The National tribune., 1899-09-21

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number of cases that came under my own
observation OF men who from force of cir
cumstances under the conditions in the
South, went into the Confederate army and
remained for short time. but took advan-
tage OF the first opDortunity To get ont and
go 10 the Federal army. and enlisted and
stayed with our army, until the close of the
war, and made rs brave and gallant soldiers
as ever shouldered a musket Many of them
returned home broken-down in health. but
went 10 work like brave heroes (which they
were) to fight life's battles as test they
could. many of them never receiving a cent
as pension, and many of them in their old
ana declining years are now being told by
the Department that they cannot be PEN
stoned on account of some trivial connec-
ton they had with the Confederate army at
n tlme when they were in the eHemy's
country surrounded and absolutely power
less, Notwithstanding the Government ac-
cepted their services, and they made as
good soldiers as any men from the North
or anywhere else, and in my honest judg-
ment they deserve as much, If not more,
credit for the part they took than the men
who lived in loyal State, where it was not
only safe but extremely popular to speak
and act for the Union. Besides, it took
much more courage and nerve for
man in the South to assert his LOYALTY to
the Government of the United States than a
man who lived in loyal State, where it did
not endanger his life or sacrifice all his
property Tor him to express his views favor
ably to the Union side. 1 know from ex-
perience and observation that the men in
the South who We're loyal and had the
moral courage and nerve to assert it had to
undergo many dangers and hardships that
the people of the North knew nothing of,
and .arhaps never WILL and I believe II the
Department and our lawmakers could fully
reallZe the hardships and dangers that the
South had to undergo, they would amend
the Law. make a foIrora hla
on the question of pensions for men in the
South. L desire to say here that | know
whereof speak, for 1 was born and raised
IN the South, to wit, Arkansas. l was a
soldier IN the I'd Ark. Cav, and was wound
ed OF Boonvllle, Mo, on the Price raid and
am getting pension for said gunshot
wound, and so you see this law does not
affect me personally at all, and only write
this in the interest of others of my COM
rades whom | know are justly deserving,
and have been refused anything, after they
nave served their country faithfully, and
was never known to falter on battlefield,
no matter how hot. 1 remember on one
occasion, and you will pardon me for men,
honlng II, in hard contest near Jefferson
City, Mo, Col. Graverly, of the Sth Mo-,
asked our Colonel, the brave and gallant
John h. Phelps, to take his regiment to the
front, which he did with victorious results.
The gallant Colonel of the Missouri regi-
ment said his men, the 8th Mo, were as
good and as true men as ever lived, but said
they cannot shoot like your men from
Arkansas" Yet some of those very men
whose services were needed and highly
appreciated during the war are now, when
their steps are getting short, their eyesight
dimmed, their heads are white as wool. and
many of them afflicted with rheumatism as
result OF their exposures and hardships
while in service, SO disabled that they are
hardly able to fight ife's battles much
longer, without help, are being turned
away and their pensions being stopped, il
they are drawing one, and il not, their
claims are being refused on this account,
that in the early part of the war, they lived
in the South. and could not help showing
sympathy with the South, whether it was
real or not Now to turn these men away,
and say there is no help at the hands of this
grand Commonwealth, that these old COM
radeS fought so hard to save, seems too hard
for a liberal people like ours, and I trust
those in authority will carefully investigate
both sides of this great question.
In conclusion, desire to make only one
personal reference, which is only sample
of hundreds of cases in the South. A
rather aged man, with one son, who was
a stout, healthy boy of II years, lived near
my home. They were truly loyal people;
the old gentleman was good liver, and had
considerable property. They were sur
rounded by people who were in strong SYM
pathy with the South, and after the war had
fairly opened and the excitement was get
ting pretty high, the father came home one
night very much excited, for he well knew
that they were looked upon as Union
people, so he said TO his son at their home, in
the presence of his wife, the boys mother,
that one of them would have to go into the
Confederate army. The boy said if one
must go, as he was young, he would go.
They discussed the situation. Some COM
panies were being made up near their
home, and it was then agreed that the son
would enlist, and stay along with the
Confederate army to keep down suspicion
and save their property until such a time
as they could feel reasonably safe in irving
to get to the Federal army, and it was
agreed and understood that when the first
opportunity presented itself, they would
both make a break for the Union lines. The
young man stayed with the ConfederateS
part of the time as n soldier and part of the
time at home; STAYED at home all he could,
and did only what he had to do to keep up
appearances until in the Fall of 1863, when
the old man and his son decided to assert
their principles at all hazards, so they set
out to reach the Union lines. which they
did by travelling, not by day along the pub
lie highways, but by night through the
woods They succeeded in reaching the
Union army; the young man at once en-
listed, his father was too old, and therefore
could not enlist, but remained most of the
time with the army and did valuable service.
Inc young man remained continuously
with the army to the close of the war, and
made as good and true a soldier as any
man who ever set his foot upon American
soil. This man is in his declining years,
unable to make living by his manual
labor, and Notwithstanding he was always
loyal and did valuable service as soldier,
he has up to this date never received a cent
as pension, and is now told by the Depart
ment that his claim is efused ON account Of
his slight connection with the Confederate
army under these conditions. So trusting
that you may deem this article worthy Of
a place in your valuable paper, remain,
yours respectfully-M. r. BRISCo, Co.
l., I'd Ark Cav, Fort Smith, Ark.
The Custer Relic Cannon.
A feature of the parade of the Army Of
West Virginia at the Philadelphia En-
campment was the famous old Custer
cannon and the old division flag. The can
NON vac made in S76Of relics SlIch aS smear