The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-02-14
RANDOM NOTES.

RANDOM NOTES.
As looked down upon the thoughtful faces OF the
listening members in the House on "Wednesday
last while the reading OF Banchard's resolutions OF
respect to the memory OF Hancock were being read,
/ noticed the careworn couutenance OF Gen. Harry
Bingham. his eyeswere strained with unsnedteare,
and his face flushed with restrained emotion. MY
memory went back to that dreadful July day at Get
tysburg, where deed OF heroism was enacted
erander than any sung sung In song OF told In tale
Of the days OF knightly chivalry. one hundred and
twenty rebel guns we're concentrating their re upon
Hancock's lines "Strcams Of screaming projectiles
poured through the hot air, falling and bursting
everywhere Men and horses were torn limb from
limb; caissons exploded one after another In rapid
succession, blowing the gunners to pieces. No spot
within our lines was free from this frightfuron rain
The infantry Rugged close the earth and sought every
slight shelter that our earthworks Afforded" some
thing must be done 10 steady the line TO receive the
anticipated shock Of the enemys infantry about to
follow. Then 1t was that Hancock shone forth as a
very god of battle. Mounted on horseback In full uni
form, accompanied by Maj. Mitchell, Capt. Harry
Bingham, Capt. Ike Parker and Capt. Bronson, WIN
his corps nag proudly lylng, he slowly rode alongthe
front of his line from extreme right to exremele LETT
along the whole OF that terrible crest behind which
crouched an army In shelter.
Poor Ike Parkerl lie died not long ago
Brought up in aiiluence, and long living with plenty
he finally applied for and received pension not
rnant years since-a pension that he had declined to
apply for until circumstances compelled him.
Brave among the bravest was he. Maj. Mitchell
survived until some three years since, and was at
the side Of his old commander aid adjutant for
nearly the whole period OF military life. He, too
left nothing but an honorable name, and his family
Ia.,lx, avtA ann
porting her children through her labors as Govern
ment clerk I have not heard OF Bronson and un-
derstand that OF the gallant stad who rode with the
"superb" Hancock so boldly and so well through
that storm OF shot and shell, General then Captain,
Harry Bingham Is the sole survivor. In politics
they far apart the frozen poles. Yet their
warm hearts beat together In unison, and have
heard the Chief speak with pleasure, from time to
time, Of Harry Binghams well-merited advancement
10 positions Of honor and trust, ami know that the
gallant aid never ceased TO love his honored COM
mander.
OF those now living who served on Hancock stan
at various time can now recall Gen. Sprgg Carroll,
Who served for while as his inspector general;
| Gen. Duncan s. Walker, who was adjutant general
Of the Middle Military Division and also Of the De.
partment OF West Virginia when Hancock held both
commands, and Col John Hancock, the Generals
brother, all residing In this city, Then there is Gen
| Frank Walker, the ex-Superlntendent OF the Cen
| sus, who was assistant adjutant general OF the
Second Corps, and is now Its oicial historian, and
sure to produce valuable work; Gen. Adam King
| lately naval ofiicer at Baltimore, and Maj Farles
Anderson, for long time the Washington CORE
spondent Of the New York Herald They all loved
their Chief with love that never lessened, as tint
| and circumstance separated them widely apart
| And with that love was mingled respect and admi
ration.
| Ike Parker was the wag Of the staff. jolly an,
jovial, he was always cracking his Joke, and ha
been known to get of wise saw even when unde
the hottest Of fires. When Dckenss mutual Friend
was published, or at least when Ike first read 1t, h
at once christened the General "Boffin," and vowe
that there was man living so good as the ''Golde
dust man." except the General. Mitchell, on tn
other hand, was the silent member OF the staG II
talked little, but had grim sense of humor wltha
that appreciated a kindly humor. Mitchell an
Parker were nseparable companions, the weake
nature Of Parker leaning for support upon tn
sturdler character OF Mitchell.
