St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-17
HOW HE Won PROMOTION.
A Touching Story of the War
Told by Ex-Gov. Curtin.

ernor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, is filed with
the romance and tragedy that colored nearly
every event of the civil war. sit was just
after the battle Of Fredericksburg" said the
Governor. 81 had been on the battlefield,
where fearful condition of affairs existed,
the dead unburied and the wounded uncared
for, and had gone from there to Washington.
Returning to Wizards Hotel, late at night,
after long interview with President Lin
coin, the errand that had taken me to Wash
ington, I went to the Office for the key to my
room, when the clerk on duty said Cover
nor, there is q lady in one of the parlors who
wishes to see you. She has been waiting
several hours
81 turned and, entering the parlor, found
there a quaint bit of humanity, a little white
haired woman, dressed cheaply but neatly,
with an old carpetbaS beside her, who rose
and courtesied to me as 1 entered. mo-
toned her to seat, and said:
Madam, I am Governor Curtin. What
can do for you?
''She told me that she lived in one of the
northern counties Of Pennsylvania; that her
son, private in one of the Pennsylvania
regiments, had been at Fredericksburg and
that, having heard nothing Of him since the
battle, she had come to see what had become
of him, but had been refused passage through
the lines. In distress and perplexity she
applied to me for aid. When she gave me
the number of her sons regiment my heart
stood still, for it had been literally cut to
pieces. Determined to do what could for
her, told her that in the morning would
find out her sons fate; if he was dead, I
would try to secure the body for her, and if
he was only wounded, I would see that she
secured safe passage to his bedside. es-
corted her to the street and paid hackmar
to take her to lodging house, to whose
keeper had given her a note of introduction
Then babe her goodnight, telling her thai
would call upon her as early as possib,
next day.
''After the cab had rolled away, sleep beinf
impossible, I Lit cigar and strolled III
Pennsylvania avenue. Near the Treasur,
Department I met Galusha A. Grow, JOIN
Sherman and Ben Wade, who were coming
from night session at the capitol. After we
had shaken hands, they asked me for partic-
ulars of Fredericksburg, where, as told you,
I had been for several days.
''We had been talking for half an hour, and
touching errand. when we heard wheels ap-
preaching. They stopped a short distance
from US, and then we heard man cursing
and saying Get out, damn you,' mingled
with the pitiful sobs of a woman. Something
told me that these sobs came from the old
lady from whom had just parted. Gentle
men, said ], 4 bet that is my old woman
moment later the cab started up again, and
when it came into the light of the street lamp
under which we were standing my words
were confirmed. The rascally cabman, in
stead of obeying my instructions, had driven
in turn to several saloons, and having spent
the fare had given him in drink, was now
bent upon pitching the old lady into the
street.
'''See here, you internal ruffian,' I shouted,
what do you mean? Why did you not take
the old lady where I told you? You deserve
a sound threshing.' Wade, Grow and Sher-
man also turned upon him, and the first
named, the master of a picturesque and fore
ible vocabulary of profanity, swore at the
cabman in his best style. The cabman,
drunk and defiant, swore and cursed at US in
return, and if what occurred a moment later
had not occurred just when it did, the Gov.
ernor Of Pennsylvania, the Speaker of the
House, or one of the Senators from Ohio
would have been forced to attempt to whip
him. When the war of words was at its
highest, tall, broad-shouldered, blue-coated
young fellow. with rifle over his shoulder
and bucktail in his cap, came striding down
the avenue.
81 recognized in the new conner one of the
famous Pennsylvania Bucktails and halted
him with the question, Young man, do you
know who 1 amp
ssYou are Governor Curtin was the
prompt response.
s'Where do you hail from?'
'*McKean county,
"'You belong to Colonel Kanes regimentY
"sYes, sir
"Lumberman?'
"'I was before I came down here'
'sI told him what the cabman had attempted
and asked him if he thought he could whip
him. He simply said, Governor, hold my
rifle pushing it toward me, and waded in.
The battle was short, sharp and decisive
and when it was over the cabman was
sadder and badly battered but wiser man
We finally had to pull the soldier Off his vic.
tim, and I sent the old lady away in his
charge, having first ascertain I'd his name and
company. Next day 1 found that the dear
old soufs son was living but badly wounded,
and easily obtained permission for her to go
to his side. Under her loving care he soon
recovered and is, think, still living.
"And what became of the soldier who
whipped the hack driver? Well, when man
does me good turn 1 always try to do him
one in return. After I got back to Harris
burg 1 had the adjutant- general issue an
order for that young man to report to the
capitol, and gave instructions that when he
came he should at once be sent to the execu-
tive chamber. He reached Harrisburg early
one morning and came into the executive
chamber while was opening my mail.
"'Good morning, Governor said he.
"'Good morning, lieutenant 1 replied
"'There's some mistake, he responded,
with evident embarrassment. Il am nots
lieutenant; am only a private
"'You were a private last night said I,
but you are a lieutenant this morning. and
with that handed him his commission.
''His subsequent career showed that he we'll
deserved this promotion. For bravery in
action he was in turn made captain. major.
lieutenant-colonel and colonel He was shot
through the heart while leading a charge of
his regiment at Spottsylvania."
RUFUS r. WILSON.
Robert Buchanan, who is anxious to pose
as poet, and who has made some money
ont n ha1 MIA ayr1o tod in A H.