, 1885-04-25

=
dlvidual Of some 60 years. He look
ed weather-beaten and rusty. His
face showed the march Of years, was |
scanned and ridged, and the dark |
red cleaned out from a stubble Of
grizzly grey beard. He had just
walked in from Walla Walla on his
way TO Post Coeur d'Alene. The pc
destrlan would pass him by as
Tramp, or one upon whom the mis-
fortunes Of life had laid a heavy i'm
post and left him Hlong the road a
wreck without hope. And yet,
around this mans past years Is en-
twined a history Of martial glory
that few can boast Of. He has seen
years Of grim-visaged war, and while
he may have said farewell the
plumed troop and the big wars that
make ambition vlrtue,n his memory
Is keenly alive to the pomp and pa
geantry, and The wild thrill Of dead
ly conflict on an hundred apldz,
where he has been an active partiri-
pant. He followed the gallant and
lamented May uPon the field Of Blu
ena Vista. He his - en- the h0rdez
Of yellow MexIcans hy before the
doughty Taylor He has fought the
willy savage on many a severely con-
tested held. He has heard their fe-
rOciOus war whOops resounding
throngh the hills Of eastern WASH
lngton. He has seen comrades cru
ely scalped and mutllated and he
has aided In ehastising the pitiless
foe. On many a southern battlefield
he has seen the unequaled valor Of
the north and south tested to It's ut
most limit. He has Joined In the
chorus Of victory, .and has tasted Of
the bitterness OF defeat Often his
he contributed his blond to the san
culinary slaughter. and he bears
scars attesting to his honorable con-
duct In the face Of danger. For for
ty-two years, with the exception Of
Ave days, did he serve faithfully and
bnvely his adopted country, he be-
ing a native Of Germany. This man
Is Major August Thierman, known
all over the northwest He may be
broken down yet his spirit is youth
full and he seems good for many
more years He first enlisted in
1870, in troop Of the lst U, s. dra-
goons, now the 4th cavalry, In which
regiment he served for twenty years.
Again he served in the 9th Infantry,
and was at one time major Of the 18th
infantry. Years ago he was engaged
In the Indian campaigns in eastern
Washington He was with the care
less and unfortunate Steptoe In the
massacre that couples that officers
name with the history Of he terrific
ry. He was with the trDOps that
fought a battle with the Indians on
the present site OF Spokane Falls,
thirty-three years ago, and he tells
us that l47 good Indians were buried
about On the site Of the present mill
building. He was In all the large
battles Of the peninsula during the
rebellion. Heserved under Generals
Kearney, Buchanan. Grant, Sheri-
dan, Cook, Augur, Russell, Dent, In
gals, Wright and Others He served
rs assistant Inspector general on the
regular division, 5th army corps, ar
my OF the Potamac, on the stats OF
Maj. Gen. Fred. Winthrop, General
Stone and General Otis, also on Gen.
eral Mltehel's staff as assistant chief
quartermaster ut Richmond, Va,
also chief mastering and disbursing
officer on General Dlx's stan, during
which time he handled over S7,OOO,-
900, and assistant provost marshal on
General DodRe's staff. He was bre-
vetted captain U. s. A. and first
lieutenant Of the 18th U. S. infantry
for gallant service at the battle Of
Weldon railroad aad was commits
stoned major. Senate bill No. 935
provides for placing him on the re-
tired list Of officers with the rank Of
fIst lieutenant. During his long ar
duous service Major Thierman has
been wounded no less than seven
times. 1t Is the effects Of those In
juries thst gives him the limPlng
step and broken down appearance.
At present he % drawing no assist
ance from the I'd dvernh hent. Itseems
hard that one whe-has served 30 long
and faithfully, who has held high
and responsible positions under the
government, should be thus forgot
ten and unprovided for He has
dearly earned a compensation to
tighten the burden Of his declining
years, that has been made more Sc
we're by the dangers and hardships
endured and the wounds received In
following our cOuntry's hag. He
does not now look as though at one
time he was surrounded by pomp
and power, and ut his beck and call
men would gladly respond to do his
bidding. His has beOn a great life,
a glorious life, and we hope that he
may yet reap his reward and be fur
nished with the means that will
make his last days on earth US eOn-
Portable rs possible.
From the Pend d'Orellle.
Il In 1. l.. -...I..A - 1. I.LL.-