Alas for those good old days! Alas for those VIII
survive their honored Chief I would not give
exchange one hair of his honored head for all tn
politicians who flattered or deceived him.
story was told me recently about Gen. Bragg,
Wisconsin, the commander of the famous '1ro
Brigade of the Army Of the Potomac, which is tru
10 tne extent AZ leaSt OF ulS We-eaIueu
as an able and gallant oicer. Gen. Bragg, though
command OF this famous brigade, was only colon
at the time of Grants coming East to command tn
Army Of the Potomac. Grant soon learned Of tf
, high reputation OF Bragg's command, and also
Bra rgs individual efficiency, gallantry and soldier
, qualities. He sent for Bragg one day, and aske
him how 1t was that he had not been made a brig,
der, and received the reply that it was probably b.
cause he was such an outspoken Democrat. tn
of lnpth Rr
to one of his stan afterwards: at is Just such DEM
Gratis as Bragg that are needed to put down this r.
belllon, and Intend to see that his well merite
promotion is secured at once
In the course of conversation with member fro
the "Sucker' State the name of COmmissiont
, Sparks was mentioned, and the public belief that
, owed his appointment partly to the influence of NJ
Morrison. "This Is not so," said the membe
"Gen. Sparks was not pressed for the Commissions
, ship by Mr.. Morrison. He has never sat hors
with him. Sparks has always been known in Col
gress as Randall man. Morrison has alwal
, abused him. Gen. Henry Banning, who was ont
friendly with Morrison, told me that on one occ
sion when Morrison was quite sick he called to s,
him and asked II there was anything he could do Il
i him. Banning said Morrison, there is only or
thing l want you to do. II should die in II
harness, beg Of You to see that that fool Sparl
doesn't preach an obituary over me In the House.
1 The New York delegation, though 1t never sun
: cienty honored Its abest member, Hon. s. s. Co
is missing sadly both his experience and statesman
, ship. MIR. Belmont, who has been thrust into fam
as its central figure, Ia not regarded by his &C
leagues. just what reasons Mr.. Cox had for ma
ing hiatus in his Congressional career at this tin
he has never told his friends. But many belie'
. that It was because there was disposition on Il
part Of Southern members to ignore his faithful re
ord on behalf OF the South when 1t needed fren
because he was indisposed to go the length OF 81
rendering his "war convlctlons after The strife
I over. l had a charming letter from Mr.. Cox Ia
g week, dated on the sunny shores Of the Bosphoru
8 and sparkling with wit and humor. He Is W,
9 pleased with his post, the newspapers to the co
trary Notwithstanding, and finds plenty to do to ke
of the rust. 1t Is not true, as one journal alege
that he has to take to playing the flute to solace
exile; nor that Abdul Hlmld ii Is taking music le
sons and that his dissonances on the piano dsira
, our Minister'S sense OF harmony. Equally untr
are the journalistic statements that he Is engaged
y making book and visiting around the Ottoman FL
pre to collect facts or dctlons. Another newspap
i says untruy that he Ia disgrunled with the mlss
and the Capitol; another that his wife does not ia
to seclety IN Coustantinople; another that he war
to come home and run for Congress, and still anOt
that he is not at COnstantInople at ALL All OF Will
!. statements are as airy and fantastic as Bottom
a work to do In acqualntlng himself thoroughly WI
n our commercial interests In the East and is dol
,, his best to make himself useful.
overheard a conversation last week about q
. other distinguished member Of the New York de
CATION, (Mr. Hewitt,) In which colleague OF
spoke Of him In very unnattering terms. "A
Hewitt" said his colleague, "is greatly lacking
candor, and, not to put 1t too strongly, does not
y ways stick to the facts or cleave to promise
have known him TO say one thing and do anoth
andhave heard him say things that he ought TO ha
IT known were untrue. Take, for instance, the way
which he treated Governor Curtin. He came
IS the Governor one day and said: Governor, y
d ought to go on the Naval Affairs Committee In
n place, where your services would be useful to
10 country The Governor thanked him, and said
d had no desire to do SO. He had resigned the cha
IT manship OF an important committee. Mr.. Hew
1, urged upon him, and the Governor taking the OF
"a In the spirit In which he presumed 1t was ma
: said he would accept Then Mr.. Hewitt set abe
= crawnshlng, and came to the Governor several da
y afterward and said he had consulted the Speak
and that he had also asked the members OF the Ma
70 Committee about It, and that the committee We
unanimous In their desire that he MT Hewltt shOl
remain on the committee. But, said Hewitt, sc
I, ernor will go and consult Secretary Whitney, a
II he advises me will resign The old War &C
a erlor WAS very WrOthy over this dupllcity, and