The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-03

Ieit les, which he still carries and which
mas caused an open wound continuously.
:, when the army was In line of battle at
nashville. Sergeant-Mslor Weissert trav-
ersed the lines 70 learn ii his regiment WAS
properly supplied with ammunition. W hen
tnet duty was completed. Colonel Bitton.
oL the Eighth Wisconsin, ordered HIM 10
remain. with his headquarters at the rear.
" mhke u1 the regimental returns, then
hIteen days behind. as n result of tho con-
stsnt campaigning OF tho regiment. At
~oout the same moment the order 10 ad-
vance was given. and when Colonel Bitton.
soine time later. passed along the line. ne
ionnd Weissert In ris position with his
regiment When re minded by the Colonel
OF the duty TO which he had been assigned.
sergeant Major Weissertreplied: Il deemed
t.il5 my place. and thought 1 could hnish
the reports after the battle" Soon after
tiJec 10. 1894 he was with the advance of
the line which opened the battle
Oh Nashville About 2 o'clock
!; NJ, the Eighth was with
Hubhard's brigade in the charge on fort.
mo command capturing more prisoners
Tan the brigade numbered. Weissert was
wounded while bis regiment was preparing
10 charge on the second line of the rebels.
lie was carried to the rear and sent from
the field hospital TO New Albany. Ind.
w hen able TO be moved he was sent to his
nome at Racine, on a special Tequlsition
from the Governor OF Wisconsin,. lie was
appointed 90 a cadetship at West Point.
but was unable 10 accept IL on account OF
his open wound. Before the close OF the
war he returned on crutches and asked 20
De sent TO his regiment. Being at hrst
refused permission to go TO the front. he
inslsted uDon going, and was finally given
permission. and was with bis regiment
when It was mustered out ct Demopolis.
Ala. September, 1865.
Captain WeIssert read law under the
guidance of the Hon. w. Z. Lyon. eX-
Judge of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.
and was admitted 10 practice IN the Cir
cult and the higher State courts. and In
the federal courts of the United States.
lie was number of years proml-
nent member of the Milwaukee School
Board and chairman of the High-school
committee. refusing third appointment
because of hie professional duties. IL is a
man OF strictest temperance principles III
every sense.
Comrade Weissert became n member of
the Grand Army of the Republic IN 1866,
and has ever been one of its most persist
ent and devoted workers. To his eff
orts Is largely due the high stand
Ing OF the Department of Wlscon-
SIN. which experienced remarkable
anu substantial growth during the two
years In which he was department. COM
mander commencing In 1855. and was put
on so firm basis that since that time 10
MS election as commandments no post
III the department has been reported de-
hnquent. lie has frequently rep
resented his department In State
and national encampments aud was
elected senior vice commaDder-in-chief
at Milwaukee In 1889. He was chairman OF
the citizens committee which had In
charge the preparations for the Twenty
third National EncamDment and presided
at every meeting of the executive council.
as well as giving personal attention to
many of the details, the Perfection of
which made that encampment signal
success. The successful overcoming OF
many difficulties met In the preparation
n 90 mn darn IN n
sonal and persistent effort of Conrade
Weissert. He Is mem Der of T.. Is. WOlcott
Post. No. !. of Milwaukee.
Last year at Washington he vas mani
mously elected cOmmander-in-chief. None
of his predecessors has been more uDtIring
In devotion to the duties of the position.
In the discharge of his duties he has seen
both oceans. the lakes and the gulf. In
fact. he has devoted the larger part or the
year TO the interests of the Grand Army,
and that service has resulted in strength
ening the organization wnere it was weak.
and In mt KING 1t more vigorous where It
was strong. In that. ComraCe Weissert
has been we'll nigh the ideal commander
ln-chief.
Now that the pension question ia the
most important which veterans discuss.
the opinions Of the head of the Grand
Army will be of interest. even If mado pub
lie before. When Congress met last De-
cember. MIR. ONeii, a member of the Hsuse
from Boston. and of the appropriations
committee, presented q pension bill which,
among other Objectionable features made
the pension list paupers roll. Com
mander-in-chief Weissert was in Provi-
dence X. l., when Mr.. O'Neil made speech
In support of his measure. and from there
addressed ringing letter to the Massachu-
sets member under the date OF Feb II,
1885. of which the following is the greater
portion:
i notice In morning papers you quote me in
approval or your proposed amendments TO exist
ing pension legislation affecting pensions OF in
mates or soldiers homes Later received your
letter of the 4th instant asking Endorsement OF
some interview, said to have been held with me
OH that specific point. Uncertain whether rep
resented or misrepresented IN that interview, L
say TO you that while am in favor OF legislation
giving the major portion OF the pension OF
inmates OF a home TO his family, yet, il he has
no family, say let him have it ALL even IL it
amounts TO oO cents per day. For your proposed
ame9iments generally; as published. have no
favor. They are all calculated To restrict bene-
hts heretofore accorded surviving veterans or
their widows. Your restriction to less than
$500 income per year is particularly obnoxious,
because it requires public ackno wIedgment OF =
poverty. Health and loyalty were all that
Lincoln asked OF us when you were a babe. and
we were batting to preserve Congress for you
to sit In.
/ commend for your consideration the words
or another son OF Massachusetts, as he voiced
the country's estimate OF the services of the
founders OF the Republic, who were survivors in
his time. refer TO Webster. Your warfare in
advance on those who in the providence of God
may become soldiers widows. is utterly repug-
nant to even average manhood.
In the body OF which you are member sits
many man who fought Us man fashion. open
and above board front face. Gordon, his face
scanned with the track OF Union lead; Butler.
short one leg; Wheeler, tho wild rider, who gave
us so little rest, and that sturdy fighter, Moore
OF Texas. They were line Of battle soldiers in
time OF war. but hazard the prediction none of
OF them could be induced To lead in suoh fight as
you are making.
You cry out against the sum total of the an
nual appropriations for pensions. and capitalists
and towards comprise the majority of those who
applaud. Figure the total on all pensions from
1860 to 1893 and il is little more than half the
amount paid in the same time for interest alone
to the bOndholder. He bought his bonds always
below par, at times low as 30. The men
now have the honor to command, and their de-
ccased comrades. endorsed those bonds with their
hearts blood. and with their valOr lut them OH
the road 10 par and ut q premium in the fnan-
cial markets or the world. With tremendous
unanimiy they stood for honest money in peace
insisting that Uncle Sans promises TO the bond
holders should be redeemed at 100 cents on the
dollar, with all interest. and payable in gold
Tho next president or the United States goes
into office having been voted for by hundreds OF
thousands OF veterans have criticism for
vote he pleases. be il Democratic Republican,
POpulist II some of them, advanced in years.
enfeebled 10y disease lit TO totter TO the polls
anG vote the Mugwump ticket that is their right
But beg you To stop this warfare which will
drive them TO lay aside consideration of other
matters germaDe 60 our system OF government
and tend 10 weld them into nearly solid politl-
cal mass Your present course, persisted in.
renders that nearly inevitable IN my opinion.