Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-09-11
MoHAMMED KAHN, PENsIoNER.
The Peculiar Career of Native of A.
ghanistan in Uncle Sans Army

The Peculiar Career of a Native of At
ghanistan in Uncle Sans Army.
Il will never forget" said former clerk
OF the house committee on invalid pen
slons, 'one case that came before me for
report. The bill had been introduced by
the Hon. j. Proctor Knott. The applicant
had been rejected at the pension Office, then
presided over 10y Bentley.
The applicant was an oriental named
Mohammed Kahn He had been brought
to this country in 1861 by Goodyear, Buch-
anan's minister to Persia, and Goodyear
dying soon after he was thrown on his own
resources in a country of strangers with
strange tongue and strange manners. A
recruiting sergeant got hold of him and
enlisted him in Massachusetts regiment
soon after the first battle of Bull Run.
Being an ignorant man, the sergeant
thought he was an Indian and enrolled
him as such, Of the Blackfeet tribe, and
named him John Ammahoe He was sent
to the front. and was wounded in one Of
the battles of Jackson's Italian campaign
lie was separated from his command, ana
a wounded colonel of Pennsylvania regi-
ment installing him for a negro, took
possession of him, registered him as
ccntrabrand and made of him a body serv-
ant. The colonel got leave of absence
till his wounds were healed, and carried
Ammahoe with him to Carlisle, Pa, where
he remained six months.
Deserving his master he enlisted under
the name Of Mohammed Kahn in Penn
sylvania regiment, and was severely
wounded at Gettysburg. He was then dis
charged, though by some mistake he was
borne on the rolls of both regiments as q
T-le I.~:. !
tried to get pension for him without
avail. He drifted from Boston to New
York, to Philadelphia, to Washington, and
at least score of surgeons had reported
that he was disabled by gunshot wounds.
Zone day he approached Mr.. Knott and
related his story. He claimed to have blue
blood in his veins, and asserted that he had
been of the household troops of the Persian
emperor, having been recruited in Afghan
istan, whence came the finest cavalry OF
the East. He was an expert swordsman,
and the blood in his veins was of the Hot
spur order. Knott is man of gorgeous
imagination, and no doubt, as the poor fell
low recited his pathetic story, visions Of
the wondrous cline of the sun rose before
him
His mind was carried back to the days OF
Tamerlane and Saladin, or Solyman the
magnificent, and the Mamelukes, that near
ly wrested victory from even Napoleon's
veteran columns. He introduced bill for
Ammahoe's benefit and it came before me.
Daily he besought me to look into his case.
l thought he was some worthless negro,
too lazy to work, and put him off.
Zone day, however, took up the papers
and soon became absorbed in the military
history Of the fellow as it was sent to the
committee from the adjutant generals Of
fee. asked him to relate the story of his
life. He claimed that at home he was a
nobleman, and that he was the owner of
vast estates in Afghanistan. why do yon
not return there and enjoy your patri-
mony, instead of waiting here for miser-
able pension?' said l.
'He answered, L have eaten hog and
have got drunk; they would execute me at
home if should return made favor
able report on his case; the bill passed and
he got his pension. "-Louisville Courier
Journal