The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-18
PAYMASTER OF THE ARMY
ONE OF THE MOST RESPONSIBLE
: POSTS IN THE MILITARY SERVICE.
Present Paymaster General Has Also
and the Indian Wars.
PHILADELPHIA Times.


the United States army To him they
must look for their money. most of which
will be sent home to support mothers. wives
and children. 1t is one of the most respon-
sible posts in the military service of this
country. Its present occupant is General
Thaddeus H Stanton, who was put in that
position by President Cleveland. He more
than any living man. knows the danger of
taking care of Uncle Sans cash. His career
is most remarkable one, and the narrator
can speak of it through enjoying the privi-
lege of his acquaintance. He is the only
officer of his corps who has received honor
airy rank for gallantry in action since the
war of the rebellion. Strong of frame,
sturdy of figure, f1orid of countenance gray
haired, carrying his sixty-three years grace
fully, he presents picture of a typical SOL
dler Politics did not take part in his APP
pointment, he being selected by President
Cleveland simply on his record.
The duties of a paymaster in the army
are more onerous and obligatory than
those of the cashier of bank. He must
take charge of Uncle Sans cash and give
no excuse for its loss. No matter what
condition of affairs may cause it's absence
it requires nothing less than an act of
Congress to remove him from the obliga-
ton OF its security. If he is knocked
down and beaten and the government funds
are Wrested from him he can make no
teepiy. The only response he can give for
cash ee < ni3 cash f6s is the
stanton, throughout his military career,
mas been both a Daymaster and a fighter
army army ethics would have warranted him in
remaining always at headquarters. and yet
ne mas carried his money cnest to the scene
OF action. and to-daM can confront Uncle
sam without penny of loss charged
against him.
General Stanton began his career as a SOL
der FAR back in the ffties, when the Kan
Deneyer in John Brown-Old Ossawattome-
and General Lane. AT that time there was
riotous condition of affairs between the
free States and the pro-slavery Common
Wealths, and in every struggle which dis
tnguished that epoch Stanton participated
In 1860 he went to Washington as private
secretary to Gen. S. r. Curtis, and in the
following spring became member of the
National Rifles, which was part of the mill
of Columbia During this period he did
considerable work as a newspaper man on
Colonel Forney'ss Chronicle, but in 1862. hav-
ing returned to his home in Iowa, he raised
a company of infantry and the same year
was appointed paymaster. He was present
at the surrender of Vicksburg, served
the Potomac and was chief paymaster at
New Orleans in 1864.
THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
When Richmond was ablaze General STAN
ton had the most thrilling experience of his
life.
He is modest man. He hesitates to speak
about himself. Under pressure he gave the
narrator one day this tale about the Rich
mond episode: Il travelled" he said from
Baltimore to Richmond with an armed es-
cort and with $55OOOO OF government money
in my charge. which had been ordered to
carry to Richmond to pay soldiers then on
n hot Mo FI>,1 III
mond was in flames. 1 took the chest con-
tanning the money to army Headquarters
and relieved myself of the obliga ton of its
security. had nothing to eat all day and
was very hungry. Food was not very easy
to procure. | finally ascertained that l
could obtain a meal in Ford's Hotel, which
occupied one side of the public square, l
registered there, went to my room, washed
my hands and face and then went
to the dining room below, where amid
the sound of the turmoil of battle / par
TOOK very meager t-epast. 1 was very
tired and very drowsy and Immediately re-
turned to my sleeping apartment. l had
as | heretofore said deposited Uncle Sam
cash at the department headquarters There
was no gas in the hosiery and l was given
lighted candle to show me my way. When
reached my room noticed on the mantle
piece the scabbard of a dagger which in
that day we knew as the Xxi brand'-which
meant very long and wide weapon made
by Yankee firm. 1t we'll known in
war times. did not know what to make
OF OF It's presence e there; The thought occurred
had previously been in the room However
was so tired and sleepy that 1 Gid not lay
particular stress upon its presence
My room was located on the second floor
ana It's two windows opened upon balcony
and reached from top to bottom of the
closed these blew out the candle and went
to bed and to sleep. 1t was then about 10
o'clock in the evening. At about 2 o'clock in
the morning | awoke and was turning over
on the other side from that on which l had
been resting when | saw the inside shutter
of the far window open. My hac stood on
END. thought at once of that eL pity scab-
bard and expected every moment to feel
knife thrust into my vitals. Bear in mind
that the room was in complete darkness.
From beneath my pillow / drew my revolver
and cooked it and sat up in bee and then
stood upon the floor with the revolver
drawn, expecting every minute 10 feel the
touch of the knife. Just then | saw mans
leg put within the far window. He made no
noise. Again my hair stood on end. / could
not tell owing to the darkness, whether or
not there was another in the room. But /
pointed my pistol towards the window and
began pulling the trigger. There was a
scurry, q Scuff1e, tumuit of mems voices;
the leg disappeared. | kept advancing, still
shooting. l got to the window. There were
men flying in both directions / fired right
and left, without regard to aim. / saw a
man PROSTATE on the ground 1 heard
hsts beating on the door of my apartment. l
turned back and opened the door and found
there the landlord of the hotel in his night
gown. agitated. | said to him: There's a
man out on the veranda that / think is
hurt. You should send for a DOCTOR l
jumped into my clothing as quickly as pos
sible, and when l was dressed they had car
ried the man into the next room l walked
in there and found him stretched upon a
bed AS looked upon him he died On his
body l found the dagger that fitted the
Xxi scabbard which had been left upon
the mantelpiece in my room. How 1t came
there l never knew His companions es-
capped. l learned afterwards that they had
followed me from Baltimore. and imagined
that | carried the government money about
my person How the scabbard was left
where l found it is a problem l have never
been able to solve. My surmse Is that the
robbers entered the room to assassinate me
when | was at supper, and not finding me
there departed and accidentally left the
scabbard behind"
For this killing General Stanton, needless
to say, was never indicted.
HE WENT TO THE WEST.
AS matter Of fact from that period I'M
til 1879 he served as United States pay
master in the city of Richmond, and SUBJ
sequently occupied a similar position in
Washington. But he tired of city life and
asked to be sent upon duty in the wlds of
the West. In 1872 he ordered to the
Department of the Platte, with headquar-
ters at Cheyenne. Even this did not suit
him. He wished to be on the field of action.
Instead of advancing payments from head
quarters he insisted upon being on the field
of action and paying the soldiers where
they were doing the fighting. This is what
- h.. Ia frr Do