The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-08-24
The Hero of Chancel.
lorsville a Recluse.
Gen. PleasOntOn's Varied
Career.
The Famous Cavalry Leader Now Set s
Few and Lives Only in His
Books and Papers.

Gen. Alfred Pleasonton. the famous
cavalry commander of the Army of
The Potomac, whose fame at one time
was as wide spread as that of almost
any leader of the civil war, still lives
in Washirgton the city of his birth.
His existence has been almost forgot
ten, writes Allan p. Slauson in the
Washington Post, for he has not left
his room for the last five years, owing
to painful bodily ailments, the result
of the many years during which the
great majority of his waking hours
were spent in the saddle. He admits
only a few congenial friends to the sa-
credness of his chosen privacy, which
those who serve him are careful to
preserve inviolate. To strangers and
to casual acquaintance Of former days
who call more out of curiosity TO OBJ
serve his present surroundings and
mode of life, he invariably returns a
polite refusal when their cards are
sent up.
Although the world has lost sight of
him he has not lost sight of the world
in which he once lived and moved,
so brilliant figure. Just half a block
from the office of the Post he lives, in
a low ceilinged but most tastefully fur
nished room, from the little old-fash-
ioned windows of which he can look
out upon the busy thoroughfare that
runs between the White House and
the Capitol, at any hour of the day
or night. In this same building he
has lived for sixteen years. 1t is a
quiet little hostelry known as the Grea-
son house, the former proprietor of
which was an old time friend of Gen.
Pleasonton. Since his death it has
been kept by a daughter, Martha w.
Greason. The unpretentiousness of the
place, and the undisturbed privacy
which he is able to obtain there are
very pleasing to the general. "It is
because they obey orders,'' he said in
speaking on the subject, that have
remained here So long"
His wants are few and well sup
piled, for his pay and pension from
the government amounts ~tef not less
| than $40 per month, and besides he
has an income from about $4,000 worth
of property left him some time ago by
sister at her death. Walking causes
him great pain, and he moves about
little more than from the bed to his
chair and back again. He is surround
ed by books and pictures, and is an
omniverous reader. He takes half a
dozen daily papers as we'll as some of
the magazines. His books and papers
are his principal companions. They
always entertain him, and he does
not have to talk ito them about mat
ters that do not interest him, an irk-
some task at any time, but more es-
pecially at the present, for a throat
trouble has seized him, and at times
makes even articulation difficult
Though in constant pain he will
have ncne of the do ,tors, preferring
to use old fashioned simples that give
him temporary relief, to undergoing a
series of surgical operations, the re-
suit of which might be doubtful and
might serve to shorten his term of
life rather than prolong it. Surgeon
General Bliss was his doctor for many
years, and after his death he would
have no other. Prior to that time he
underwent several surgical operations
for relief from his trouble, fistula, re-
flsing to accept the administration of
snaesthetics, his army observations
having given him the impression that
anaesthetics killed many men who
would Rave been saved if they had
withstood the shock of surgery. His
nurse and almost constant attend
ant is faithful colored woman of
middle age, who occupies an adjoining
room, and anticipates the most of the
generals desires.
The death of Gen. A. J. Pleasonton,
at Philadelphia, July 9Th, caused some
confusion in the minds of newspaper
biographers throughout the country.
a number of whom spoke of the dead
man as being the famous cavalry
leader Of the war, when it was in
reality his elder brother.
$50 am dead, am I?'' remarked the
sorrow;ng brother to, his attendant,
as he read some of the obituaries of
himself, that being his only comment.
Although both brothers bore the
title of general before the world,
there was a vast difference in their
careers. Both were graduates of the
United States military academy, but
A. J. resigned soon after graduation
and never again saw service in the
regular army. He was made brig
adler general of the Pennsylvania mi
litia soon after the outbreak of the
civil war and given command of the
home guard of 10000 men, raised for
the defense of Philadelphia. Such
was the extent of the elder brothers
service as a soldier. His advocacy of
blue grass as means of increasing
health and longevity bee lnle famous
in many parts of the world and has
frequently been written about.
The younger brother, Alfred, won his
spurs in the Mexican war, and be-
came dne of the most famous cavalry
leaders. in the war of the rebellion,
receiving before it's close the brevet
rank c4 brigadier general. He now
stands, with the rank of colonel, ON
the retired list Of the noble defend
sers OF the nation.
Alfred Pieasontcn was be TN in the
city Of Washington in 1924, and at the
age of twenty had completed four
yearS course at the government mil
ifary academy. He did not have long
To wait before his military training
came into active use. For gallantry
end meritorious conduct in the battles
Of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma
he was breVetted first lieutenant Af-
tefwards he was sent upon frontier
cuty, commissioned first lieutenant in
1919. and captain in 1855. He was act
Ing assistant adjutant general to Gen.
William s. Harney during the Sioux
expedition, his adjutant general during
the campaign agairst the Se1ninoIes
III Florida, and during subsequent op-
ere t1ons Of General Harney's command
IN Kansas, Oregon and Washington.
IN 411o a1ff11mp nf 1891 when tho no