The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-11-12

HOSEA BROWN.
times. Three months of the winter he
attended school, and the other seasons
Of the year he spent on the farm. When
he reached the age of 20 his father gave
him little money and Hosea went to
New York and worked on farm i'll
that State for $12 month.
About this time the United States en-
tered upon its second war with Eng
land, and young Brown became pri-
vate in the company of Captain Bur-
giss' New York Volunteers and march
ed to the defense of Sackett'S HarbOr,
Lake Ontario. When the enemy's boats
began to come into view one of the
American commanders, who had spOk-
en- of eating the British at sight, talked
less valiantly, and as he saw the ships
coming at him in a swarm, he doubted
the ability of the American force to
withstand the red-coats. He said he
thought it would be advisable to re-,
treat. AS the boats approached the
shore this militiaman said to his sol
L
treat. and as am little lame I'll start
nOw." And away he went. The United
States commander Brown, by name,
toO), was ashamed of his cOmpatriot
and tried to stop the towards, but
could not The command to which
Hosea Brown belonged refused to run
with it's friends and. stood its ground
unflinchingly. The battle was against
such odds, however, that a retreat was
necessary. The United States generals
sent word to the flying militiamen that
the enemy had been repulsed. This lit
tie trick had the desired effect. and
Sack came the boys, who redeemed their
lost honor by converting almost certain
disaster into a glorious victory.
When his term of service expired
Young Brown returned TO his old home.
At the age of "a years he married Miss
Hester Smith, who bore him two boys
and three girls. IN 1925 he went to
Cataraugus County, New York, and
with no money made his real start in
life. He built Il cabin for himself
working upon it at night, and earning
few cents by thrashing grain for his
neighbors during the day. In this place
he lived forty years, and i'll that time
lost by death his entire family In
1887 he went to Missouri; sold out his
property in New York, and for a time
stopped in Worth County. Tiring of
living alone. he finally removed to the
;. IL,
whom he now resides.
Notwithstanding lis great age, Mr.
Brown retains all his faculties. His
head is clear, his memory good, and his
nerves steady But he has not walked
for three years he lives in comfort
able chair, and cordially receives the
visitors who call to see the old soldier
of the war of lSl2.
Under the original pension law Mr.
Brown received IS month. This pen
sion was increased ten years ago to $12,
and in 1891 Mr.. Brown was granted n
special pension of $40 month. Last
year. in considera ton of his extreme
age. his stipend was further increased
to $50 Il month. He is the oldest sol
1ier receiving pension. and the clerks
in the office take a special pleasure in
his voucher and remitting
the money before any other old soldier
Is paid.
During the past year most remark
able change has come to him. For
fifty years his hair, thick and soft, has
been perfectly gray. Six months ago
it began to turn black and now there
is not gray hair in his head.
How ValIaudigham Was Received.
During the month of May. 1863. as
Private Nunnelee, of the Fifty-first
Alabama Regiment, was on picket
about five miles from Aurfreesboro,
Tenn, Federal officer carrying Il flag
of truce, rode up and inquired for the
Colonel of the regiment. Col. J. ID.
Webb was on the line, Il couple of miles
to the rear, and Nunnelee was sent to
inform him that the Federals were de-
sirous of passing the noted c. l.. Val
within the Confederate
lines, as per order of the Secretary OF
War; Had he come as a recruit for the
ranks he would have been welcome,
but as banished politician no one car
ed to take him. Col. Webb took his
time about riding to the front, and as
he got there Nunnelee was sent down
the road to investigate q second white
flag. This was waving above Il buggy
occupied by lieutenant and Mr.. Val
landigham The officer was driving
and the banished politician was sitting
stiff and erect But few words were
passed as the officer drew rein.
He said to Nunnelee:
Here is Mr. Vallandigham, SEN
fenced to Punishment
Addressing the latter, he said:
Come: | have 10 time to spare
Il protest against this outrage" said
Vallandigham.
.'Yes, but hurry up. I'll take your
trunk off. Jump down now; good-day.'
The man sprang into the vehicle,
turned around, and was off, leaving the
two standing in the road.
Previous to the war, Nunnelee was
editor of Il paper at Eutaw, Ala, and
Vallandigham was one of its readers.
AS they stood there the soldier intro