Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-09-12

Kindness TO an ola h11---13&N 4
Pages sympathy Won His Favor.
/ President IcEinIey's carer Pail.
I began at the outbreak Of tie civil war
says the New York T.r $ Vt tia
time he was a clerk in tie roland post
office. A war meetts . was held IN =
/ Sparrow tavern. Al tie close of a "a
triotic speech by an eloquent speaker
a call was made for volunteers. Young
Mckinley was among those who step
ped forward lie went with the re
cruits to Columbus ana was there en-
listed as a private in Company f o.
the Twenty Ohio volunteer iafan
try. This regiment numbered among
Y its field and staff officers William ;
i Rosecrans, afterward major general.
ana Rutherford r. Hayes. nineteenth
president of the United States.
The life of a soldier WIS beneficial t.
+ young AIcKinley's health. During tie
fourteen months he served a private
he developed from a slip of boy 70
robust young man. He participated IN
all the early engagements IN West Nir-
( ginia. the first OF these be at Carni
fex Ferry. In the winters camp al
Fayetteville he earned and received
his first promotion-commissar ser
geant. 1t was while he was acting in
this capacity that the coffee incident, =
of which an attempt was made to ere
ate ridicule in his first campaign for
the presidency. occurred. Far from
being Il subject of ridicule it was al
incident which reflected the highest
credit upon the young officer.
At the battle of Antietam. while his
regiment was in the thick of the fray,
Sergeant Mckinley was in charge of
the commissary department OF his bri
gade, and necessarily his post of duty
was with the supplies, about two miles
from where his famished comrades
We're battling with the enemy. Enlist
ing stragglers TO help him. Sergeant
Mckinley filled two wagons with cans
containing hot coffee and other sup
plies and hurried them to the front.
The mules of one wagon became dis
abled under the terrific fire. but the
plucky young officer, undaunted, con
tinued his efforts and finally reached
his regiment with the supplies. being
received with tremendous cheers.
General Hayes was badly wounded a
South Mountain. ana when he went
home he told the story to Governor
Todd. The governor was So impressed
with il that he at once requested that
a lieutenant's commission be made ont
for Mckinley. This was done. the
commission dating from Sept. p. 1862.
General Hayes in describing this Incl
dent in a speech At the Lakeside, Cbau-
tauqua. in 1891, said:
From Sergeant AIcKinley's hand ey
cry man in the regiment was served
with hot coffee and warm meats. a
thing which had never occurred under
similar circumstances in any other ar
my in the world He passed under fire
and delivered with his own hands those
things so essential TO the men for whom
he was : ing
While he was a second lieutenant
McKinley's regiment participated in a
number of minor engagements. IN all
of which he showed great gallantry.
On Feb. :. 1853. he received his com
mission as first lieutenant. It was I'M
der his leadership that his company
was the first to scra mble over the forth
fcations at Camp Plat and silence the
enemy's guns. 1t was at the battle Of
gained his greatest military distinc-
ton.
Crooks army was attacked by Ear
ly's. Crook had but 5000 men. while
Early had 10000. General Hayes had
charge Of the first brigade. He was on
the extreme right and was soon at
tackled with such fury that he was
obliged TO fall back toward Winches-
ter. The movement was successfully
executed, except that the Thirteenth
West Virginia regiment failed 10 re
tire and was in imminent danger Of
capture. Lieutenant Mckinley was or
dered TO go and bring the regiment
away, If il had not already fallen into
the hands of the enemy. II was a mis-
sion fraught with the Cravest peril As
he urged his horse through the open
fields. over fences and across bitches
the fire OF the enemy was poured out
upon him.
Once he was completely euveloped in
the smoke Of an exploding shell. and
his comrades. who We're watching his
gallant ride with the grayeSt anxiety.
thought be had surely gone down But
when the smoke had cleared away they
saw him sitting erect in his saddle and
pressing on. He delivered his orders.
and the regiment was rescued after a
desperate conflict with overwhelming
ly superior forces.
As Mckinley came back with the
regiment he was cheered by the whole
brigade. General Hayes was filed with
emotion on seeing him. He loved Nc
Kinley as father. and when he sent
him on his perilous mission be truly
believed. as he said 10 the lieutenant
on greeting him and as be afterward
said in many public addresses. that he
would never see him alive again. That
very same night Lieutenant Mckinley
led parEy Of volunteers to rescue four
guns ana some caissons which were il
imminent danger CT falling into the
hands Of the enemy. Il vas most
dangerous piece Of work. CALAMITY &C
complished. The next day. July -,