The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-30
A sTdRY OF STANTON
PRESIDENT LINCoLN's GREAT Sec
RETARY WAS A OMAN OF WAR"
A. j.. Beveridge Tells nm interesting
Story OF the Man of Blood
and Iron.

A. ]. Beverage contributes a new story
OF Stanton, the great Secretary OF War,
whose biography is yet to be fittingly writ
ten. The Virginia Beveridges." he said.
were loyal to their State and the South
in the late struggle, and one Of my fathers
brothers was a young man of very i'm
pulsive nature, with discretion in as yet
unfiedged quantity. His mother was a del
icate. nervous woman, very devoted to this
son. who was only nineteen years OF age.
He turned up missing one day, and neither
did he return the next day or the third
day. His mother was in a state of distrac-
ton. The family came to the conclusion
that the young man had been heard max
ing some of his radical and indiscreet re-
marks about the Northern people and the
Union army ard had been locked up. Moth
ing was heard Of him for so long and his
mothers condition became so serious that
ii was decided to make a personal appeal
to Secretary Stanton as to the whereabouts
Of the boy il under arrest, and, if possible,
TO ease his mothers mind by providing
some comforts for the prison cell, such as
bedclothing. ewatables, books. etc. At that
time it was known that the Secretary of
War had certain days in which ne would
grant audiences 10 the public. When that
day came around w. NJ. Beverage, a
brother. was one of those in line, waiting
TO speak to the Secretary. Just before him
was Colonel b, who had been relieved
OF his command for some reason. He was
there TO demand a certain sum OF money
which he claimed was due as his pay. When
he had reached the Secretary, a short,
stOcky man, with a long beard and two
eyes that burned with the fire of terrific
brother said ne heard Colonel B. say:
Mr. Secretary, / am Colonel B, OF
such and such a regiment. / am entitled
to the residue OF my pay (naming such and
sucn amounO, and L want you 10 give me
an order for it,
" Colonel b, came the answer, in
tone IS that made the whole line quail, you
viii report TO General s.. sir. and # there
Pass On
" But I have been to General s., sir,
and he refuses 70 pay what is due. An or
der from you
My business is war, sir. Pass on
My m continued Mr.. Beveridge,
said afterward, in telling me the story,
that the tone, manner and searching fire
OF that blazing eye made him almost shake
In the knees. His heart sank as the dis
appointed Colonel had to obey orders and
move away. But when his turn came he
managed to say:
" Mr.. Secretary. I am w. M. Beveridge.
OF Virginia NV brother, a boy of nineteen
years, is missing, and We believe that he
has been put in prison by some of your
forces because of some indiscreet remarks
OF his. His mother is in a critical state of
health in consequence of his disappearance.
We believe it would greatly relieve her if
bedclothing and some other comforts
" My business is war, sir. Pass on" was
the abrupt answer and order.
But. Mr.. Secretary, we do not ask his
release. We only
!" My business is war, sir. Pass on
There was nothing else to do" concluded
the narrator. ''and the troubled pleader for
his brother passed on. Stanton was the man
for his place-one of blood and iron."