The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-21
Comrads Britton for Deputy Commissions

COmLauO DTiItOu loT Dcputy
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: A good
many readers of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
have noted with satisfaction your reference
to Comrade Wiley Britton, of Kansas City,
Kan, for Deputy Commissioner of Pensions.
Now, desire to offer few words in behalf
of Comrade Britton for that position.
We served in the same regiment the 9th
Kan. Cav from 1861 to 1865. There are
perhaps few men who have suffered more
for their principles than Comrade Britton
and his family. His father lived at NeOshO,
in southeastern Missouri, when the war
came, and was one of Is Republicans in the
County who were known rs Abolitionists,
and who went to the polls in a body IN No
vember, 1860, and voted for Abraham Lin
coin for President. In July, 1861, when
Gen. Sigei was sent into southwest Missouri
the elder Nh. Britton. with several members
OF his family, drove out in his carriage and
met the General about 10 miles from NeoshO,
and marched with him at the head OF the
column into town. The next day Sigel
marched to Carthage to engage the rebel
force under Gems. McCulloch and Price
coming up from Arkansas.
Mr. Britton was obliged to flee from home
stocked with horses and cattle, and he
had several thousand bushels of wheat and
corn ON hand. This property was all taken
from him by the rebel troops and guerrillas,
and his fences destroyed. He was scout
and guide for the Union troops operating in
southwest Missouri and northwest Arkan-
sas during the war, and had many narrow
escapes from death. He was once captured
By Coffee's command, and condemned to be
shot as hostage, but he was finally ex-
changed for prominent Southern man who
was held by the Union troops.
In February, 1853, Comrade Wiley Britton
ran off from home and came to Kansas to
Join Lane and other Free-State men in max
ing Kansas free State, but after year in
the Territory returned home and attended
school at Neosho until Fort Sumter was fired
upon, when he came back to Kansas, stop
ping near Gardner. On hearing Of the bat
tie Of Carthage, which caused intense ex-
citement along the border, he fastened back
home, passing around the rebel pickets after
dark, to bring his father and the family to
Kansas. He arrived at Fort Scott with his
father and oldest brother the last of July,
1861, when the two SONS enlisted in the 9Th
Kan. Cav, then being organized at that
place.
The brother who came ont with the sub
iect of this sketch was MORALLY wounded
in action at Coon Creek in August, 1862
and younger brother, who belonged to the
9th Mo. S. NJ. Cav, was killed in action near
Joplin, Mo-, while calamity charging guer-
rilla camp with detachment under Lieut.
Baxter, in February, 1865.
COmrade Wiley Britton kept diary o
operations during the war, and since thu
war has written Two volumes of The Civil
War on the Border" one of which has beer
published by Putnam's Sons, New York
The published volume has been fayorablJ
reviewed by the leading journals from New
York to San Francisco
For 40 years Comrade Britton has beer
working for the Republican party and thu
country. and has done all in his power Il
contribute to the glory and greatness o
both.
Comrade Britton is warm-hearted, true
| Christian gentleman, MODEST and retiring
| and keenly alive to the welfare of his com
rades, and their interests would be safe il
| his keeping. The widow and orphans ap
| peal would be favorably looked into, and hi
big heart wouldsgo out to them; in the Ian
guage of the immortal Lincoln: To hin
| who has born the battle and to his widow
and orphans"
| Comrade Britton is Historian of the 6tl
Kan Cav. Veteran Association, organized i
years ago, and his comrades everywhere vii
be delighted to hear of his appointment b.
| President Mckinley to q position he is s
eminently qualified to fill and so justly en-
titled tO.-ROBERT HENDERSON, Captain
Co. G, 9th Kan. Cav, and ex-President 6tl
Kan. Cav. Veteran Association, junction
4 Kau