Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-04

An Interesting story Told by Con. j. H.
Fry.

Fry.
From. the EDening Post.
At last that ug-predictea event has
really happened-a Confederate sol
dier has been placed on the
pension roll by the Federal gov
eminent oddly enough, too, the re-
sponslbiity for this action of the authori-
ties at Washington i'll 1855 can be traced
directly 10 a special order given by Presi-
dent Lincoln little over twenty years
ago. On sunday last Gen. James b. Fry,
who was Provost Marshal OF the United
States during the civil war, published in
the ITIjuBt a paper giving his rcminis-'
cences Of Mr.. Lincoln. The most inter
esting feature OF the article was an ac
count Of acOntest which be witnessed be-
tween Lincoln and Stanton, and the Pres
iden't victory over the Secretary. After
compulsory military service was resOrted
to, States and districts often sought TO
save their own citizens from being
drafted into the army by voting
bOunties TO buy meu wherever they
could be found. The agent appointed by
y county in one OF the Middle States, VINO
was supplied with the necessary bounty
money, learned that some Confederate
prisoners OF war at Chicago were about
10 be released and enlisted in our army
for service against the Indians In the
Northwest The thrifty thought occurred
to the agent that he might pay these pris-
Oners bounty for doing what they were
going to do withOut any pay at all, and In
return have them credited 10 his county
as soldiers furnished by II 10 the Union
army for service against the COntederacy.
The ageOt was an acquaintance OF Lin
coin, and obtained from him an order to
have the men credited as desired. Score
tary Stanton refused 70 allow the credits.
The agent returned to the President who
reiterated the order, but again without
effect. Mr. Lincoln then went in person
10 Stauton's Office. Gen. Fry was called
in by Stanton to state the facts in the
case-that these men already be-
lOnged to the United States beng prs-
Oners of war; that they could not be used
against the COnfederutes that they mad
10 relation whatever TO the county 20
which il was proposed they should be
credited; that all that was necessary to-
ward enlisting them in our army for
Indian service was the governments re-
lease Of them - prisoners of war; that 10
give them bounty and credit them to a
county which owed some Of its own men
FOR service against the COnfederates would
waste money and deprive the army Operat-
ing against "A powerful enemy Of that
number of men, etc. After he concluded,
Stanton remarked that Lincoln must see,
in view Of such facts, that his order could
not De executed. What followed is thus
related by Gen. Fry:
Lincoln sat upon sofa with his legs crossed,
and did not say d word until the Secret8r 81 5
last remark. Then he said in "A somewhat
positive tone: "Mr. Secretary, / reckon
fy0ull have TO execute the order stanton
replied with asperty: Mr. President,
10 inn.
and | cannot execute it, Lincoln liked his
eye upon stanton, and in firm voice. and
with an accent that clearly showed is deter
minatiOn, he said: "Mr. Secretary, 1t Will
have to be done stanton then realized that
he was overmatched. He had made square
Issue with TIE President. and had bcei de
feated notwithstanding the fact that he was
ia the right Upon an intimation from htm
A few minutes after ! reached my Office / re
ceieed instructions from the Secretary e
carry out the Presidents order.
Such is Gen. FTy's story. by n remark
ahie coincidence confirmation of i'll
truth and an illustration OF its singular
sequel come hard upon its publication
Ia an Atlanta contemporary lust received
We find copied from the local paper pub
1ished at JonesbOrO, Clayton county, al
Nsitem" stating that Brooks Thomas o
that county had just received posta
card from W ashingtOn announcing thai
his pension claim had been favorably
passed upon, and that the money would
be forwarded in a few DAYS. "Mr
Thomas" says the JOnesborO paper, ''wae
n brave and good Confederate soldier, and
during tho war was captured and placed
in prison. He saw TO stay in prison
would result in death, so he took the oath
al allegiance aud WIS sent to the North
west plains TO fight the Indians. Soon he
became sick and remained in the hospital
until the end Of the war. MIR. Thomas
VIII draw 500 per year for each year since
the war. Principal and interest amount
TO about $4,000, besides pension Of 500 a
year during his or his wife's lifetime, and
he Is also entitled to land bounty of a
lot Of land"
There would seem to be no question
that Thomas is one of the very party re-
1erred TO by Gen. Fry, as to whom the con,
troversy between Lincoln and stanton
arose, and that he owes his pension 10 the
personal act of Lincoln himself. That
two bits OF war history which fit together
50 exactly should come out simultaneous
~ Is AS extraordinary as IL interesting
Gen. Fry might well follow the matter vi
a step further by letting the country
know what particular" county IN Que Of the
Middle States" Thomas represents on the
pension roll, and how many men there are
who are entitled to what may be called
those special Lincoln pensions. II is
pleasant TO learn that Thomas. who is de-
scribed is "a poor, honest, Woodworking
man." says the first thing he will do witt
his fortune is TO pay his debts, and ther
he will educate his children.
THE ILLINOIS GAMING LAW