Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-25
CORPORAL TANNERS RECORD.
Career of the New Commissioner of
Pensions as Soldier and Civilian.

| Corporal James Tanner, of Brooklyn, n. Y,
who has been appointed Commissioner of Pen
sions, vice Gen. J. c. Black of Illinois, is one
Of the best known men in Grand Army, as
well as in New York political circles. The New
| York Herald says the appointment was received
| with general expressions of appreciation in
| Brooklyn. His comrades of the Grand Army,
| and all wards of the nation" in fact, who
know the legless soldier were pleased. I'VE
| have friend in court now, comrade," was
| sentiment frequently exchanged among the
boys as they felicitated one another upon the
selection made by President Harrison.
Jas. Tanner was born In 1913 in the village of
| Cobbleskill, SchOharie county, this state. When
a boy he worked on his fathers farm and at
| tended the district school. He was exceed
| ingly studious, and devoted the ''silent
watches of the night in delylng among such
reading matters his means effort could
make available. Being far advanced in his
studies at the age of seventeen years Jas. Tan
ner was selected as the village school teacher.
| One year later he enlisted a private in the
| Eighty-seventh infantry regiment, New York
volunteers. and went to the front. He partici-
pated with McClellan's Army of the Potomac
on the Peninsula, and was given the corporal
chevrOn's."
In the summer of 1862, while engaged in COW
ering Pope's retreat, August 80, at the second
| battle of Bull Run, shell bursting over the
gallant corporal lacerated both legs. He was
carried bleeding to a house near the field of
action, where both limbs were amputated.
Assistant Secretary of War Charles A. Dana
in 1854. appointed the crippled soldier to a
clerkship III the War department. When Abra-
ham Lincoln was dying Tanner was summoned
to the sick room of the President to take down
III shorthand certain testimony in reference to
the assassination. He was admitted to the bar
IN 1869, and was appointed the same year to a
custom-house clerkship. He was deputy
collector under General Arthur. Mayor
Schroeder appointed him collector of taxes of
Brooklyn, and he was three times reappointed
to that Office by succeeding mayors. During
fected several reforms in the administration of
the office, and collected about $50 600 0OO Not
a penny remained unaccounted for. He is
post commander of the Department of New
York, G.. A. r., and has been the most active
member of the national committee on pen
sions OF the Grand Army.
THE CoRPoRAL's WIFE.
The Philadelphia Times says: Ever since the
Inauguration Corporal Tanner has been in
Washington urging his claims. His intimate
acquaintance with President Harrison was
greatly III his favor. Mrs. Tanner was no less
anxious than her husband that he should secure
the appointment. was demonstrated by the
fact that last week he was invited to give a
lecture III Connecticut town, and being in a
quandary Ill regard to accepting the invitation
he telegraphed Mrs. Tanner for advice. She
immediately replied to the effect that he had
better stay Ill Washington and that she would
deliver the lecture. he corporal took her adj
vice and she delivered the lecture