The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-03
WITH JACKSON IN MEXICO.
A VETERAN OF THE JASPER
GREENS A HERMIT IN OREGON.

GREENS A HERMIT IN OHEUONs
Henry MarOny, Long Supposed 10
Have Been Dead, Discovered In the
Mountains of the Northwest
Eking out n Miserable Existence
by Mining-Once Insane His Mind
Is Now ShattereS-An Effort to Sc
cure Him a Pension Revealed His
WhereabOuts-HisO Old Company to
Take steps In His Behalf.
Henry Marony, probably the only sur
viving veteran member of the Irish Jas
per Greens during the Mexican war, with
the exception OF the first commander OF
the company, Gen. Henry r, Jackson, is
now living in a rude cabin in the noun
tains Of Oregon, eking out n miserable
existence by doing a little mining but his
mind has failed him. so that he is no long
er in condition to care for himself. He
is alone and without relatives or friends
TO care for him.
A letter to the New York World, seeking
information which would enable parties
who had interested themselves in Marony
TO obtain pension for him, was received
by the Morning News yesterday. The let
ter tells the story Of his condition, and
at the same time gives information which
enables parties in Savannah to positively
identify him as a Mexican war veteran
of the Irish Jasper Greens. When the
facts are properly presented, as they
doubtless will be, Marony will doubtless
be enabled to obtain the pension which
he so much needs, and which justly he
should have enjoyed for many years.
The letter, which explains itself, is sign
ed l.. Leonard, and reads as follows
Can you find for a poor old Mexican
soldier, who Is now over 20 years old, some
survivors Of his regiment who could iden-
tlfy him, that he may receive his pension,
so justly due him? lie has no relatives
and has been committed once to the in
sane asylum, but was released, and now
lives in a miserable cabin in the noun
tains and ekes out a miserable existence
trying to mine little; but his mind is so
seriously affected that no one goes near
him, and he should have the pension he
is entitled to to support him. 1 will give
you an outline of his statement, made in
lucid intervals to me, that has known him
for thirty years past. He enlisted at Sa-
vannah, Ga, about July 6, 1876. Company,
Irish Jasper Greens q. ]. e., Capt. Nc
or MacMahon or McMahan, Col. H. r.
jackson. Enlisted under the name of
Harry Marony His name he has been
known by here is Patrick Marony. Most
probably his true name is Patrick Henry
To- T. a.
Jelapa, July y; got his proper discharge
papers, but has lost them; got his land
warrant and sold it to parties in New Or
leans. He seems to have enlisted a second
time and served as a teamster, and tells of
driving an ammunition wagon when they
were at the taking of the City of Mexico.
Now, If some of his old comrades or off,
GERS can be found, who can remember him,
a great charity will be done. / wrote to
the pension department once for him, but
-aey said he must have proof that he is
Harry Marony, who enlisted, and he could
not do that, as no one here knows that
he served, save the fact that Col e. D.
Baker, once when he visited this part of
oregon, in a political canvass, recognized
him as a soldier, and one that was on
board some ship where there was some
mutiny and Baker was wounded in quell-
ing it, at Savannah"
The Irish Pasper Greens left Savannah
in June, lS46, with Henry r. Jackson as
captain. At Columbus the regiment was
organized and Gen. jackson was made col
onel, Capt John J. McMahon being elect
ed captain of the Greens. With the death
of Michael Morris several months ago 1t
was generally supposed that Gen. Jack
son was the only surviving member of
the company which left Savannah for
Mexico, with the possible exception of one
member, who, when last heard from, was
residing in Tattnail or one of the adioin-
ing counties.
Gen. Jackson was seen yesterday at his
home, at Bull and Castor streets, by a
Morning News reporter and was shown
the letter quoted above.
THAT letter contains information" said
Gen. Jackson, which positively Identifies
Marony as member of the Irish Jasper
Green's There are some errors, but these
only go to show that the writer was en-
deavoring to state facts and that
no deception was intended. 1 do not re-
call the name Of Marony. I have never
possessed the faculty Of holding names
and faces in my memory and even If had
il would hardly be expected that after
such a lapse OF time ] should recall the
name OF one of the many men who have
served under me But the statements con-
tanned in the letter are true. The Irish
Jasper Greens left Savannah
june 1850 capt. Nc
Mahon had been largely instrumental in
organizing the company, even more so
than myself. but was elected captain and
Mcmahon lieutenant. From Savannah
we went to Columbus, where the Georgia
regiment was organized, and 1 was elected
colonel. Capt. Mcmahon was then elect
ed to the command Of the company The
reference in the letter to Col Baker
and to a mutiny on board ship at which
Baker was wounded, is that which proves
positively to my mind that Maroney was
present at the time The trouble. which
was not { mutiny by any means. did not
occur at savannah which is evidently a
mistake of ne correspondent writing In
Marony's beh 2, but on the Rio Grande
river, near a tie place called Burlta.
where we were 40 ,amp. There was a Col.
Baker, l do not remember what his int
tails WERE who CO ,'randed the Third iii.
nois Regiment, whcA afterwards so u.s.
tinguished it'elf at 'e battle Of c rro
Gordo. The Third iii is was one 2. the
finest regiments In tho mericrl army
which did service in IA -ico. rho regi-
ments which most distn- pshed them
selves In the Mexican war were almost
entirely from the southern states. but the
Third Illinois was magnificent ex-