The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-12-15
GEN. TAYLOR'S DAUGHTER.

III sii> Npi ioIO >>hNie'i ~ ~
Grant was President of the United
States. | was General-in-C Chief o
the armies of the United States, anc
James G.. Blaine was Speaker of the
House of Representatives. All were
resident in Washington, D. c.
was seated in my office at the ole
War Department, now destroyed and
replaced by better one, when my
orderly produ ed the card Of Mrs.
Wood" widow of the late Assistant
Surgeon General, U. S. A. o.
cou' Sc | instructed him to show the
lady in. She was deeply veiled,
then not uncommon by reason of the
many dependent widows and orphans
who thronged the National Capital
to appeal for help. She, without
unveiling, handed me letter in the
familiar handwriting OF the venerable
General David Hunter, asking me to
befrieI d "the bearer" Casting my
eyes over it, l exclaimed, "What.
are you the widow of my old Sur
geon- General Wood, and the daugh-
ter of General Zachary Taylor"
"Yes,' she answered, raised her
veil and revealed her features, then
of an old lady, but beyond question
the daughter of General Zachary
Taylor. Dear Mrs. Wood, what
does this mean? What can | do for
you?" She replied, 81 do not know,
but General Hunter, our steadfast
friend, has sent me to you," and she
went on to explain: 'When my hus-
band died in 1869, supposed l had
estate enough to satisfy my mode1at
wants. | went to Louisiana, took
possession OF the old sugar plantation
collected few of the old slaves, with
promises of wages or shares, tried to
make living, but everything was
out of joint. | then tried a lease
with no better success. Now my
daughter writes me from Austria that
she is very sick and begs me to come
to her. General Sherman! | must
60 to my daughter, and have not
a cent. My old friends are all dead,
and | know not what to do"
naturally inquired how much money
was necessary. She said a thousand
dollars. | had not the money. Gen.
eral Hunter had not the money. How
about your pension? when my
husband died after torty-four years
OF faithful service in the Florida War,
in the Mexican War, and the great
Civil War, | thought | could take
care of myself and never ask for a
pension, but now my child calls to
me from abroad" Mrs. Wood,
am sure we can easily make up a case
under the General Pension law,
which will give you $50 a month,
but it can only date from the time Of
your formal application "What
good will that do me?" she ex-
claimed, my daughter is calling for
me now! My passage across the
ocean will cost SI2o, and the Incl
denial expenses afterward will run
up to full thousand" After a few
moments thought l said: Mrs.
Wood, we must get a special bill,
putting your name on the same list
with that OF Mrs. General Worth.
Mrs. General Sumner and others,
and have this special pension to date
back to your husbands death, viz.
March oS, 1869. This will require
an act of Congress. What member
OF that body do you know from
louisiana" "Alas, none" "What
member from Kentucky?" Not
one" "Do you know anybody in
Congress-" mot single member. -
Don't you know Mr.. Blaine. He
is the Speaker of the House, fellow
of infinite wit and of unbounded gen.
erosity?" No, she had never met
Mr.. Blaine Now, my dear Mrs.
Wood, can you meet me this after
noon at the Speakers room, say, al
4 D. m, punctually?" 81 will dc
anything, she said, "that you ad-
wise" "Then meet me at the
Speakers room, south wing of the
Capitol, at 4 O clock this evening"" "
OF course she did.
| was there ahead of time, sent my
card to Mr. Speaker Blaine, who was
in his chair presiding over a noisy
House, but who, as always, re,
sponded quickly to my call. In a
few words, | explained the whole
case, and we went together to the
Speakers room across the hall, be-
hind the "Chair," where sat the lady
closely yelled. No courtier since the
days of Charlemagne ever approach
ed lady with more delicacy and
grace than did Mr.. Speaker Blaine
the afflicted widow of Surgeon Wood
the daughter of General Zachary
Taylor, a former President of the
United States. After a few words O
inquiry and explanation, he turned
to me and said: Great Godl ha:
it come to this, that the daughter o
Zachary Taylor, and widow of {
faithful army surgeon who served hi:
country and mankind all his life
should be here knocking at the door
of CONGRESS for the Dititul DenSiOn n