New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-02
HIS COMBUSTION EETCRNED TO BIN

A PARCHMENT FOUND on A DEAD OFFICERS
BODY RESTORED AFTER YEARS TO ITS OWNER.
About two months ago there sent TO The
Tribune a communication from veteran Union
soldier relative TO the finding In the war or
commission OF a former officer OF the Navy on tho
body OF a Confederate officer near Richmond. Va.
The commission the usual parchment issued
10 all officers of the Army or Navy. dated
August 81 1859, and signed by James Buchanan.
President" and Isaac Toucey Secretary OF the
Navy" II commissioned Bennett W Green, or
Virginia, assistant surgeon in the Navy. Dr.
Bennett appointed TO I'LL a vacancy caused by
the death of Surgeon Jones w. Plummer. on Au-
gust 20. 1883. There ten assistant surgeons
appointed to the Navy in that year, DIR. William
bradley who was lost in the Levant in the follow
Ing year. heading the list. The only ones now
living OF the ten are DR.. Green, Medical Director
David Kindleberger. at the head OF the Naval
Hospital Philadelphia. and Medical Inspector
william T.. Taylor (retired) now living at Vallejo,
Cal Four OF the ten entered the Confederate
Navy. namely: Dr. Robert J. Freeman. DR.. Joseph
d. Grafton, DR.. James w. Herty and DIR. Green.
Dr. Grafton originally appointed on Nay %.
1859, resigned July 2, following. and was recommis-
stoned December %. 1879 DR. Green served on
the sloop-ot-war Saranac, on the Pacific. until his
State Virginia seeded and then he Joined the Con-
federate Navy. His experience in Joining the Sar-
accident that will long be remembered
by him. He left NewYork october 81, 1859 a few
days after the John Brown RAID in the vanderbilt
steamship North Star, which stranded on the Plana
Cayos. and remained there for week. As every
body reported lost. DR.. Green had the privilege
OF reading his obituary in the newspapers
Among others OF the officers on the Saranac win
DR.. Green Rear Admiral Joseph Fyne. recently
retired: RearAdmral Richard w Meade. now COM
handing the North Atlantic squadron: Chief In
glneer Il. b. H. Wharton recently at the New
York Navy Yard, and Chief Engineer t1etcher a:
Wilson. These officers were then OF the rank ot
lieutenant. 49,, -. a..
DR. Green was not known TO be living wnen tne
article was published in The Tribune, but seeing me
article referred TO. he Identified the commission a.
his and established his Identity in letter written
by him from Richmond, Va. and the commission
was sent 10 him by a member or the stan or me
Tribune in a registered package. The pubiished
article stated upon the authority or the gentleman
who sent ,he communication 10 this paper, that Dr
Green sery Il Oh rebel Merrirlac IN her ngne
with the Monitor, but the doctor says this is an
error OF fact He dll serve in the Confederate
Navy and when appointed LETT the commission at
lis old home. where Ii was lost with other Things
when the Peninsula occupied by the Federal
troops In 1862 ..
The Tribune has been the means or finding trace
~ many a veteran OF the Confederate service as
we'll as OF the Federal service and has had returned
~ their owners swords and other things OF personal
value through articles published in its columns IL
congratulates itself that DIR. Green has thus been
permitted to recover his original commission which
viii no doubt be appreciated by him and those who
live after him.