Morning journal and courier., 1890-03-07

| long the street excepting the drug stores, ! ,eipg closed from to 4 o'clock In honor of [ he deceased townsman. The same was the ,ase on State and Church streets. The stores as business activity prevails. It was notable day in the city, and the ;ribute was one to departed worth. It was he high character of the deceased as we'll as he high positions he had occupied which brought out the marked tribute from the , public.
 The sermons at the tomb were very sim pie and the friends that surrounded that open grave felt empbaticaliy that mother earth was receiving to its bosom one of our city's best men, irrespective of the earthly honors which he had received.
 A Reminiscence of the Late war.
 Broughsso Mlnd by tho Death of Kx-
 Governor James E. English.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 The death of our distinguished citizen, ex- Governor English, recalls to mind ono of his characteristic deeds which showed alike his kindness of heart and spirit, for what is re- ferred to occurred while the civil war was in progress. During the winter of 1869 and | 1863 the friends of the soldiers, especially Of the "Army of the Potomac," were active in | forwarding boxes of comforts and remem- brances, made up largely of perishables, | which, by the way, were the most appre. ciatsd. For various reasons, the disastrous battle fredericksburg being the leading one, an order was issued that nothing of the kind above mentioned should be forwarded from Washington. The quantity of boxes which accumulated while that order was in force was something astonishing. An order was received by Colenel Bostwick of our regiment
 Twenty seventh o. V.) to send for the boxes
 belonging to it. I was detailed for the pur-
 pose and reminded of the necessity of great
 promptness. An application was made for 8
 leave of absence for ten days, signed by our
 colonel, which must be approved at brigade
 division and corps headquarters (Sscond
 army corpsl As this would occupy several
 days mounted my horse, feeling warranted
 in proceeding in a somewhat unmilitary way,
 and rode directly to General Tooks headquar-
 ters (who lost his head by a cannon ball at
 Gettysburg), who approved my application.
 He informed me that he had just received
 the same order that the property of the brig
 ade must be removed and that might as
 we'll attend to 1t. Proceeding to division
 headquarters found General Hancock in his
 tent, who promptly signed my application
 and said that he would detail ms to get the property for tho division. I remarked that ten days would hardly be sufficient to move such mass of stuff. The general respond- ed: "You can have all the time you need ,and a carte blanche" Riding rapidly to corps headquarters Second army corps) found General Couch, who signed my application | and surprised mo by saying that the proper- | ty of the corps must be moved and saw no reason why could not undertake to move
 the entire lot, promising mo all the time and men needed.
 Accordingly applied for ten days addi-
 tional time,. requesting, when properly | signed, 1t be forwarded to Washington. Ar
 irving in Washington I found an immense quantity of stuff, pile. think, as large as was the much abused old state house. Some
 two weeka' time was necessary to move it on to transports with large force of labor
 CTS. As soon as the transports disappeared
 down the Potomac applied for my pass out
 of the city, although not having received my
 papers extending my time. I was told
 could have none, as by my papers was
 several days over my time. It was then re ) ported that there wore s6, 900 officers absent
 without leave and that the government was
 determined to stop this demoralization, and that l war one of the first subjects
 Knowing that was juati6ed in my use o1 i, extra time and not knowing what else to de applied to Governor English, our rspresen. ! tativs at that time from this distriot and 2 was surprised and gratifed with tho interest manifested in my case. He went with m' . from piece to place, cutting red tape her' . and there with little effect, however, unti we brought up to the office of the secretary 3 of war. Secretary Stanton listened to my 3 statement, not seeming to doubt its truth 1 but said on account of recent order issued he was powerlsss to help me, and that mus be relieved from my unpleasant position by r the officers in tho field. My second applica able reason was not forwarded to Washing ' ton.
 l Never can I forget the interest the govsrno . took in the matter, and, what Is more signi6 :. cant, in the cause. His inherited love o q country for tho time engulfed all partisal | spirit, if he had any, and no man in tho iel !, exhibited higher degree of moral couraR a than did he on the floors of congress. wa r ordered to report at once to General Wool . !. Alexandria, some nine miles away, and the t at the close of bleak winter day. How
 get there was the question. Fortunately liveryman on Pennsylvania avenue was will ing to trust me with horse, q say fortu q Virginia mud, reaching Alexandria in tim , to report to General Wool that night. Tn Q interview was brief. was ordered back | - camp by first boat. But my horse! He al
 not care for my horse. using very forcibl ? language.
 Isuocesded in getting receipt for tn 2 horse from the hotel proprietor and describe f as best could about whore obtained him . Whether the owner ever got him I hay T never been able to ascertain. In about c week after this my name was shown m : among others in the Warrington Chronicl e as being absent without leave (which wa o considered by some as a kind of desertior }, and ordered to report at Washington. !; prepared statement to the effect that I ws ,. granted leave of absence and was due 1 l. camp on the 20th of January, which tn
 colonel signed. In due time made my ap b pearancs before General Rieketts and othe |, officers and heard the charge made s e very solemn and impressive manner @ Ihsnded them my paper which was req # and of course caused surprise. Questionin @ began but declined to say any thing onl '- that there is the colonel's statement ths ,- seemed to cover the ground. They com s msnted and stammersd and finely said the d could not understand how such thin To could have occurred and apologized for eau. 7. ing mo the trouble and ssnt me forth rejoic n ing. had good reasons for not going int 7. particulars as ] had by exchanging overeos E. and cap with civilian run the gauntlet or n and back to Washington with out a pas' r. and while the transports were being loaded Il giving me . day in New Haven on som ls businsss of the oolonsls and my own and e few hours with my family. R. P. o.
 THE COURT RECORD.
 # Probate Court-Judge Robertson. |. Decision WAa veeterdAv rendered iu tt