The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-09-09
STORIES OF THE WAR:
INTERESTING ANECDOTES OF
BOTH THE BLUE AND GREY.


Schuyler Colfax's Anecdote of Secre-
tary otanton.-Stonewa jackson at
Harper's Ferry.
When Harpers Ferry surredered to
"Stonewall'' jackson in September,
1862, Gen. jackson halted his horse
in front of the Ninth Vermont, and
taking off his hat solemnly said :"Boys
don't feel bad; you could not help it;
it was just as God willed it,.
One of Jackson's staff asked Col.
Stannard of the Ninth Vermont if he
had anything to drink. Stannard
courteously handed him his flask, and
the young Confederate Captain pour
ed out horn and arrogantly said:
Colonel, here is to the health of the
Southern Confederacy.
Stannard answered: "To ask and
accept courtesy OF Il prisoner and
then insult him is an act that an hon
orable soldier would scorn.'
jackson turned on his staff officer
and gave him severe scolding, saying
the repetition of such an insult would
cost him his place. Then turning to
| Col. Stannard Gen. jackson apologize
ed for the conduct Of his officer, saying
that it was an exceptional act OF lnso-
lence on the part OF a young and reck-
less man and, bowing gravely, the
famous Confederate Captain rode
away.
Schuyler Colfax used to tell the fol-
lowing anecdote Of Secretary Stanton's
severity:
After the war had become such
dread reality that our land was filled
with weeds of mourning, the tide OF
volunteering had ceased and conscrip-
ton to fill up our regiments at the
front, thinned by disease and death,
was necessity, every Congressman at
Washington had, daily. numerous ap-
plications from the district for mill
tary discharges on account Of the
death of father, wife or child, to go
home to be nursed into health, to at
tend important business, ETC., all Of
which had to be presented to the sec
retary, who often stood at desk, to
give quicker audience to all.
One morning, when a number of us
were presenting these petitions, but
with very few exceptions to be ans
wered No" by the stern secretary, a
sad faced lady in black entered the
room, and we all drew back that she
might present her application to him
at once. Few as were her words, |
can never forget till my dying day
their sorrowful tone.
When the war broke out I had
happy family of a loving husband and
two brave sons. We gave both of our
boys to the country. One of them
was killed in battle, and my husband
is now dead. | ask you to give me
back my son, all | have left now
Il cannot replied the apparently
impassive secretary.
Cannot she exclaimed. Certain
ly you could not have understood me-"
and then she repeated the touching
story of her family.
Il repeat that | cannot, again Mr..
Stanton replied.
''Have you any heart y
No madam, | cannot have one
here" answered the inhexible secreta-
ry. But writing a line with his sip-
nature on Il card-he added, Take
this to the White House, and you Will
find there man who has a heart
And, as she went thither to receive
from Mr.. Lincoln the boon she desir-
ed, and which Mr. Stanton had re
commended to thePresident the secreta-
ry went on rejecting our applications,
explaining as the reason, THE coun-
try is dying for want Of soldiers, and
till the tide Of battle turns and the
nation is safe, the living at home must