Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-11
General 7. n. stanton.

on the Goth day Of January mex. there
will be placed on the retired list of the
army of the United States one whose con
tinuous service of over tnlrty-elBnt
years bears testimony to the yaior as well
as to the self-sao rificing and conscientious
devotion to duty that has won for him
the praise. respect and love OF his fellow
officers and subordinates. Four years
before the opening of our Civil war
Thaddeus ii. Stanton armed himself 10
fight In the cause Of right justice ana
freedom Inherent within him was the
strong conviction that slavery was NOR
ally wrong. and that It's fun and complete
determination was necessary TO the peace
and prosperity OF his country.
This conviction led him, during the year
1851. and at the age Of Y. TO offer MS
services TO John Brown In his determined
Kansas campaign. For nearly two years
was he thus engaged. an active combat
ant In nearly every conflict winch took
place between the free-state ana pro-
slavery factions lending on many an
occasion signal assistance to his chief.
To Brown and to his band Of followers
WAS given the work OF spreading. by force
OF arms. that gospel Of freedom which
Garrison. Philips ard others were thun-
dcring forth from the platform. and to
which Whittier and Lowell were bring
ing the force of their powerful verse.
lie must have been among the very first
to respond 70 the cOuntryS need In 1851.
Tor We find him enl!sting on the 18th day
of April in the First Battalion. District
of Columbia Volunteers. three months
organization. from which ne was honor
ably discharged on the 18th day Of July
following. Then FOR nearly year he
served as a member OF the General As
81 mbIy Of Iowa. being again, on August
Is 1872. mustered Into the service of his
country as captain Of Company c. Nine
teeuth iowa Infantry, which company he
raised.
Immediately upon the fall Of Richmond
he was selected by the secretary Of war
for The responsible position of chief pay
master Of the department. with the brev-
1t rank OF Neutenant-Coloncl. During
this assignment. which lasted until 1870,
hc mad under his charge the dis5urse-
mett of reconstruction funds for the first
military district. the auditing of public
accounts for the state of Virginia. the
collection OF al its taxes and the pay
early months of 1871 General Stanton
served as "a member Of the board 10 adj
jus; the war claims OF the state of Kan
s3S against the United States.
From 1871 until the time when he was
summoned 20 Washington to take his
well-earned promotion TO the rank Of
briga dicr-Ecnerai. serving Is paymaster-
general ~ the army. his service was al
most without interruption on the plains.
where for many years ne was OF mark
its repeated conflicts with the Indians.
In February. 1876. ne was selected by
General Crook a. the man best fitted 10
serve as his chief of scouts. that body
of frontiersmen which was Of such great
service 10 the commanding officers in a
operations against Sitting Bull, Crazy
Horse Dun Knife and other hostile red
men. In this position General Stanton
first secured to the government the ser
vices OF Colonel William r. Cody. better
and more Familiarity known ~ buffalo
Bill Generals Sheridan and Crook. Cen
erals Merritt and Mics, each OF " HON in
his turn saw hard service among the In
dams. came 10 value al their fall y'9v'n
General S;anton's services on the from
tier.
During all the time he was employed d.
the plains General Stanton Wa ''kcW -
fulfilling his duties as Il member Of the
pay corps Of the army, and was made
aymaster-general by Cleveland n 1895,
He has handled millions Of dollars wi;h
never a single cent of deficit. He Is IN
selfish ana kind. always cons!der2.e cf
others. He il worthy exponent Of Ia.
line Of Addison. The hero and the man
complete