The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-06-14
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Tie Weeks DOings at the Ma
tiOnal Capital



man VINO answered To " boots aud saddles" aud
q rev rein and saber during those dreadful
DAYS of the rebellion. The sadness comes from
Tie knowledge that the man who, first of all
Generals in the Eastern army, maze the cav
airy power, aud accomplished the work that
mounted forces are sHppos 10 be used for.
Gen Pleasonron-"C Cavalry Pleasonton us
O. often c0nfouRded with his brother Gen. Au-
gastus II. PleasontOn, that / will explain here
that the subject OF my sketch has no middle
name; Just Alfred, king OF cavairymen.
Alfred Pieasautou was born here IN Wash
ington nearly 65 years ago, while his father
was one of the Treasury Auditors, and IN
IS50 went TO West Point under an appoint
msnt at-Rrge from President Van Buren,.
He duly graduated IN 1874 into the ID ORA
goons now the ID Cav. and from that time
until his resignation from the army in 1866 his
record was au important part OF the history of
the mounted service. Through the Mexican
war, on the frontier of Texas. 10 California
and Oregon, the last Florida Indian war and
es Gen. Harney's Chief of stat, when the Sioux
were taught their first sharp lesson of the white
mans superiority, serving through each grade
and IN ali positions with Judgment, dash and
great credit 70 himself, the outbreak of the re-
belion found hiiB thoroughly equipped by
practical knowledge Of warfare, IN addition to
the theoretical knowledge taught him at The
Point" 10 organize and lead large bodies of
men in war.
For years he had served on the veteran Har-
news personal stad and was much depended
Upou by that gallant leader that be declined to
take the command IN Florida that at last
stamped out the Semi nOles, unless Pleasonton
was allowed TO 90 with him. The rebellion
had net progressed very far when Pleasonton,
then promoted 60 Major, was made General
officer, and went TO the Army Of the Potomac
IS q Cavalry Division commander, and ia June,
lS6a succeeded SLOVENIAN in command Of all
the cavalry Of the Army Of the Potomac.
At the fatefu hattie of Charlottesville he
was in the right centerof the field when Stone
wall Jackson passed close around our front
60 fall upon and drive the Eleventh Corps from
the field, and IL be who discovered the
movement and held the rebels in check for
20 minutes, until troops came TO close the fatal
gap on Sickless right that Hooker had left
open. There was infantry Evailable, but
Pieas0nton hastily gathered several batteries
and GOT them 20 work 70 check the well-cOn-
Quoted rebel advance, and then, when all
seemed lost Ito gain the imPeratively needed
timel, called the bravest Major in all his COM
rnand and hurled him Oh the rebel front with
battalion in asdesperatea charge as that at Ba-
lsclava that Is famed ia song and story.
The gallant boy Major, Pennsy lvauian, and
more than tWO-tbIEus OF ms gallant officers and
men lay ia trout Of that fringe of pine sap
lings when the help came that held the line,
but the day was saved for all that. ] have
heard that when the young Major got his order
he drew saber, rode up 10 PleaSOnton aud.
saluting. said: "Good-by. General I'll hold
them whether I come back or not" / have
seen Gen. PleasOnt0n's blue eyes very SUSPECT
ously moist when thai has been talked Of in
his presence, and I've heard him say: IL had
20 he done, matter at what cost, 70 save
10000 lives, and the MAJOR was the only man
IN al the command I could depend upon thor
oughly % DO il"
When The cavalry was organized into corps,
in june. l563, he was placed IN command, with
Buford, D. AcA- Gregg and Fitzpatrick as his
Division Commanders, aud the work done in
less than q moath made him a Maj0r-GeneTal
and changed the general opinion 10 the value
Of cavalry in field operations. The Gettys-
burg campaign showed how lar superior Pleas
onton was TO Jeb" Stuart, the rebel COM
mander, 10 the duties pertaining 70 cavalry
service. for he WAS Outwitted ans outfougbt
through al that eampaign but il remained for
the famous cavalry dgel al Brandy Station, q
month lster, between those two leaders 10 de-
mOustTate the all-rOand superiority Of the
Union ever the re5e cavalry. There Stuart
belo knoll from which the ground slOped
easily away Oh eyerg side. and the broad sur
rounding fields we're yet crossed by fences, be-
tween which ran narrow lanes. through which
IN one instance part Of our force was obliged
70 charge ia columns Of fouEs for lack OF time
90 thrOg down fences. Not piece OF artillery
was used o. either side, bat after q time Pleas
outOn drove Stuart comp eteiy OF the field, and
tie rebels never again Won a general cavalry
engagement IN the East.
Pie4soHt0n in 1860 was offered the Colo
neacy Of one Of the new infantry regiments, but
with csyalryiEaH's disdain for such service
refused the offer aud Indignantly resigned.
When Gen GRAFT became President he made
Pae4s0BtOa Collector Of Internal Revenue for
thai District Ia New York City that included
Akaiiz ali
and brokers Offices. IN which was collected the
largest revenue Of any district ia the whole
country. Later On Grant called him here 10
Washington and made him Commissioner Of
internal Revenue. no matter what may be
said otherwise Of Alfred Pleasontou, no man
ever dared even hint al his dash as a soldier
Or his unsHerviug Integrity IN official life.
Comm issi0HeT Pieas9ntOu found that great
railway cor .Orati0H Aad been eEading its taxes,
and be proceeded 70 make il pay up number
Of millions il owed. be began BIZ grabbing
every locomotive that IAN into the chief cen
trRl town Oh its line after be had exhausted
every other means IL MS power 70 compel pay
meat. and within few hours the road found
itseii almost crippled while the danger Of total
st9PpaEe was Increasing. A wild appeal for
cOfnpromlse WIS made 20 Pieasont0n. Pay M
your daes 20 the United States Specious rem
Tesen aiiens were made u President Grant
eDa GespIie Pieas0atoB's protests. Gen. Grant
t1allc temporarily. PleasOntou resigned the
Eame day. and refused ali further offers OF
Political preleEnleat
To-day DC Is a poor man, and is in need OF
the proposed restoration to the Array that L
pending in Congress. The House passed a bill
20 make man Colonel; the Senate proposes tc
amend By cutting him down 20 Major-ths
rank he held when the FIRST volunteers were
seiii - the field = years ago. Men who have
ben disHn issed the service Tor various military
o1eiises are restored by almost every succeed.
1ng Congress. with the rank they would have
held bad they remained continuously In serv
To-, and y seems as II the proposed amendment
sBould Bet prevail.
CEET AND GAUL-
Pat Flynn, Of the Treasury Department /
one Of the most thoroughly Americsnize,
IrsBhnen EhO ever came TO our shores from Tn
Emerald Isle and is patriotic % the very sole
o. hi shoes
he landed here during those dark days Q
the rebellion a mere lad, and very soon aft.
oOnned TIE blue 10 fight for Uncle Sam Yer
soon be was cruelty wounded that on
arm is n0w disabled almost as much as IL
had been taken OF aud buried, but the still
young man never regrets Il, / believe aud
proud Cf his disability. After the war lie lei
the Veteran Reserve Corps to join the Regula
Army, and in time drifted here as a Govern
meat clerk.
Last week, on Memorial Day, Flynn. Wit