The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-21

The Remarkable R@ason why He Has NO
Discharge from the Army.
Minneapolis Tribune.
The speech made by Judge C. M. Palmer. at
the recent encampment OF the q. A of Da-
kota, az Redfield. in answer 10 the report that
he had discharge from the service aud was
therefore not entitled 10 membership in the
pathos of the story told and its almost dramatic
effect upon the veterans of that body have made
the incident a part of the history of that organ
ization. The fact that the story that ne had no
discharge from the army has been the sub lect
of wide comment in the Northwest press.
and it's interest as wartime incident, perhaps
iustiies its publication in full The text from
the minutes of the stenograpner present Is as
folows
ing date of the 18th of March. received from q
friend and comrade, in which he speaks upon a
subject which is dear 10 me- He incloses In
this letter slip taker from the Public Press,
public journal of te. invest which says:
.'ABERpEEs, Oak, March s.--The report that is
being circulated throuhont the Territory in connec
ton With the candidacy Of Judge Palmer for II, the OF
public for Dakota the effect that he is unable TO
show discharge frop- rmy and that he never
served in the war of liion, is generally dis,
Palmer, and claim tina. .le is too hgb.mnded mar
take advantage of the organization by getting into
bly, justi6caton for its publication, the
that the Judge is only thirty five years Old Gente.
fasehood, and say such silly reports win injura
his chances in the coming contest for the commander
ship
Commander and comrades. this was new to
me. 1 would pay attention to it here or any
where else If 1t had not become public property
by virtue of pablo publication. If / have an
enemy among the comrades of the Grand Army
of the Republic in Sioux Falls want to say
you that comrade has not enemy in me.
The painful thing about this is that it comes TO
me direct from q source that l cannot question
that it originated by Grand Army man. Now,
the difficulty with that 10 that there is some
portion of it true. That they try to rob me OF
eight years Of my life care nothing about
This is mighty good world to live in: at
least the best that / have ever seen. That
he is unable to show DISCHARGE is true. This
being bile property, the question OF privilege
is. that aek to state very briefly concerning
this matter. it rs true have no discharge. L
belonged in New ENGLAND. upon one of those
rough. ragged farms in Vermont, where l bad
aged father and mother twho have gone be-
yond the veil} and brother: My father was
buried under mortgage which he hardly ex-
pected to see removed The brother, four years
my senior, was the farmer boy. Yielding
to that inspiration which passed over that
farm, and leaving the father and mother
in ebt, went and enlisted. was seventeen
years of age at the tins. and had been trying 10
get in the army constantly since the war broke
out. Ny brother enlisted in Company +.
Thirteenth Vermont On Monday morning he
was to start to the front / was TO take team
and drive him to Richmond tweve miles from
our dear cid home, the night previous, and the
feeling OF pain and sorrow of that dear old
father and mother were well nigh heart
breaking. He their support and
mainstay. That morning when COMPANY
start got up. put on his uniform
and took his gun. He returned TO father and
mother and went to the front, and there re-
manned during the entire term OF service of that
Vermont regiment, and whenever Simeon NJ.
Palmer's name was called. that was N.Y.
brothers name. answered to it. When the
payroll was signed 1 signed it in his name.
When the discharge made out il was made
out in his name. / received that discharge and
took it to him. No, have no discharge, COM
rades There some things that good sol
diers have and have not, aud
that 10 one of them. / have record upon
the rolls of the Adjutant-general OF my State.
Good soldiers have that | have none recorded
at Washington; ordinary soldiers have that.
There are some things which mighty good sol-
ders have that have not. / have no hospital
record. have no record that shows me off duty
a day during my entire term of service. have
no guard house record / was never off duty
for any cause hour in my life These are
some Of the things which l have not have,
however a consciousness that have fellow.
feeling of fraternity for the old comrades which
comes only from the associations with you.
touching elbows with you the long and
weary march, and suffering with you the
ter rible field of carnage"