The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-14

New \ 0rk Letter.
General Henry A. Barnum, who died here last
week, was a typical American soldier. l had
known him for quite a while before knew
what peculiar experience he had in our late
civil war. Sitting in the Astor house one alter
noon he told the story OF Low he had been shot
through and through at the battle OF Malvern
Hill; had been LETT the field for dead;
had been carried off to Libby prison,
while his comrades buried Federal
major, whom they supposed to be himself; how
he returned to his home in syracuse and again
entered the army as colonel while his wound
was still annoying him. He told me OF his part
at Gettysburg; OF his service at Lookout Noun
tain under Hooker, his campaign with sherman
10 the sea and how he saved $l5O0o,0oO worth
of cotton which the Confederaies were burn
ing in Savannah. He told me of his three
wounds, and the one which had never ceased
troubling him since the day that he fell at
Malvern Hill, and / asked him how much
of pension this generous government was be-
slowing upon him. He informed re that he
was receiving the muuticent sum OF so per
month. remember that my establishment was
SO great that almost fell eff the chair. Here was
u man still under 90 years OF age who for nearly
thirty years had gone about with gunshot
wound, which would ordinarily have Killed
any man, and who, during all these years, had
never had ore moments sureease from
pain and apprehension; who had fought
and marched and risked his Lie when any other
man would have remained ut home under the
theory that he had received his share OF glory
scarcely enough TO keep him in ciga-s Modest,
sweet natured, kind and generous, 1t had never
even entered his mind, think, that the govern
ment was a misery, contemplate hog L toiu
him that | knew OF teamsiers who had been
kicked by mules and who were drawing Dig
ger peasions than he and | at once wrote
letter 10 my brother-in-law, VINO was = meilcaI
referee in the pension department at washing
ton. calling attention TO his case. Upon my
urging him, General Barnum made an applca-
ton for an increase OF pension; WAleh, tHat !, $
~, n
carried with il an arrearase OF something Ike
5000 which the general thankfully receIneu-
One OF his friends told me suoe4 lehtty ths'
every dollar OF that money was tnlh utateiN pa'd.
tocredftors. some OF whom he had been OWING
for fifteen or twenty years. Poor. good sour. Il
never occurred 10 him, as II might nave occur
red TO some less honorable man. thHt ths Moue!
given him by the Grudging goYeFnHta, might
have been used 10 provide nome anu ioou ~
himself. He met these money opalssLoCs as ne
did every other obligation 10 ili@ bu' ne e4I
no es,sfe for any administrator to bother
himself about One morning he Called AZ
my house some months after having MS pension
increased and told me that he hs1 !u-. .eaI ~.
from some friend in the war departing az
Washington City that there was lying N me ue-
rsrrnent a bronze medal baaring his name
one OF the few awarded by cong!ess % mn ~, ~
especially distinguished themselves during the
war for bravery and isithfui service, MS name
had been especially mentioned N Joint EesG'e =.
tion in congress, but II he had ever near %
the fact he had forgotten II, ana ne went 81
the way to Washington City 10 get that neIAi.
We wore a number OF honorable medals, but
this one he was exceedingly proud OF. l hsSS.
saw aim look So happy as when ne orous1t tha M.
stained snd oxidEei medal when hsd pten
living Tor twenty-five years or more III we ~
DEPARTMENT. around 70 exhibit 10 ne We save
hiI, A diuneF on the strength OF it snd manu-
some watch to commemorate the event. anu t'eh.
eraI sherman paid him the highest tribute thai
he ever paid TO any man who Wore TIC S-S - :.
uniform They gave him a grea. iGneTaA IAst
Monday with military honcrs- piI oenettt
S.ocu.n, General Slcklcs, Genera. E4t--Jo go
Porter. General Daniel Butterne!d- HenefaI
Jardine. on his crGtehes. were a.. H,ouI 70
march beside his casket. and the Key. u. Ioa1
II Paxton, who was soldier OF the Sec9na
co-ux and who fought in the pe2ch oIc9sIu =.
tiettysburg. and who row breaches TO jay Oon-9
and Rassell Sage in Wesi tosty-sscoho
street, delivered the most mssalaeeHt
eulociura ever heard IN any chafch, 80 -
Wa inferred At syracuse. WHERE ta.r.! -oIs
wears ago. his funeral sermon wSs prculAt uIels
preached And these splendid obSsq uies L@SL
Ivrssk the tributes and tears O slnH.Is
friends. the love OF his intimaies. ana ths
record of duty nobly and honorsbly pertos ulsas
blessed memories OF KIND and genial soo9
feIlow-wege aIl that this brave, suffering anu
noble soldier Left