athletic sports, and, as a rule,
grow up to be pretty strapping fellows.
| When ] was young man ] went to Bat
on Rouge to visit my brother, and met
! Gen Jesup, then colonel ofthe First in
| fantry, and afterwards quarter-master gen.
eral. One day he said to me: Young
man, how would you like to have com
mission in the army% ! said, First rate,
general and thought no more about it
| A short time afterwards on came a COM
mission for Inc as lieutenant in the reg
uar army, and that's how | happened
to be a soldier"
How many wars nave you served in,
generalp'
"Oh, | don't know" laughed the gen.
eral, 81 don't care to talk about my own
services"
"I,et me see," said Mrs. st. Cyr. The
general WAS in the Seminole war in Flor
ida, in the Black Hawk war, in war
with the Sioux, in which he fought
bloody battle at Ash Hollow on the Blue
Water, in the Mexican war and in the
late civil war The general, you know,
was the hero # the Seminole war, and
hung thirteen ofthe hostile chiefs, which
ended it. Billy Bowlegs use to say: If
Harney catch me, me hang; if me catch
him, he die 1t was the general who
captured the hill at Cerro Gordo, but he
never boasts of his own achievements"
Subsequently Gen. Harney spoke
kindly ol the Indians, and told how he
came near hanging an Indian agent for
swindling them.
"Th,y all know me-" said he, adding
with laudable pride, "and if to-day there
was an outbreak among the Sioux | could
go TO them alone and stop it, for they
would listen to me. There's no trouble
getting along with the Indians il they are
treated kindly. It's a shame that they
should be swindled as they frequently
are. | wish had the punishment ofthe
thieves" and tears of Indignation came
into the old heros eyes as he said il.
1t is impossible, within the limits OF
.l n