The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-02
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
iiORal Capital
~ rNnrAN-FTGHTFR.


lar Army-perhaps the best known below the
rank Of a general officer is Col. Frederick w.
Benteen (retired), who was for many years
CAPTAIN i'm the famous 9TH Cav. and who has
been visiting in the city during the past week;
Everyone who remembers with what tATlil
Of horror the country received the appalling
news of the massacre OF Gen. custer ana hVe
troops Of the 18th Cav. in June, 1876. on the
Little Big Horn River, VIII remember also that
1t was due to the energy and heroism OF Col.
Benteen. then Captain IN the regiment, tnat
the hordes Of red devils were prevented from
annihilating the remaining troops of the gallant
regiment; this too, while there was an Offlcer
OF the regiment present senior IN rank TO him.
In that Sioux campaign COL Benteen mad
command of a bsttalIOn Of three troops, some
miles distant from where Custer attacked so
rashly and when the exnltant Indians attacked
him they were calamity repulsed, and he
gained and took position of the little hlIl,
where Reno with has defeated column Of four
troops Joined him, and then held out against
the swarmiug thousands of savages until the
approaching column Of Gems. Terry and Glb-
bon made them scurry away to seek safety IN
flight
Col Benteen had already won three breyets
for gallant service in action, and had 1t not
been that the law stopped further breVetlng,
be would have surely added the silver star OF
q Brigadier TO his straps for his conduct those
two dreadful June days OF the Centennial
year.
his services throughout the Cheyenne and
Kiowa war of I666, 90, rs were as brilliant as
ID the Sioux campaign, and he was breyeted
Colonel for a desperate and successful battle
with the Chcyennes on the Saline River, IN
Kansas, in August, 1868, and recommended for
another for the battle on Wishita River, Indian
Territory, Nov. q, 1865 when the 7th Cav.
alone attacked and defeated Black Kettles
band Of 1900 Indians, after nearly five hours
hard fighting.
But all his laurels as gallant soldier were
not gained on the Indian frontier.
Born in Petersburg, Va, IN August, 1884, he
removed with his father 10 st. Louis when he
was still a boy, and was painter when the war
of the rebellion broke out. Though nearly all
of his relatives on both sides of the family were
in strong sympathy with the rebellion, he
espOused the Union cause, and Sept. 1, 1861,
was appointed First Lieutenant IN the 10th
hIo Cav, which was at once sent into active
service il the southern part of that State. In
Just month he was Captain, and IN February,
1864, was Iieutenaut-Colonel and commanding
the regiment. He had been actively engaged
in ali the campaigns IA the Southwest, and his
gallantry at the Usage II 1862 had not only
won him commentator from his superior
officers-which WAS rewarded later by breVet
of Major in the Regular Army-but attracted
the attention Of the Missouri State officials.
When the rebel Gen. Sterling Price made MS
celebrated raid into Missouri in 1864, Col. Ben
teen was detached from his regiment for the
time and being made Brigadier- General of
Missouri Militia, commanded with distinction
acavalry brigade in the command that speedily
drove Price ANONYMOUSLY from the State. One
of the regiments OF bis brigade was the Sd Iowa
Cav. which was then commanded by Col John
W. Noble, the gallant soldier who is now Secre-
fary of the Interior In President HarriSOn's
Cabinet
His last active service in the war was in COM
mand OF his own regiment in the last operations
IN Georgia, and he led the gallant charge
most If not the list Of the war-on the rebel
force at Columbus Ga, April I6, 1865. Mus
tered out with his regiment in june, 1865, he
was appointed the next month Colonel Of the
135th Colored Troops, and held that command
until January, 1856.
After leaving the volunteer service he par
chased farm near Atlanta, Ga, where he has
made his homo ever since, except when his
military duties called him away. At that time
the Southern people were not partial TO North
ern meH, and DO great affection WAS shown for
those who had held command In Niger regi-
ments, as they designated those troops. The
neighbors made it exciting for the Colonel;
they shot his hogs before he was ready TO kill
them; they took his horses away and disposed
of them, even when he had not thought of sell
ing or giving them away, and they even sent
him word, in bad grammar and worse orthogra-
ply. that lie need not trouble himself to burn
his honse, for they would do that Tor him.
When the 7th Cav. was organized IN 1866
Col. Benteen was made one of It's Captains, and
then the writer, also one OF the new appoint
ments. met this gallant soldier.
When Col. Benteen WAS placed on the retired
list last year, upon his own application, he re-
turned 70 his farm at Atlanta-it is just on the
city bonndary1ine noW-to reside there the
rest Of his life.
Time hangs heavily upon man who has
spent nearly 20 Of the best years of his life in
the busy scenes Of hard campaigning, when he
Is without al occupation, and Col. Benteen has
concluded that he viii make as good T. 5.
Marshal for Northern Georgia as President
Harrison can find in that section, and lie ad-
Tances the fact Of his long residence there AS
well his wounds and long service Ia the
army, as good reason why he should be ap-
pointed For my part, hope he will get it ;
and ! hear that the Secretary of the Interior
intends to argue with Attorney General Miller
70 that cad.
AssIsTAEr LAND COMMISSIONER
The President last week appointed Gen.
William II. Stone cx- Governor OF the State of
Iowa, Assistant Commissioner Of the General
Land oLlce. Gov. Stone was strongly Endorsed
by the delegation from bis State in Congress
for the CommissiCBership, bat a compromise
was effected by which he vas given the second
place In Bhe Bureau.
Gov. Stone was born In Coshocton Co, O.
but moved TO Iowa shortly after it became 4
t7le-sls anu Dte-sau TIE practice OF The law az
Knoxville Marion County. He was elected
County Judge shortly afterward, and was soon
promoted by being elected Judge of the Dis
triet, which place he filed for several terms
only leaving il to enter the army early in 1861
rs Major OF the 81 Iowa. He served with hi.
regiment until 1862, taking part in severe
sections, and WAS then promoted Colonel of tn,
2zd Iowa By Gov. Kirk wood. de served gal
lantiy with his regiment, and was in gevera
b0t3y-contested battles during the Vicksbur,
campaign, the most notable being the charge
on the eaemy's fOrtifcations May -, 1863
where he was severely wounded in the righ
arm.
In the Fall of 1863 he was nominated by th,
Republican party of Iowa as their candidat,
Tor Governor, and was elected by an over
whelming majority, bis opponent being Gen
James NJ. Tnttle, another gallant soldier from
the Hawkeye State
Gov. Stone retained his position in the arm
until 1t was nearly time for his inauguration
when he resigned, in the meantime receiyin,
the brevet OF Brigadier-General for gallan
and distinguished service in the Vicksbur
campaign"
He served two terms as Governor. and was
capable and honorable Executive and vii
make one Of the best officers ever appointed I
the position he nog occupies.
TIE PRESIDENTS health.
Secretary Halford denies that the Presideu
Is in il-health and suffering from insomni.