The National tribune., 1885-06-25
A SOLDIERS FRIEND.
Man Who Has Worked for % Years for the
BOys i'm Blue.

BOys in Blue.
To THE EDITOR:
Comrades will say, when this they read,
soldiers friend is a friend indeed
There is an old man that would give his
last dollar to an old soldier, if it were needed
he has done more, and is willing to do more,
for the "boys" than any man / ever
knew. have known him all nay life, and
know him to be earnest in the matter.
Why, when the war broke out he was running
hotel at Osgood, Ind. He had little OF this
worlds goods, but what he had was his, for it
had been paid for by him in hard dayswork.
Well, our regiment was called out-the 18th
Ind.-ior three months service, but Indianas
quota was filled, and had many OF us left over,
and our patriotic Governor was anxiously wait
ing acceptance for the three years service by
the authorities at Washington. 1t was deemed
best that we be not disbanded. but rs no ar
rangements had been made for our sustenance
i'm camp, our officers were in a quandary. Then
| this old man. whose only two sons had already
enlisted, came to our relief, and for five weeks
kept I05 men at his own expense, and by doing
so did grand and noble thing for " we boys "
and the country, but he lost his last dollar by
it. With but some household furniture left he
moved to Holton, and put in some hard days
work to make living for his family. While
here it was announced by hand-bills that on
| certain Sunday Rev. So-and so. an Army Chap
lain. would address the people Of Holton
and vicinity in the interest of the Sanitary
| Commission. The old man was out Of funds,
| but going to a sawmill man he obtained work
during the week at 81 per day, and on the COM
| ing Sunday he was one of ~ who put In 50
| each TO aid the Commission. He bliStered his
| hanis to do this, while it is reported that the
| Chaplain put the funds in fine house he built
| soon afterwards. Well, our old friend got into
| the stock business and made money. and while
| engaged in shipping stock in 1863 and 1864 he
| was q great help to the boys, who, without
| funds. were coming home on veteran furlough-
| he made arrangements with landlords To keep
the boys at one half rate, which he paid himself.
| He did the same with conductors; in short he
| never failed to get the boys through some way.
| He often visited the boys in camp at Indian
| apolis, and always came away broke. No SOL
| dier ever asked him tor a loan and WAS refused.
| He became SO we'll known that he went through
| the army as far as Memphis and never Was
| called upon for pass. He was known in
| every regiment. He lost both his sous, but he
| has never for moment lost his interest in the
| soldier the soldiers widow or orphan and to-
| day he is the hardest worked man in Washing
| ton, devotng his every moment to looking
| after pension claims of those who have asked
| his assistance
| For all this work he has never asked one cent.
| hut has refused pay in every case, and to-day
| he is engaged in the same work. Not only does
| he look after all who write to him, but also to
| those vino write to Hon. ID. w. Voorhees,, and
| using the authority of the latters name he has
| accom- pished aud is accomplishing more than
any man in the United States. Ho never tires,
for his heart is in his work. The above is as it
| was told to me by one of lndiana's most prom
inent soldiers a former officer of the 18th Ind;
aud from an experience of six weeks i'll and
around Senator VOorheess committee room.
know of the great work that is being done for
the old soldiers of this country by the stead
fast friend of whom we have been talking
Hon C. e. Faulkner, of Washington, d. c.
18th IND.