The National tribune., 1889-11-14
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOlngs at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
VICTIMS OF AN uNJusr LAW.

mast Is years ], was born IN Easton, Ia IN lcoZI
and entered West Point in 1851. Gradua-
ting In 1855 he was appointed in the 9th Inf,
but before his graduating leave was over was
made Second Lieutenant in the Sd Int He
performed the usual routine of frontier duty
in garrison and scouting until the rebellion
began, and was then promoted to Captain
in his regiment after declining the same rank
in one OF the new regiments then raised. Al
most all of his service was in the field with his
regiment in the Fifth Corps of the Army of the
Potomac until the second day at Gettysburg,
when he was so severely wounded IN the mp
while IN command Of the regiment that ms
future for field service was at an end. During
the rest Of the war; after practically recovering,
he performed light duty in mastering, but was
never able 10 reioin his command. In 1866,
when the Army was increased, he was offered
and declined the appointment of Major seth
Inf, bat year later was promoted to be Major
Hath Inf.
In the Fall Of 1865 he was placed on the re-
tired list with the rank Of Colonel, under the
provision Of the law Of 1866 that gave " the
rank of the command held at the time the dis
ability was incurred" and il is in this con-
nection that the military history of the dead
officer is of the greatest general interest TO the
public
Under the provision of law referred to
goodly number Of veterans of the war-Volun-
feers and West Pointers alike-were retired
wounded. Gen. Sickles, a Colonel, became
Major-General, as did Col. John C. Robinson
and Thomas J. Wood: Lieut.-COl. "Sprigg y
Carroll, Maj. Richard w. johnson, Cspt. Eli
Long sud others also became Major-Generais,
because while BrigadicT- Generals Of voiun-
teers thoy were division or even corps COM
manders when so badly wounded.
Another officer then a Colonell was retired
in 1869 about the same time with those named,
and while he, too. had been Brigadier OF Vol
nnteers, he had no division commanders
wounds ia show. lie was ambitious, il ineligi-
BILE for advanced rank, so he hanted the cor
rdOrs Of the Capitol here for years until he pes
tered Congress into passing special act"
hosting him one grade in rank. The War de-
pariment officials seeing the danger prepared
an amendment which was intended 70 weigh
down and drown the special act" but the am
bilious one had pressure enough at hand TO
have the bill passed with the weighty amend
ment. although the whole Army knew, rs well
as be knew himself. that the bill would cause
his own promotion at the sacrifice in rank land
corresponding pay OF dozen or more gallant
soldiers. whose names were household words in
thousand homes. where his own had been
heard in but one. Itwas the most cruel thing in
the history Of the American Army, but the bene-
ACiary accepted the result without the least care
for his comrades, and now leads gay and petted
life in foreign Capital. That bill became a
indignant over il ever since that ] can never
speak or write Of itwith any degree OF patience,
and the only soothing strip" over IL is the
memory Of how Gen. Belknap (then Secretary
OF War used good, square-cornered, soldierly
remarks on the matter when the bill passed.
couple Of columns would be needed to tell
even half Of the injustice done by that spo-
ciRi act but will instance one, besides the
subject Of this memoir. that will give old com
rGdcs an idea h0w this act acted: Gen. Thomas
j. Wood, after - years hard service on the
frontier. became the Colonel Of the I'd Cav. In
the Fail OF IS6l, but Just month earlier had
been appointed by Mr.. Lincoln Brigadier-G Gen
eral Of Volunteers. His gallant fighting serv-
Ice Is pretty well known ali over the country,
but best 70 those who served IN the great
armies that swept the rebels clear Of the Miss:s-
slpp Valley and then cut path straight across
through the heart Of the rebel States. In Janu-
airy, lr65 he was promoted 10 Maior-General,
but meantime had been badly disabled by
wounds bile he was a division commander
Under the IAN Of 1866 he was retired in June,
155s, with the full rank Of Major-General, ".
;. A.; the special act" reduced him 10 the
rank Of Bngadier-General. which he now
holds for the victims Of the injustice done
haze never been able 70 have il rectihed.
In Col Frsedley's case, be was reduced TO
Major.
REPORT or THE SECRETARY or AGRICULTURE.
Tho FIRST annual report Of the Secretary OF
Agriculture was made public last week The
Secretary says that the SUM asked for in bis
estimates must not be measured by what ID
past but by what great AGRICULTURAL country
should do toward sustaining, protecting and
promoting calling which lies at the founda-
ton OF us prosperity and power" OF those
countries which are the most active COMPETE
tors Of American farmers IN the worlds mar
Ect Great Britain appropriates for agriculture
9
O15p50 for agriculture and mines; France
&S.O0o000, and Austria, 100000.
The report urges the duty Of the Govern.
DeBt 70 assume more definite supervision OF
Euch forest areas as are still owned by il and
occupy position Of importance in the reguIa
tion OF water flow and other climatic condi
tons, and emphasizes the importance of Tho
relations which the forests bear 10 the problem
Of irrigation ia the arid lands and Of theil
Immense annual product. The subject Of agri
cultural organizations is d8elt upon earnestly
their growth during the past few years bcinl
cited "A evidence Of the spirit OF self hell
among the farmers. The farmers Institute.
arc referred 20 as one Of the greatest move
EDents in the history OF agriculture and as th.
strongest lever for raising aud upholding ia,
Work u superior agricultural education reura
scented by our agricultural colleges. lie recon
mends that the Department be empowered q
EbOrd encouragement 70 this work
a. - bDt4- kEOAlngs bhe reduction OF tll
tarif in 1883 lie earnestly deplored. To II Il
charged the great reduction in the number O
sheep. which has fallen Of about seven million
bead, while the importation Of wool has in
creased from 7s.559.G5i pounds In 1884 10 I28.
4SI1Z9 pounds the past year. The right Of Ia,
farmer 10 the fullest enjoyment COMPATIBLE
with the rights Of his fellow -citizens Of IA,
benefit Of the protective system, which il
cardinal principle Of the Republican party. 1
earnestly insisted upon. For all such articIe
as onf Own soil can produce the farmer iustlr
asks The protection which will insure 10 hin
al the benefits Of our home market"
sEEAToR-ELEcT PETTI0REw,
Of South Dakota. saw Washington CITY lon,
before he was in Dakota politics. He Fhowe,
up here after the breaking out Of the war :
private ia an Illinois volunteer regiment. HI
company was ezmped over On the Easter
Branch.
We were In tents" said be last night. an,
30 was tbe cold. We had some lively experI
enccs. little pug-nosed, red headed Irigb
woman kept peanut stand at the corner =
Pennsylvania avenue and Fourth street N p
One Of our boys, q green y0ungzter, was sittin
alongside when someone accused him of gteai
ing her peauUts- He denied IT, and got a bel
IN the jaw. ] took hand about then. Tber
was considerable Of a ruction. The mud On ia
Avenue was foot deep. and ! got good iEn
preston q Washington, which has never bee
erAdicAJed. We finally landed In the guard
mouse alc didn't get out till morning"
Did you get any peanGtsf"
T" None were found on meD
SILVER DoLLARs