New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-05
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
"REMINISCENCES AND ANECDOTES.
Mr. spR1NGERs Observation-Disclosures As
A puELL1sT-ooLoNEL BELLS FRENCH.

. D1rEI11sr-ooLoNEL BELLS FRENCH.
Washington May 4.-when Colonel Joel u. Erhardt,
successf candidate for Collector OF the Port OF Now
York and Colonel John ". Jones, unsuccessful can
didae for Appraiser, were here together they had
good talk about their experiences IN the war; Colonel
Jones came to Washington early IN 1861. lie had
heard some time before that there was supcrfuity
of beautiful women In Massachusetts,. and had gone
over 10 Mclrose, married wife. and enlisted IN
Bay State regiment. In two or three months he was
Provost Marshal Of the district and had, OF course
much to do with the fitting out OF the troops ana
the organization Of companies in different LOCALITIES.
A particular tssk of his to superntend notable
secret service. Secretary Seward was acquainted
with an Albany Hebrew OF great acuteness, whom
he had brought here and sent out into Maryland anu
Virginia pack-pedlcr. He SUCCEEDED so VOL
In bringing in news OF the enemy's movements that
a dozen other men, or more, nearly all OF his own
race, were employed in like service, and under tho
charge OF Colonel Jones did much good WORK
President Lincoln about that time began 70 reaihe
that cavalry would be good thing. no calleo
Colonel Jones to him one day. and said:
IL wish you would go and see General scout
can't seem to do anything with him. He does not
believe in cavalry. Go talk 10 him.
The Colonel found that the gallant OLD solo,er
would not listen to suggestions for the enlistment
NJ morn cayalry troops because he believed the war
would be over in a few months, and II Wouid 'aho
as many years to train cavalry. Before lohR' NOV"
ever Colonel Jones heard from Vermont that 'hoS
we're cager to raise some cavalry, and nc was
dispatched 10 do the work To save time no 'ra'cn,n
from village to village mustcring in the Green Mountain
bovs with their horses that they are all 50 pi'uu
NJ and In A few weeks had a regiment OF thousand
cova,rvncn and two hundred and nifty horses anu
men 10 spare organized and on their way 10 ""S"-
nrton Joel Erharlt one OF these hahue"ho'
athletic snappy fellows from Ethan Aliens e'a'o'
who came down With his thoroughbred nag snd his
New England bravery. ,,
"w. rod n hard time OF It. / tell you no said
to Colonel Jones first, you camped us out here IN
a grave yard. 1t the spring OF uhc year. YOU
know and one day It rsned and the next morning
We found the ground was SO sOf tha' our "o' 'oo
we're up TO their bellies in the mud anu 'heS "oro
not particular about whose graves they h'erp'ieu
with, either . Mt,
,hcv dId gallant service and Erharlt showed his
s,Idier,v qualities II was afterward thai hc went
over IN NrwYork became Provost MaTShal, icahcu
to know the local leaders and be known BY them
Colone, ZONES recalled an interesting circumstance III
connection with the 9th Massachusetts, Regiment.
II was commanded by Colonel Lawrence no" "onor, 81
Lawrence OF Mcdford, Mass, great mahui" 'uio'
OF Sew-England rum as his father was oeio'o "'''
and as his son probably vii! be ater Nun ~ "F
ncars that there wcr' " no hicS' on loohei
OF the 9th Massachusetts. once, down hero' III uao
cnrlV mon
oral regiments across the Potomac on inc virgin"
sIdo Same we're TO 20 by the Long Bridge ami some
g., ,ho Chain bridge The 5th Massachusetts "dS
one of the cxpedhlonary furce and noucc was CIV"
that the first regiment TO get to i's posl'ion vi ,o
" sacred soll7 would be specially cohhlehuc"' i
eth Massachusetts, determined to 90 In LOT 'ha' |'
They fell into line opposite the Treasury "par""oh
and onnoste the beer saloon Of a man nancu hcm'n-
way He was patriotic and ready to hght II any oo"'
nc m. 5tb Massachusetts ready to start LOT It's
race over the Long Bridge, Coohcl Jones ,lS'o''
that the regiment had no flag. one nan o''i. '"'
for but It had not arrived. Now, Heh'h"aS nau d
wonderful silk flag flying above his saloon No''"o'
Jones went over TO him AMI tried to negotiate Tor It,
Uemcuway objected. He said he couldn't spare IT,,
He must keep :. floating there over his pace Vi
business -, 49,,
{" Hut It IS for the 9th Massachusetts," said inc
Colonel That made all the difference In The WORM
with Hcmcnway. The flag cost him T""' ou' ho
said the 9Th Massachusetts, could have II anu "c'com''
The Bay State boys had started on on VI" n""o'1
ouick I'm order 10 get to the other side first 'oohl
I,. .oIIowrd ON horseback as fast as his nag coui
co with the flag In the middle OF the bridge ~
nvcrt,ok Colonel Lawrence The regiment was hAIu'
FycrytlnC was excitement and rAhi!aian"n. '"'"ni
Jcncs made little speech and Pr7"h'-o 'n' sim
banner Among other things he said thar re'"iu'o,>
never went backward. and that the regimen, p'""a"H
would NOT return TO the Washington side of III" lNer
until slavery extinct In the soh'h'rh STATES ~
so they went and 50 they fought.
Something about tho Colones speech got INTO one
NJ the local papers He met Henry Wilson the mex,
day. The Massachusetts Senator stopped him. a-H''
him ~ he hal not been little radical In 'ha' Spc'fn
NAT he made I'm the middle Of the bridge. and advised
! him that it might be better to so slower
Ihrard lately Of remarkable case OF seifaonosao"
| on the part Of the Hon william NJ SprihSe''
- .rr,od s,a,ion in New Mexico on the line OF the
| A,cbison and Torcka Railroad called Springer" Mt