National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-07-09
CHARLES A. DE ARNAUD.
His Military Achievements and Poor
Return Received from the Govern

Return Received from the Govern
ment.
CAIRO, Sept. G, ls6l-Ths.. morning at
II o'clocs Gen; Grant, with roI TWO reglf
possession Of Padueah, Ky. The rebel ilags
were flying in different parts OF the city in ex.
peetation Of the arrival Of inc southern ,a. army
session of the telegraph office, the railroad
depot, and the marine hospital. He found
large quantities of complete rations and leather
for the southern army.
The above dispatch appeared In the New
York Herald Of September Z, 1861.
The credit for the above military achieve
ment is entirely due to the gentleman
whose name appears at the head of this
article.
Born a Russian and educated in the
military establishments OF that country,
the subject OF this sketch, Charles A. de
Arnaud, at the age Of 20, with a reputation
already secured In engineering tactics, ar
rived in this country shortly after the out
break Of the rebellion.
He came for glory and 10 carve out for
The glory he achieved, the fortune TO
which he is, by all the rules Of honesty, en-
titled has yet TO be conferred by dilatory
government.
He Joined the Union army as a captain,
but as soon as his regiment was mustered
out Of service he was employed by Gen,
Fremont In confidential capacity. Here
begin the recitals OF q romance stamped
with the irrefutable evidences OF truth.
His entry into the rebel lines as a vender
OF qulnine and his capture as a spy; his
narrow escape from death at the hands Of
an assassin; his escape with fractured
skull and demolished ear; his ride during
all Of the same night on which he received
the wound; his arrival at Cairo; his inter-
view with Gen. Grant, at which he ex-
planned TO the latter the necessity OF quick
action in order TO checkmate the enemy
who proposed to capture Paducah; Grants
rapid movements resulting In the capture
of Paducah "solely on the Information fur
nished by dc Arnaud; the supplies captured
at Paducah amounting to over 5000, 900; the
subsequent preservation OF Paducah In con.
sequence OF information given In time by
de Arnaud to defeat the attempt OF the
enemy at Its recapture; the great impor-
tance of Paducah as base, Its capture
checking the threatened invasion Of Illinois
and states adjoining; these and many other
facts substantiated by letters and other
documents IN the War Department, and
also by living witnesses OF the transactions,
entitle Charles A. de Arnaud TO a patient
hearing, and to the reward which he so
Justly earned.
BY the capture Of Paducah Grant was
launched upon that career which is familiar
to the world. The man who, at the outset,
enabled him to commence that career IL
ignored and slighted. The victim Of ne
elect, ingratitude, and gross injustice
Charles A. dc Arnaud again, after the lapse
of twenty years, during which he has nearly
all the time been incapacitated by the
wounds In his head received while In the
performance Of his extraordinary danger
Gus duties, presents himself at the execu.
tive and the legislative doors Of this coun-
try, demanding that to him and his common
Justice be done.
Under President Taylor, for similar SER
vices during the Mexican war, one Joseph
Magofiin received $4,000. statutes al
Large, vol. 9, p. 312.l
In this case tde Arnaud's) Gen. Fremont
who employed him, recommends that hi
receive the highest reward
Abraham Lincoln Endorsed on the papers
the following: ~ have no time 10 investi
gate this claim, but desire the accounting
officers to investigate it, and II found just
and equitable to pay IT, Notwithstanding
any want of technical legality or form.
Jan. IS, 1869. A. LINCOLN"
De Arnaud himself says "Gen. Fremont
found my services to the country so valua
bic that he promised me II l would con
tinue In the service, which / did do,
government pays for such services. Mr.
Lincoln acknowledged that contract by tn,
above; but only received $4,000. At tn,
time received this / was IN afiluent cir
cumstances, and my expenses which l In
Cured for the benefit Of the services l wa
rendering the United States amounted
to $4,000; hence received from tn
government 81 600 less than my actual ex
penditures. My whole account has no
been prOperly adiudicated. and thew WIFI
paid me the &, 600, and which protested
against, had no right under the order o
President Lincoln to set price on my ser
vices, because the Secretary of War wa
not an accounting officer while the valu
OF my services had already been fixed b.
Gen. Fremont and Endorsed In the stronges
manner by Gems. Grant and Rousseau ant
Admiral Foote."
Anxious to return TO his family in Rus
sia De Arnaud, under protest, took th'
pittance which was offered him and de
parted. During the twenty years of hi
absence he has been incapacitated, as
have said, from following his profession o
civil engineering by reason OF the wount
which he received In the back Of his heat
from the butt Of pistol in the hands OF
desperate. An operation was performe'
on his head In Europe, but was followed b
no lasting benefits, because at this day h
finds 1t impossible to fix his mind on an
subject which may require persistence o
concentrated thought. Partial bllndnes
follows such an effort and warns him t
desist. Mr.. de Arnaud is to-day gentle
man Of education and OF distinguished an
aristocratic appearance, and It Is the hop
Of his many and warm friends that he wi
succeed in securing what In justice he dc
serves. STEPHEN II. TURNBULL.
-, tI,o hall A.on