The evening times., 1895-12-17
lU1H0R OF UNCLE DINI[L
Interesting Question About Gen.
Logan and Soma War Stories.
ATTACKS ON PUBLIC MEN
"Uncie Daniels Story of Tom john
son and Twenty Great Battles. Is
the Subject of Renewed Discussion.
Published Soon After Gen. Logan
Ran for the Wee Presidency.

vas ten. Logan the author of 'Cnc1
nabatl Story" is not new question. bu
one which has been revived within a few
| days.
The book that made a sensation amonl
public men ten years ago has been fastened
TO the late general as its author In tl
minds OF good many people. Some care
rul inquiry which has been made within
few days goes to show, however. that n
was not the author Of those famous wa
yarns.
II is not Generally known among thos
VINO nave read the book that the collection
OF storics was formerly published in seria
iorfn III lire National Tribune. There ii an
peafed AS '.Cncle Daniels Story of Ton
Johnson and the Great Rebellion" whe
Ine BOOK WAS published by-a New Yorl
ilrn II was Called Uncle Daniels Slor,
OF Tom johnson and Twenty Great Battles >
In both cases the authors name wa
Kept reiiEfously secret. and >'IInc,c Dam
lei s identity was the subject OF variou,
conjecture. The nom de plume was simpl,
AN officer Of the Union Army"
As Gen. Logan answered this brief de-
bcrlptlon ana was known to be "a rlthcr
! prolific writer. senie one started the story
That he was the author, and the story
| went"
"Uncle Daniels book raised n breeze i'm
! The cainDs or The preseDt-day ponticians
| anu mat was the principal claim which the
DOCK had TO popularity. II coyertly at
4
conduct during the years of the war. Their
nailics were given only nominal conceal
| hien,. under the thinnest paraDhrase.
senator voorhees, of Indiana even felt
called upon 10 publish letter in seiI-dc-
| Tense.
The book appeared in | $50. shortly before
Gen. Logan's death. The serial was run
ning III the National Tribune during he last
half of l SS5.
A Times reporter set out last evening to
ascertain. II possible. the true authorship of
the book II was found 10 be a large task.
SENATOR CULLoM's OPINION.
Senator Shelby NJ. Cullom of Illinois is
known TO be an Intimate friend OF the Log an
1ainily. The Senator was visited at his
house. Yes, he remembered Uncle ban
Iei's Story very well. He recalled what a
sensation 1t had made a round The Ca pitoI.
was Gen. Logan the author Of the
book. SeDatorr''
That l 60 not know. really doub, IL
he was. II lie wrote 1t, he did so without
ever making any mention or the fact to me.
never asked him IL he wrote the book
II bad, Ire would have told me. am sure
DO you think be would have. told YOU
in any case, If he Wrote it?''
Yes. l think lie would. John and I
Were close friends, and We made mutual
coulideDces, or course. ! have no right
TO DE positive that lie would have yoIn-
would"
Senator Culiom stated that no word had
ever passed between him and the Logan
family on the subject.
Mrs, Logan is in Europe. and so cannot
be called upon to confirm or deny the
rumor.
At the National Tribune building. on
Seventeenth street, Editor McEiroy sat
BACK In his chair and knowingly smiled
at the queries put to him.
Il came on to the Tribune i'll 'si.' he
said, and very soon after | came that
story began To run as serial in our paper"
THE MYSTERY DEEPENS.
do yon deny that Gen. Logan wrote that
story" asked the reporter. pointedIy.
Mr.. McElroy smiled again. .'Yes-well
no. don't think il would De policy for me
TO deny it, don't deny that wrote il my
sell, Tor that matter. Some people have de-
clared their belief that was the author.
1T lsa similar case to The Money Makers
That made such q sensation a white ago.
The publishers of that book couldn't be in
duced TO give away their secret. and they
never Will until there ceases 10 be Il business
advantage in keeping IL dark
Upon examining the files a significant
letter from Gen. Logan was found printed
in the paper in August. 1855. at the very
tine when the serial was running. The let
ter was used an an announcement by the
publisher, and read as follows;
Sir: In response TO your many kind
cences OF the war for yo1r paper 1 have de-
cidei to try to do something In that line.
/ have been so busy with political and
other cares for a long time. ana though /
have recognized the pleasure OF writing
TO such vast constituency as YOURS. 1
have been unable TO avail myself or the
privilege. l can not say that am very
much less busy now. but hope that before
long. probably within the next few months.
/ shall be abie TO write some of my war ex-
perences for your paper Yours truly.
JOHN A. LOGAN"
II the letter means all that appears on
its face. and nothing more. Gen. Logan
did not write Uncle Daniels Story"
was an elaborate" bluff' and was designed
10 forestall any possible gdess al the author
ship OF The story. Gen. Logan was a saga
.ious man. More than that. he was a
politician, though he was not n cheap
and he may have adoptcd this
method as an heroic measure. Which he saw |
would be necessary as the sensation over
.,ibterfuge was evidently lost sight or. Tor ]
he letter has not generally been quoted |
heretofore in the discussions
SENSATIONAL REMIN IsCENCEs.
One of the incidents related in the book |
s in reality a hard rap mt the governor |
If Indiana in 1862. After relating how the
governor was found in a barn one night ad-
lressing a meeting OF the Order OF the |
iolden Circle. the author proceeds TO tell
,ership in the order. One OF them was. Ito |
ncourage Union soldiers TO desert: to help
N the Confederate cause by every possible
means: to refuse TO testify against the
murderer of Union men. II the murderer
e a member of the order" &c.
Then Uncle Daniel proceeds:
About tD1S tlIllc IcNetNtu IL JIoh
Washington summoning me 10 II at city at
nee, I was off in a hurry. l went 10 the
Executive Mansion Immediately. sent IN
nv name and was promptly admitted;
when / came into the presence OF Nj
.incoul he said:
- We'll, friend -" laying his hand on
ny shoulder, I hear strange stories from
our State
- Yes, Mr. Preside Mt. don't tmisunderstand
ne: / don't say that every one is loyal
Q the Union, and the unloyalty Is among
ur highest officials.
Then the interview proceeds with tax
bout less interesting matters.
In another part of the book Col. Bush.
monument figure in the stories. asks
rncIa Daniel to tell a story. Uncle Daniel
hen tells something about Dan Bowen. a
rOnlinent public man, who uenounces tnc
yar in bitter terms. and expresses senu-
rents of the most treasonabie character.
one of the hearers interrupts Uncle Dan
i IN ask him what has become OF the man.
81 unJerstand," said he, that he now
ccupjrs one OF the highest positions which
ne people OF Indiana can give 10 one OF
s citizens"
-as the author it is believed tnat aoI!
nhnsnnn represents Gen. Logan hlmseii, ,
nj that .Uncle Daniel'' is Daniel McCook
[ Ohio fame.
Med ,cal Association Elects Off'cers.
The Medical Association OF Georgetown
last evening elected the follow.
,g OFFICERS: President, X. a. Edmonston,
i,, president, ]. l.. Wall; treasurer; >. a.
iark..: recording secretary, J. r.. Kemp,
,rrespOnding secretary, IL. Riesinger; IL
rnriau f Al. Power.