The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-02-23
CHAPTER xviii
INTERVIEW WITH SECRETARY OF WAR
STANTON AND PRESIDENT LINCOLN

INTERVIEW WITH SECRETARY OF WAR
STANTON AND PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
When we reached Washington a day
was fixed for an interview with Secretary
Stanton. Ohio State Agent Wetmore and
Maj. Gen. Hitchcock accompanied us. Gems.
Sigel and Stahl, with many other distin-
guiShed persons, were in the ante-room
waiting, but as we were there by appoint
ment, they continued to wait, while we
were at once admitted. Stanton had long
resided in my county town Of Steuben-
vile, and had seen him, and knew him
well by reputation, though could then
claim no personal acquaintance. We
were seated, after he had shaken each of
rs warmly by the hand and uttered
words OF greeting and compliment. We
talked for a considerable time, not so
much on the subject of our expedition
for l took it for granted that, lawyer like,
he had looked over the evidence In the
case and made up his mind about it-aS
upon general topics, such as our impress
Sions of the south and the Union men in
it, and of our hope and feeling about the
war. I was especially struck by his ask
ing us how we had liked Gen. Mitchell as
a commander; and when we spoke of him
with unstinted enthusiasm he seemed
greatly pleased, and said: That's the
way all his men talk about him." He
told us that he had been aware of our ex-
petition at the time, but had n accurate
information of the fate of the party. His
impression as that all had persisted at
first. On the escape OF the eight in Octo-
Der he had made official inquiries of the
Confederate government about us, but
had been answered that they had no in
formation of the hanging of any of the
party.
He had then threatened retaliation in
case any more were put to death, and had
endeavo-ed to effect our exchange; he was
very glad indeed that these efforts had
succeeded and surprised us by saying,
''You will find yourselves great heroes
when you get homer then added many
kind words about the high appreciation
of our services by the government, which,
coming from the secretary Of war of a
great nation to private soldiers, was most
1attering. Stanton seemed especially
pleased with PARROT. He was the young
est of our number and Of very quiet and
simple manners. Stanton gave him the
offer of a complete education If he would
accept i'll understood him to mean at
West Point. Parrot answered that while
the war TASTED he did not wish to go to
school, but would rather go back and fight
the rebels who had used him SO badly.
At this Stanton smiled, as if he greatly
approved his spirit, and said to him, If
you want a friend at any time be sure to
apply to me.'' Then going into another
room he brought out a medal and handed
| it to Parrott, saying, Congress has by
| recent law ordered medals to be prepared
on this model, and your party shall have
| the first; they will be the first that have
| been given to private soldiers in this war"
Later all the survivors of the party re-
ceived similar medals. Then he gave US
a present of 800 each from the secret SER
vice fund, and ordered all the money and
1 the value Of arms and property taken
/ from ms nv ha rabo1S tn he Tafnnda9
i Finally he asked us about our wishes and
/ intentions for the future. Finding that
/ we were all resolved to return to active
service he offered US commissions as first
| ieutenants in the regular army. We
Il expressed preference for the volunteer
1 service, saying that we were soldiers only
/ for the war, and would wish TO resume
| our usual pursuits when peace returned.
/ He promised to request Governor Todd,
/ of Ohio, to give us equivalent commits
sions in our OWL regiments Then with
q hearty goodby we left him
We had been invited to call upon the
president the same day, and Gen. Hitch
cock accompanied us on this pleasant
| mission. Ny companions had done q lit
| tie testing about being able now to show
| me how much was mistaken in try
ing to impose upon them the tail, plain
stranger we had met at the Smithsonian
institution without any guard, such as
the southern papers said always attended
him, for the great and good Abraham
Lincoln, which enjoyed as much as they
did. A still greater crowd than at the
war offioS was awaiting admission; but as
we came by appointment we had the
preference and were conducted i'm
mediately to the private office of the presi-
dent. We did feel some little embarrass-
| ment, but this scarcely accompanied VI
| over the threshold.
The office was very plainly Furnished.
There was long table and some chairs,