Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-07
EXIT OF "FIGHTING PAYMAsTER."
General stanton a Prominent Figure
In HiNtnrN of the Eronllcr.


In History of the Frontier
MOUNT PLEASANT, Ia, Feb. 6-(Spe-
ial)-The placing on the retired list or
Brigader General Thaddeus II. Stanton,
paymaster general of the United States army,
takes from active duty one OF the best
known and most highly esteemed officers
of the army. General Stanton, although
born in Indiana may really be claimed as
an lowan, for 1t was in Iowa that he began
his career. He came to Mount Pleasant in
1855. mere lad, possessed of more energy
than money or clothing, and secured em-
ployment in the Office of the Iowa True
Democrat. The publication was strong
pro-slavery sheet and did much to aid col
ored passengers travelling on the under
ground railway In 1866 A. r. Wicker
sham purchased the material and press oil
the True Democrat and, assisted by stanton,
removed 1t TO Washington, Ia, set 1t up IN
the courthouse, then occupying the center
Of the square, and started the Washington
Press, now owned and published by Ii. A.
Burrell
That summer the John Brown disturbance
in Kansas was too inviting for young stan
ton and he was soon on his way TO Kansas
where he offered his services to the famous
leader and took part in the ''skirmishes"
in behalf of fright, justice and freedom
After Browns death Stanton again took UP
his stick and rule and set type In the Press
Office at Washington, Ia, till 1850, In 1861 ne
was chosen private secretary to Genera
Curtiss and went to Washington, ID. u,
where he soon after joined the Coium o'aii
volunteers, making the Famous moonlighI
march with that organization across the fo-
tomac bridge to Georgetown. little later
he was mustered out and returned TO MS
Iowa home and in the fall Of 1861 was
elected to the Iowa general assembly from
Washington county. Returning TO wash
ington on the adjournment OF the leg'sia-
ture. he was commissioned to raise COM
many of volunteers and soon had Company
mustered into service with the Nine
teenth Iowa infantry he being captain OIL
the company.
Not long after the Nineteenth had been
mustered into service Captain stanton was
commissioned paymaster with the rank OIL
major. He took part in and was present at
many OF the great battles of the rebeliloh
and was at Vicksburg when the city surren-
dered. He was ordered to Cheyenne, the
Headquarters of the Department OIL the
Platte, in 1872, and in 1875 accompanied
| General Crook on his expedition into the
Black Hills and later was made chfet OF
Indian scouts by General Crook, and was In
active service against Crazy Horse on POW
| der river Montana. In the raid on Crazy
Horses village Major Stanton and his as
sociates captured many implements OF In
| dian warfare and thousand or so ponies.
| Following this he was on field duty under
| General Sheridan, taking part in the battles
! and maneuvers of the scouts in the Chey-
enne campaign, again Joining General Crook
| on Goose river, taking command OF the
scouts on their raid against Sitting Bull.
| In 1876 Stanton was with General Crook in
his operations against Chief Dull Knife, and
| for his distinguished bravery and gallant
services Major Stanton was, on recommen-
dation of General Crook, brevetted colonel
| These acts Of heroism won for him the de-
! served title Of the Fighting Paymaster.
His retirement concludes an army service oi
thirty eight years. He has decided to return
| to Omaha to reside permanently