Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-06-24
OUAY'S WAR RECORD.
HIS CALAMITY AT FREDERICKSBURG
AS SHOWN IN OFFICIAL REPORTS.

Won 1t Under Special Conditions That
Attest His Courage.
Senator Matthew Stanley Quay is
statesman of renown, but few men
know of his record as a soldier. 1t is
brilliant one. He is, in fact, enrolled as
one of the nations heroes, and the tell
ing of the story of his gallant conduct
on the field of battle may throw some
new light on an interesting character
Senator Quay is man of reserve, and,
unlike most men whose achievements
in war have been creditable, he rarely
refers to his military service and has
never sought to make political capital
out of it. Yet ON his breast he wears
medal of honor awarded to him by the
United States government for conspicu-
GUS gallantry in the late war. 1t came
to him unsolicited by himself, but on
request of the survivors of the One Hun
bred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania
regiment of volunteers who served un-
der him, witnessed his valor, and, as
their testimony shows, held him in the
most lofty admiration.
1t is necessary to secure for soldier
medal of honor, not alone to show
that he went into battle brayely-for
that Is expected of all-but to prove
that he performed some feat of chivalry
outside the line Of his regular duty
which entitled him to especial distinc-
ton. This Colonel Quay did, and those
who served with him bear most f1atter-
ing testimony to it. It was at the battle
of Fredericksburg. Before that battle,
which was one of the hottest engage
ments of the eastern campaigns, Colonel
Quay, who had become enfeebled by
severe attack Of fever, had sent his resig-
nation to the war department.
Recognizing the efficient services he
had rendered previous to his sickness,
being fully appraised of his disability in
consequence of his sufferings and fully
believing that physical unfitness alone
would have prompted him to suggest
that he be relieved Of his command,
Secretary Stanton accepted the proffered
resignation. The notice Of its accept
ance reached Colonel Quay the evening
before the battle of Fredericksburg. To
many men that would have been
source of qualification. But Colonel
Quay is not one of that kind of men.
To retire on the eve Of battle, to his
mind, carried with it something of dis
honor. With the notice Of his resigna-
tion came the appointment of Captain
. Brien as colonel Of the regiment. For
him to remain with his old command
was, therefore, ont Of the question I'M
less he went into the ranks. He an
nounced that this was what he would do
unless place was made for him. A
number of the officers, knowing his con-
dition, tried to persuade him that there
would be no discredit IN ms REMAINING
out of the engagement, his resignation
having been accepted. He refused to see
it in that light, and finding him abso-
lutely determined to participate Gener-
al Tyler made place for him on his
staff, and when the Union army cross
ed the Potomac ON Dec. 13, 1869, and
began the storming of Marye's Heights,
Colonel Quay was in the thickest of the
! fight, his gallant bearing being an in
spiration to all around him.
The fact that Colonel Quay had sent
his resignation to the war department
early in December was known to all the
members of his regiment. While they
were all loath to lose him as com.
mander, in view of his physical condi-
tion there was no doubt entertained but
that his resignation would be promptly
accepted. Accordingly, when the mem
bers of the regiment received their pay
several days before the battle, every SOL
der and officer gave the greatest portion
of it to Colonel Quay to deliver to their
wives or families. The total amount he
received was over $4,000. Having no
better place to put it, he carried it in
his haversack. The Night before the bat
tie Captain j. M. Clark of Company G
of the One Hundred and Thirty fourth
had conversation with Colonel Quay
around the camp fire, which he details
interestingly.
"We were yet ON the north side of
the river" he says, with full assur-
ancC that we would cross and take part
in the impending battle. Meeting the
colonel and seeing his enfeebled condi-
ton, urged upon him to retire"
II cannot afford to 60 home in the
face of battle" he said 81 have prom
Used the One Hundred and Thirty fourth
to stand by them in this fight, and in
tend doing it. will go as far as you
go. 1t may seem foolish, but would
rather die and be called fool than live
and be called a coward.
Captain Clark then relates how he
and the colonel talked about the money
which had been intrusted by the men to
Colonel Quay, Clark urging that the
colonel could do them better service by
going homeland distributing this money
than by remaining. When he found,
however, that Colonel Quay was deter
mined to go into the battle, Captain
Clark asked him what he proposed to
do with the money during the battle.
Colonel Quay's answer was that he
would carry it with him.
"And my hope is" he said, "that