New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-22
USEFUL "OFFICIAL RED TAPE.
IN THIS INSTANCE BRAVE UNION VETERAN
WILL RECEIVE PLEASANT SURPRISE.

| N THIS INSTANCE A BRAVE UNION VETERAN
WILL RECEIVE PLEASANT SURPRISE.
Washington. Feb Il (specaD.-A recent expert
ence Of a Tribune correspondent showed that some
times. at least. official red tape makes possioie
the solution OF, what otherwise might forever re-
main a mystery. and that also without great eh-
penditure OF time. In this case. which may fairly
be called an unusual one. brave Union veteran
will receive a pleasant surprise. On Wednesday
the correspondent informed by Texas friend
that Colonel W. r. Teller manager Of the Metro
politan Hotel in Washington. who was formerly
member OF the 18th Virginia Regiment. OF Mahones
Brigade during the war. had received from Cap
tain NJ. B. Rowe. OF Fredericksburg, Va. another
ex Confederate an interesting souvenir OF the war
which bore the OF soldier OF one OF inc
New-York regiments. Colonel Teller was anxious
return the souvenir TO the soldier II he was sui
living and could be found. TO his relatives II
he was dead. and the correspondent was Invited
TO call and inspect II and lend his AID IN the
search
Hanging in a place Of honor on a wall OF Colonei
Teers private room. which is comfortably hiled
with souvenirs and relies OF the war the CORE
spondent Springfield rife which was recent
ly found. half imbedded in the earth. by Captain
Rowe In the Wilderness while ne. with others.
was engaged In preliminary survey OF the battle
fields OF Charlottesville Fredericksburg the VIII
derness and Spottsylvania Court House. with a
view TO the establishment Of National military
park 10 include these historic neIOs lne rHie IL
in a remarkable state Of preservation. considering
that II had been in the woods exposed 10 the ee-
ments for than thirty-three years since II
fell from the grasp Of the brave soldier who bore It.
Two things Immediately attracted the CORE
spondent's attention The hammer OF the gun was
half-cock indicating that the soldier after load
ing had brought II TO his shoulder; the deep scar
of bullet on the left side Of the breech indicated
that he was wounded killed before he could fire.
The probability seemed 10 be that the bullet which
had stopped him in the act OF firing had also ended
his life. On the leather gun-sling. which is still
intact. these words had been carved: L. Dusai.
Company F, i4Gth N Y"
With a memorandum OF this inscription. the cor
respondent called Colonel F. c. Ainsworth. OF
the Army. at the War Department and asked;
How long will 1t take you give me the military
history OF l. Dugal. formerly of Company T. 146th
New-York Volunteer InfantryT'
''oh. ten minutes perhaps; come with me, was
the reply.
Colonel Ainsworth led the way room in
which, arranged in hle-cases, are the military his
tories OF all the men that New-York sent TO the
during the Rebellion-"one seventh Of the total
number" remarked the Colonel Each case Is
plainly marked with the number OF the regiment
and the letter Of the company. Without hesita-
ton Colonel Ainsworth drew out Of the cases.
and in less time than it takes to write 1t he pro-
duced a package OF papers containing the military
record of Louis Dugal. Company F. 10th New-York
SOlunteer Infantry. who enlisted at White Plains.
Westchester County September g. 1852 and was
mustered into the service at Rome. n. Y. Oc
tober 10 Of the same year. He must have been
brave and faithful soldier for January 81. 1858.
ne promoted TO the grade OF sergeant. and on
November II, 1862 to that of first sergeant of his
company
Before the latter date he had passed unscathed
through the battles OF Fredericksburg Chsnceors-
Vile and Gettysburg and other engagements In
which his regiment bore honorable part, and the
mad thaf ha had oil bCa
present for duty. on the morning report Of May
g. 1864, however (the second day OF the battle Of
the Wilderness ne was reported missing" and il
was not until September that he again ac-
counted Ior on the reports OF his company COM
mander hen ne reported absent, wounded
at Camp Parole, Annapolis, Nd
"Dugal captured well as wounded. and We
must look at another record. remarked Colonei
Ainsworlh.
another fleecsse Containing cards winch gave in
brief the prison and hospital record OF every man
onds produced that of Sergeant Dugal 1t showed
and while held as a prisoner Of had suffered
amputaton OF his left leg as the result OF gunshot
Richmond Va. and to the hospital at Camp
Parole, Annapolis ana was honora ok disen a
ord ended as far as tho War Department was con-
cerned. and IT had been produced and exhibited
rs Dusai Sun living" was the next question -
find out. and to the Pension Bureau the CORE
spondent went. An examination or the files speed
~ N
TO Sergeant Dugals case A pension at the rae OF
sl5 a month mad been granted TO him on June s.
1896 and had been increased from time 10 time until
In 1856 II was raised TO $50 This pension certificate
showed that the pensioner had not only received a
gunshot wound resulting In the amputation OF MS
left leg but also fracture OF the right clavicle
This was pretty conclusive proof Of the correctness
OF the theory deduced from the fact that the ham
mer Of his gun still stands at half-cock and that
the left side OF the breech is SCARED by a bullet
that the soldier In the act OF firing when ne
was shot The latest letter from Dugal In the hles
was dated IN 1886 when he was forty-nine years old
If living now he would be sixty lone years Of age.
Was he still ave?" The Acting Commissioner
Of Pensions. Mr.. Davenport hestated moment
and then replied ~ . 49,,
Wait here few moments and will see. With
In ten minutes ne returned and said: MIR. Dugal Is
alive and his address is p. o. Box No. 22ss. Den
YER Col 1 judge that he may be lawyer and
man os some prominence.
When Dugal enlisted in 1862 his occupation was
that OF carpenter. According 10 the latest city
directory Of Denver. which the correspondent con-
suited IN the Library Of Congress. Mr.. Dugal In
Colonel Teller. who surprised as well as de-
lighted and said that he would Immediately COM
municate with Mr.. Dugal He added: -
My pleasure In restoring his gun TO him VIII ne
all the greater because OF incident which hap
pened twenty odd years ago. when a Massachusetts,
hayersack on the batteneId OF Anleinrn wrote 10
Richmond 10 ascertain whether any OF mis- relatives
we're living and could be found. On the Zap Of the
haversack his name and command were plainly
marked Among the contents OF The haversack
was a Bible which the boys mother gave him when
he left hon. for the war, and that returned TO
her by the Massachusetts soldier. need not say
that Il is OF the most precious possessions OF
the family to-day"