St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-08
THE SOLDIER .sB0YS.s.
A Lively Tilt i'm the House Over a
Pension Bill.

WASHINGTON, May 7.-After the dis
posal of the routine business in the house
to-day, it went into committee of the whole
On the private calender. The bill which
gave rise to the most interesting discussion
was one paying 5000 to T. W. Haldeman.
The report states that during the war Hal
ieman, then boy of IL years of age, de-
sired to join an Ohio regiment, but was re-
fused muster on account OF his age and
size. He. however, purchased a uniform
ind served in the regiment year, acting
Is bugler and performing scout duty. He
S said to have performed gallant service.
Mr.. Bragg of Wisconsin, in sarcastic
speech, opposed the bill. He ridiculed the
dea of boy being too young to
De mustered in, fulfilling scout
iuty and doing gallant service,
The great patriotism which had been dis
played by the boy seemed to have ooZed
lway, and he had become beggar asking
or money from the government. A touch
If sentiment was added to picture of
battle scene. by placing in the foreground
The figure of dead drummer boy with his
lrum beside him. But it was only senti-
nent. In reality the drummer boy at the
beginning of battle could be seen breaking
ear to do hospital service. One of the
most glorious memoirs of the war was of
he noble women who became nurses in
rider to alleviate the sufferings of the SOL
lier, but now these women were found
coming to the war claims committee, beg
sing that their gratuitOus services should be
CARRIED INTO DOLLARS AND CENTS.
That knocked all the sentiment out of the
Ia NJ 4ba
TieS of the war preserved. He did not
want them all brought down to dollars and
entS.
Mr.. Weaver of Iowa admitted that war
pictures were very deceptive, but more
deceptive than the picture of the dead drum
ner boy was that which depicted an officer
With epaulettes, leading their charge sword
hand. calling out Come on men," If
here was humbug in American military
history it was that portion which repre-
ented the commissioned officer leading the
barge on the enemy's works. AS a rule
hey are where their orders and the rules of
var required them to be-in safe place in
he rear, while the private soldier did the
lghting, shooting and dying.
Mr.. Johnston of Indiana maintained that
lad, though he might be too young to be
mustered in, could do good service in a
eglment, and instanced the case of two
oyS in his regiment who had been with at
be battle of Richmond, KY, and who had
erformed their duty CALAMITY They did
much for their country as did the man
rho led the Iron Brigade, and who now at
acked boy who had barred his breast to
ave his country. The gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Bragg had attacked the
urses in the army. Ii poor woman had
iven her
SERVICE TO HER COUNTRY,
nd now, with health shattered and means
one, asked the country to do something
Or her, was it not as honorable for the gov
rnment to help her as to raise the pension
a generals widow from $500 to $500?
And Mr.. Bragg inquired where this brave
oy had barred his breast. He had blown
Is Dugle somewhere as scout. Had the
toutS that served in the command of the
entleman from Indiana heralded their
Oming with bugles? Did its scouts 90 out
nth brass band? If that had been the
ractlce OF the command it should have had
Dme officers of the regular army to teach
its duties. There was no occasion for all
ais talk about officers. The gentleman
rom Iowa (Mr. Weaver) wanted to know
rho had ever seen an officer lead charge.
lie (Mr. Bragg had seen the gentlemen
rho followed the stars and bars, who bore
DmmiSsions as officers, coming down in
dvance of their lines leading their men,
lumb up against the musketry, and carry
lg works at the point of the bayonet. He
ad seen officers who followed the stars
nd stripes who did not say go in, boys.
am little lame, but you probably will be