Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-07
A HERO OF MANY WARS.
GEN. Harvey, the Great Indian Fighter,
in Washington.

III w
Every schoolboy has heard Of Gen.
w, S. Harvey, the great Indian fighter,
saws the Washington Post Of Sept. 1, and
will be glad to know that the old hero
still lives at the age of "a, and with the
exception of a somewhat impaired vision
and a slightly defective memory, enjoys
excellent health. He is now on little
pleasure tour from his home in st. Louis,
snd with his adopted daughter, Mrs. ST.
Cyr, is comfortably quartered at the Eb-
bitt House. During his journey he has
been the recipient of many flattering at
tentions from hosts of friends and admir-
ers.
In New York Maj.-Gen. Hancock and his
son, Russell, called to pay their respects
to the old veteran, and Gen. Hancock
laughingly reminded him of an incident in
which his son and Gen. Harvey figured.
A few years ago Gen. Hancock and his
little boy called upon Gen. Harvey in
Western town, and while there an Indian
came to pay his respects. Gen. Harvey
while cOnVersing with him was toying
with piece of string, and little Russell
Hancock, having read of his penchant for
hanging redskins, SAID pleadingly:
"Please don't hang him, General; but
then if you do,'' he added, a smile of eX-
pectancy lighting up his boyish face, give
me his bow and arrows, Won't your"
A reporter had long and pleasant chat
Yesterday with the General, who, when he
rose, lowered considerably above his visi-
tor. his height being feet 3 inches, and
his figure still erect and soldierly. He in
iured his leg a few weeks ago, and is lit
| tie lame, but treats the matter lightly. He
spoke with modesty about his exploits,
| and several times allowed Mrs. st. Cyr to
relate incidents of his long and adVentur-
! Gus career.
81 was in command in Missouri when
the war broke out" said the General DUR
ing the conversation, 'Eand had not been
relieved by President Lincoln, in May,
1861. am sure there would have been no
bloodshed in that State; but l never
blamed Mr.. Lincoln, for he and l were
old friends. So much political pressure
was brought TO bear upon him by Frank
p. Blair and others that l suppose he had
to relieve me. And yet" continued the
| General, smiling, ''Mr. Lincoln never saw
me without reminding me that l once
saved his life."
SHOW was that, GeneraI?'
'sWeH," said the General, laughing,
"Mr. Lincoln was Captain of a company
| of volunteers and [ was Captain of a COM
/ pany of regulars during the Black Hawk
/ war. | remember we'll how Capt. Lin
| coin used to come to our rendezvous,
| Gen. Taylor's headquarters, and tell
stories that amused us immensely. He
used to lie on the grass, and very fire.
quently would say, That reminds me-
| and begin a funny story"
cone day Lincoln said TO me: Il say,
| Harvey, let's pick out four or five good
shots from our commands and go cunning
! for Indians on our own hook All right,
Lincoln,' said I; 'but do you know any
thing about Indian fighting? well not
much, but Pm pretty good shot That
will do to start on said |, but let me tell
you one thing-never look for redskin
| in front of you; look out for your f1anks.'
Well, we started out, and soon came in
| siggt of redskins. All of a sudden, while
was watching the TANKS, / saw an In
dian drawing a bead on Lincoln. AS
quick as l could possibly do so, / leveled
my rifle and fired. l didn't hit him-at
least he didn't fall-and he ran away.
Eyer after that Capt. Lincoln insisted
that l had saved his Iife."
''You are not a graduate of West Point,
General?'
0No. was born at Haysborough near
Nashville, Tenn. Down there the boys in
dulge in athletic sports, and, as rule,
grow up to be pretty strapping fellows.
When l was young man l went to Ba-
ton Rouge 10 WISH my DTOGLEEs anu mel
Gen. Jesup, then Colonel of the First In
fantry, and afterwards Quartermaster
General. One day he said to me: young
man, how would you like to have a COM
mission in the armyY | said, 'Firstrate,
Generals and thought no more about it.
A short time afterwards on came a COM
mission for me as Lieutenant in the reg
ular army, and that's how l happened to
be a soldier"
GLOW many wars have you served in,
GeneralW
ooh, | don't know laughed the Gen.
eral, II don't care to talk about my own
services"
E'Let me see, said Mrs. st. Cyr. ''The
General was IN the Seminole war in
Florida, in the Black Hawk war, in a
war with the Sioux, in which he fought a
Water, IN the Mexican war, and in the
late civil war. The General, you know,
was the hero of the Seminole war, and
hung thirteen of the hostile chiefs, which
ended it. Billy Bowlegs used to say: If
Harvey 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. Harvey spoke kindly
of the Indians. and and told how he came
near hanging an Indian agent for swind-
ling them.
''They all know me-" said he, adding
with laudable pride, sand if to-day there
was an outbreak among the Sioux / could
90 to them alone and stop it, for they
would listen to me. There's no trouble
getting along with the Indians if they are
treated kindly. It's shame that they
should be swindled as they frequently are.
| wish l had the punishment of the
thieves" and tears of indignation came
into the old herO's eyes as he said it.
1t is impossible, withip the limits of this
article, to give more than mere outline
of Gen. Harney's distinguished career.
He was commissioned a Second Lieuten-
ant by President Monroe in 1918, and
subsequently captured two of Lafitte's
piratical vessels. He served on the staff
of Gen. jackson, who, when President in
1888, made him paymaster of the army, In
August, 1886, he was made Lieutenant
Colonel of the Second Dragons. He fought
CALAMITY through the Mexican war, but
early incurred the enmity of Gen. Scott,
who endeavored to deprive him Of his
command, but was frustrated by William
l.. Marcy, Secretary of State. He DISC
beyed an order once and achieved victO-
ry, in view of which his impetuosity was
overlooked.
Prior to and longafter the Mexican war
he was actively engaged fighting hostile
Indians, in which he won extraordinary
distinction. He had command of the ex-
petition against Brigham Young in 1868,
but learning that Harvey intended to
hang Young and his twelve apostles, he
was relieved by the Secretary of War, and
Gen. Johnston succeeded him. He was
captured by the Confederates at Harper's
Ferry, April %, 1861, and taken to Rich
mond, where he was implored by old
friends 20 espouse the "Lost Cause"
which he stoutly refused to do. His skill
and gallantry secured him steady promo
ton from the time he entered the army,
and he was retired in May, 1861, with the
full rank of Major General.
An AnecdOte of Daniel Webster.