The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-03-15

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MInsHAILToN, Del, March 12 1895. 5.-MR.
EpIToR-Deing member Of Company T.,
4th Regiment, Delaware Volunteers. and
seeing letter In your paper written by
comrade Chambers, | think he treats the
matter very lightly. Now. eomrade
was nothing more than ditch why was 1t
YOU took trouble to run up the stream $50
yards to cross on tree. 10 certainly was
not the fault OF having legs long enough
to Jump ditch. No. no, you know that
the Rowanty river was mora than ditch.
/ was there. and when 1 ran down to the
bridge and saw 1t was gone and Captain
Kent lE the water OH horseback and his
horse swimming, | know that the stream
was more than ditch.
/ think 1t rather ungenerous and un-
comrade-like to bring or allow to be
brought before the public In the public
newspapers any discussion in reference
to and questioning the late war. Now
do pretend to be acquainted with The
merits OF comrade Buckingham's case.
but to my mind the granting OF medal
costing perhaps one dollae 10 very emnli
reward for the danger and risk OF vOlun
tarlly piunglng Into stream with all
your clothes on In the face of an enemy
ami running the risk OF not only being
drowned, but also of being shot during
the performance by the enemy. In my
opinion any comrade who would volun.
tarlly do an act of this kind is well
worthy of medal Of honor as reward
for his bravery. And II four or hye or a
hundred comrades did the came think
they would all be we'll deserving oil so
slight testimonial as a medal granted
thirty years after the war closed.
II Comrude Buckingham did what no
claimed he did think the authorities did
right In presenting him medal. and II
Comrade Smith or any other comrado dld
as bravely then they also should receive
medal, and have no doubt that II they
believed themselves entitled shat Comrade
Buckingham would be courteous and
obliging and fraternal enough TO do all In
his power to aid them Ia securing Tor
themselves medals as valuable as ms good
fortune secured for his own bravery.
What l dislike is the questioning the
bravery OF E comrade and his right to
medal I'm 80 public u manner before In
quiIlng into tho full merits OF tho case
privately.
II after full investigation conducted
privately 1t had been found that CoInrode
buck Ing ham had by misrepresentation to
the war Dept. and by laudlng untruly his
own bravery at the expense OF his com
rade's reputation for bravery praising
falsely his own bravery and helittleinR the
courage of his comiads. he might deserve
about what he is now getting, an airing In
the public newspapers with possibility
OF discharge from his public position.
A medal as a proof OF merit is only valua
bic as proof to our fellow man, neiRhbors
and heirs of bravery. deeds of valor pre-.
formed in our country cause.
But TO matter how well they have been
earned the public caution that has been
made in the papers concerning this case
would be enough to discount brave
act so that 1t would be better Tor the
comrade to allow the knowledge OF his
bravery to sleep In oblivion than to bave
his name published and handed around
es ore who had perhaps done nothing
worthy OF mention, but who was trying
to get credit for and act performed by
others to acquire a reputation for bravery
that he did not perform. l believe COM
rndes should stand closer together and
not allow feelings OF Jealousy to permit
them to discredit or diecount the claims
OF their comrades either for pensions OF
for brave mentions.
l believe that comrades themselves
have done more to prevent liberal PEN
sions and raise the cry OF fraudulent PEN
sions by pointing to others who they
think are receiving more thnn their just
ehare of the government pension money.
IL Comrade buckingham has received
medal for bravery In war | think we
should rather congratulate him for his
good fortune and If anyone else is en-
titled to the epme and pushes his claim
let us give him all the assistance we can
and not more than neutralize the value of
his medal by saying that others as bravo
or even braver than he have not received
the same honor.
MEMBER Co. E. Marehailton, Del