The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-09-27
Injustice to Some Missouri Commands.

EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: L saw an
account in The NATIONAL TRIBUNE of
Aug. 2 from ID. L. Griffith, gid No., and
again in the issue of Sept. q, from John
NJ. Williams, of the 44th Mo-, which
comes nearer being correct than Comrade
Griffith's. / will relate what occurred in
Ray Co., Mo. All loyal men were Or
dered into active service on the 18th of
July, 1862, by Gov. II. r. Gamble, and
were sworn into the United States and
service Of the State of Missouri by Maj.
Biggers, Of Col. Pennick's 9TH Mo. Mill
tia, and began drilling. There were many
rebel sympathiZers enrolled, but shortly
they began to get out. There was a Board
of Surgeons appointed to give exemption
papers: and the doctors were very busy
for some time. Some of the boys thought
there must be something wrong, SO / pro-
posed to them that | would find out the
secret. AS my leg had been broken at the
ankle some time before, made that plea
for exemption from duty. l appeared at
the office, but found several ahead of me,
SO had to wait my turn. Some of them
said, What are you here for, Sergeant"
for they knew my sentiments and were
anxious to find out what l was up to. When
my turn came to be examined i pulled off
my boot and the doctors felt around my
ankle and then went off and whispered to-
gether, then came back and examined me
again, then went off and whispered again,
doing this several times and finally de-
claring that they could not exempt me.
asked them if there was no way | could
get out of the service, as | was tired Of
it. They consulted together some time,
and told me l could pay out. l asked them
how much it took, to be easy with me, as
l had very little money. They finally
came down to $50. then told them did
not want to get out of the service, but
only came there to find them out, as we
had suspected something wrong.
Some men gave the doctors sums rang
ing from SO to 500; others gave horses,
etc. The doctors made lots of money.
The money We were paid in no one
would take unless we discounted it Is per
cent. We had to furnish our own horses,
saddle and bride, and were scouting night
and day after guerrillas and bushwhack-
ers. The notorious Bill Anderson. was
killed within two miles of my place. We
lost several good Union men-Lieut. Tun-
mage, Capt. Colly, Lieut.. Page, Comrade
Shoemake and several others. We had
harder and more dangerous work than if
we had been at the front. l was bush
whacked while sitting at my own door.
Yet we are allowed no pensions, nor are
we admitted to Soldiers Homes; though
we were armed and equipped by the
United States Government and the State
together, and furnished ammunition and
rations and clothing. In August, 1864,
most of the Union men went into the Nth
Mo. and other regiments.
The provisional regiments were raised
about this time. Many of the members
were rebels and rebel sympathizers; most
of them never heard gun fired except to
clean it out; yet they are now drawing pen
sions of $40 and So per month, and can
be admitted to Soldiers Homes if they
choose to go. | understand the United
States had reimbursed the State for the
expenses of the militia to something like
S6,OOOO00 and since they did that they
must certainly recognize us as belonging
to the army; yet we are deprived of all the
privileges Of old soldiers-WLLIAM FER
GUssoN, Sergeant, Co. G, 51st e. NJ. NJ,
Drrick Mo