Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-20

lie has ALWAYS taken an active interest In ali
ex-rrisuners. and for several years has been
president of the local association: was pres;-
dentSsf the state association and vice president
otG44yltional association. He was appointed
M8 Powell az one Of Che committee that
Atsshiai,ton and urecd the passage Of
s1ME4X&3esented by the national association
Oh 4<xeheft Of eN-prisoners before the PEN
sioG Committees of the Fiftieth Congress- His
long imprisonment after his term OF service
had expired and the existing pension laws have
impressed upon him the need of special legisla
hon for all en-prisoners. and to that end he
mas been an earnest worker.
MAJOR OLIVER MN,Rr.
Major Oliver r. McNary is the vice president
OF the association for Kansas and one of the
most prominent members of the association.
ne enlisted as private in company L, twelfth
PENNSYLVANIA {lhree mon;hs), April IL, 1851
April "a, 1861, was appointed orderly sergeant;
August, 1861, was tendered appointment Of
captain and assistant quGrtermaster, but de-
clined the appointment However, at the re-
quest of the Secretary of War and quarter
master general he served as post quartermaster
until February, 1862. March l, 1862 was ap-
pointed quartermaster of one hundred and
third pennsylvania. On 9th OF same month
was detailed quartermaster of brigade on
the staff of Brig Gen. Keim; afterward served
as quartz master and aid-de-camp on the staff
OF Gen. Nesse!les. He WIS wounded and taken
prisoner April 20, 1864, at Plymouth, NC, and
taken to Andersonville; was confined at Macon,
Gn., Savannah, Charleston and Columbia: was
exchanged in December, 1864, and when he ar
rived at Annapolis Hospital weighed seventy
four pounds; was afterward on duty at Mad
ison, Wis. and Raleigh, NC; was mustered
out October 1865, as brevet major; was three
times wounded in action.
One OF the prisoners closely identified dur
ing his life with the Prisoners of War Associa-
A .,.-l,. A., l.
wheeler. Steuben county, New York June IL,
is29. When seventeen years old he went to
work at the carpenters trade with the same
energy and determination that characterized
his after life, and ut the age of twenty WAS an
extensive contractor. year or so later he
went west and entered the book publishing
business, finally locating at Indianapolis. Ind
At the beginning of the war of the rebellion he
at the request of Gov. Morton, recruited and
organized the fifty-frst regiment of Indiana
volunteers. He commissioned colonel of
said regiment and early in December, 81, re-
ported to Gen. Buell. at Louisville, Nv The
hfty-frst was attached TO the Army of the OHIO
afterward known az the Army of the Cumber-
land. Gen. Strcight with his command par
hcipated in all Of the marches and battles of
that wing OF the army. AZ the great and bloody
battle OF Stone River the ffty-first did good
service. Streight was rigid disciplinarian and
endeavored TO make his regiment one OF the
best in the field This he accomplished, and
while exceedingly strict, requiring a close ad-
herance to duty. he won the lore and respect Of
all OF his men. lie brave leader and
seemed TO inspire his men with the same fear
lossness that was ever his. After the battle Of
Stone River Streight was placed in command of
a provisional brigade and ordered far to the
rear OF Brnggs army. This expedition was
doomed to be disastrous from the first and after
running hight Of five or six days and the ex-
hanstion OF almost every round of ammunition
the command WINS forced to surrender TO For
rest near Rome, Ga, Nay ), 1868 Streight and
his officers were taken to Libby prison and re-
tanned there. many OF them until about the close
OF the war in 1865. One Of Streight's officers
was among the first TO regain his liberty by
making daring escape. This awakened in the
colonel a great desire to break the bonds of
prison hfo, aud he made the attempt one
dark night, but was betrayed and retaken,
placed in irons in a CELL there kept on
bread and water for long weeks. After being
released from this dungeon he once more began
to make arrangements for escape. He with
some of his officers planned and principally
dug the famous tunnel out Of which SO many
men escaped. Col Streight being one of the
first to pass through. He with three COM
panions remained in Richmond concealed by
friends until al pursuit wGs abandoned then
with good guide, plenty of provisions and
well armed the four officers started oat and
safely reached the Union lines. Streight i'm
iuooietei. ieyoHieu MS regiment ana was soon
placed in command OF a brigade. At the battle
CT Nashville his brigade was in the advance the
fret day and his old regiment, of which he was
particularly proud, led the brigade.
At the close OF the war Gen. Streicht once
more entered into the active pursuits Of bust
ness life: also, soon thereafter entering the
political arena.
His push, his energy and untiring industry
made him quite a fortune since the war, and
when he answered the last roll call but a few
months sso he left his family q rich compe-
tency,