The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-08-13
DIR. CRANDALL
Denies that He Refused to Sign a Worthy Soldiers
Affidavit.

To THE EDITOR 1 noticed an article in a
late issue from Pension Agent Hamilton, of
Nlneland, n. j., who shows good deal OF low
cunning to conspire against men of honor who
will not sign machine afiidavitS. Sometime III
1881 or 1co2 this same Pension Agent down in
New Jersey sent me an affidavit, already to GER
tify, that Mai. l.. Clarke, late Major, 18th VT,
was applicant for pension and that he
based his claim upon an injury received in the
Winter of 1862 and 63, while we were in camp
at Fairfax Courthouse Va, by being thrown
from his horse, and in some mysterious manner
was injured TO such extent as to cause great
bodily pain, resulting in double lngulnal
hernia This was surprise to me, as have
a tolerably good memory. l wrote the Agent
that had no remembrance of the incident set
forth. We had some further correspondence
upon the subject, when l gave him to under
stand | could not furnish the evidence wanted.
In order to retaliate, Mr. Hamilton most in
geniOusly takes advantage OF a letter, written
without thought or meaning, that would lead
the readers of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE to
believe that l withheld the affidavit for a
money consideration of $40, that was necessary
to complete the claim. The applicant III
question was Maj. l.. Clarke, late Major,
18th VT, who served q few months with the
regiment while we were in Winter quarters?
In order that no injustice should visit the ap-
plcant wrote ailine to Col. f. V. Randall, late
tt
answer confirmed my remembrance of the case.
The Colonel, who no doubt, has many friends
among the readers of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE,
was gallant a man as ever buckled on sword,
and man who would give his last shirt to a
soldier worthy of consideration. He was the
leader of the charge of Stannards Brigade at
the battle of Gettysburg. Col. Randall, in
reply, said Maj. Clarke was like q cross dog
with u bone-always growing, and that he
thought the case devised for the occasion, as he
never heard that the Major was injured before,
and that he never knew Mai Clarke to do but
one brilliant act while with the regiment, and
that was when he sent in his resignation, so
that he could fill the place with some efficient
officer and with man who had some quaitica-
tions of soldier.
/ also wrote to Gen. Peck, who was Adjutant
of the regiment; he had no remembrance of
any such incident In the history of the l3th
VT Surgeon Nichols was on duty at the Court
house at the time, and the night of Stewards
raid our regiment was stationed at the Court
house and roads about it. Now, doesn't 1t seem
more than likely that the Ma jor of the regl-
ment would have called upon the Surgeon of
the reg ment, when near, in case of an injury,
Il was at the field hospital some mile or more
away,) as the Surgeon was within calling dis
tance: besides, he was man of ripe and ma
tured surgical eXperience-One OF the best sur
geons i'll the State, while L was a mere boy
III tIe iliDc (lliu JUST SIduusteu "hCu apPoih0
ed Assistant Surgeon, 18th Vt,) and 1t was
debatable question in my mind for the first few
months which side / was aiding most, the rebel
or Union cause. Still l always acted upon a
fixed principle, and was rated on par with the
rest 1t was your humble servant who, as a
matter of equity, during the war urged the ex-
change of prisoners by weight. 1t was also
your humble servant who said that the country
wanted change i'll the pension laws; that it
is time to change the whole system and give a
pension to those who have fighting record,
as they were the ones who saved the country.
And we find that the class who were good
| fighters and were always ready for duty were
the ones who fought their way in the world
and are self-sustaining to-day; while. on the
other hand, the class who fell behind on the
march and had darrhea before every action
have fallen behind in the fight for supremacy,
! and have had the diarrhea and measles for the
! last "a years.. b. CRANDALL, Asst Surg,
! 18th VT, Sterling, H.