The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-09-30
A Vermont Veteran in Luck.

An old soldier in luck always calls
for congratulat'on, and in the case of
Captain Bird l.. Fletcher, el.known
veteran, who has lived in this CITY for
the past five or six years and made a
legion of friends, there seems to be ex-
ceptonal cause for salts faction. For
years TIE captain has been an invalid
and unable to support himself and
family. His wife has been matron of
the Sixth police district for the past
five years, AMI her salary of $50
month in that capacity has alone
served to tide ever the family's critical
financial periods. Altogether it has
have been five children to look alter.
Two of them are now married and
another is full grown, while the two
others are still of tender age and are
cared for by the mother. Now a
golden change has come ever the situa-
ton and the friends of the old soldier
and his worthy family have been over
whelming them with congratulations.
After one of The hardest and most pro-
tracted legal struggles of the kind on
record, judgment has been obtained in
TIE court of claims, against the United
States and in favor of Captain Fletcher,
for S9654 as arrears of pay due him as
retired { fficer IF the army.
The story of Captain Fletcher is a
strange one, and lawyers at the national
capital say hat the case, which has been
waged for many years, is ore of the
most novel and complicated in the court
of claims. Eminent lawyers, con-
gressmsn, United States officers of high
rank anUro sidents themselves have
taken hand in TIE matter and on The
soldiers side. Fletcher, who is now
6fty-two years old, was a Green Noun
tain boy. While a mere lad, attending
school at South Hero, VT, and working
between times on farm, his fancy was
turned by reading of military exploits,
and with companion he left home to
seek his fortune. He was enlisted in
the general mounted service of the
army in 1857, and served in the Indian
wars. He served in the Army of the
Cumbe rland in tie war of the rebellion
as corporal until 1868, when he was
brevetted first lieutenant for gallant and
meritorious conduct in the cavalry ac-
ton at Franklin, Tenn. He served as
first lieutenant until promoted captain
in 1867. The following year he was re-
tired from active service and placed on
the re tired list Of the army, a board of
examination having I ind him to be
incapY citated for active service as "the
result of sickness and exposure incident
TO TIE service" and the president di-
rected that his name be placed upon
the list of retired officers of that class
in which the disability results from long
and faithful service, or from injury in
cident thereto.
Misfortune overlook The captain in
1872, when he was arraigned before a
court martial in this city and tried on
the charge of " conduct unbecomiug an
oflicer and a gentleman" the specifica-
tons being to the effect that he be-
came indebted to certain Stroudsburg
merchants in sums ranging from $50 TO
500, which he neglected TO pay. The
captain managed his own case before
the court-mariial. He was found
guilty and sentenced to be dismissed
from the service. In the long itiga-
tion that ensued it was claimed that
Captain Fletcher's dismissal from the
army was illegal, inasmuch as Presi-
dent Gran did not approve of the find
ings and sentence of the court-martial
60 lNHullNu ny law IL was SuOWH ludl
the retired ray to which the captain
would have been entitled from Deem
Der ! |, 1888, when the statute Of limi-
tations began to run, including longev-
ity increased pay, was at the rate of
S2,100 per annum. Altogt ther about
$40 900 was claimed from the govern
ment. Mrs. Fletcher visited Washing
ton almost every winter and interested
large number of congressman and
army officers in the case of her invalid
husband. The late Congressman Ran
dali, who was firm frien of the fam
lilly, introduced bill in congress pro-
vlding for the restoration of the cap
tain's position and payment of arrears,
and other bills of similar nature were
pushed forward, but all without effect.
When Mr.. Cleveland became president
Mrs. Fletcher, who was an old acquaint-
ance of his, called upon him at Wash
ington and implored his assistance.
The president interested himself in
the case and advised Mrs. Fletcher that
the only way to secure the captains
arrears Of pay would be for him as
president to approve the findings and
sentence of the court-martial of 1872.
That accordingly was done and upon
that astute act of the president the
legal sparring that followed was largely
based Captain Fletcher is now en-
ployed at Atlantic City, and when the
good news was conveyed to him last
week by his wife he could hardly real
ize his good fortune. Mrs. Fletcher
rejoices in the prospect of establish
ing herself and her family in home of
her Philadelphia Times.