St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-09-06

joined my regiment on the Kappa
hammock, then went to New York to
suppress draft riots, and again back
to the field. Although suffering IA
cial neuralgia all the time, l partici-
pated in the battles of the Wilder
ness and Spottsylvania. / was then
ordered to Annapolis for treatment
of my left eye, and while there re-
NAMED on active duty in military
command of the officers hospital. !
continued on various field duties I'M
til May Z, 1869, when I was ordered
on duty as Indian agent, being in
cludel in a general order providing
for numerous officers who were left
out of their regimental organizations
by consolidation of infantry regi-
ments provided for by act OF con-
gress. The order contained these
words: ''Should vacancies occur en-
titling them to promotion in the reg
ular army during their term of serv-
ice on such Indian duty, they shall
receive promotion the same as though
on ordinary detached military duty"
While thus serving, Maj. Longs eye
became very weak and painful, and
he finally applied for retirement be-
cause of incapacity. To his surprise,
the examining board refused him re-
tirement, although, he had lost one
eve in battle and the other one was
palpably disabled. He applied for re-
lief from duty as Indian agent, and
the necessary order was issued; but
it was sent through the Indian Office
and did not reach him for more than
six months. Not knowing that this
order had been issued; being assured
of being legislated out of the army,
with many others, on December 81,
1870; preferring resignation to being
legislated out, Maj Long resigned.
During the past 80 years he has been
trying to have the wrong righted. by
act of congress. 1t is done at last.
He is restored to the army as a cap
tain and placed on the retired list.
He will receive $500 per month dur
ing the remainder of his life. This
will gradually dispose of his embar-
easements, and support his family in
comparative comfort.
Congressman Hull, of Iowa, chair
man of the house committee on mill
tary affairs, said: 81 am very glad
that Maj. Long has finally succeeded
in getting his bill through both houses
of congress. We have many cases be-
fore the committee, only small pro-
portion of which ever become laws.
Each case is carefully scrutinized, and
you may be sure that only the truly
meritorious cases receive favorable
reports from our committee"
. Gen. Dick, of Ohio, member Of the
committee, says: Eve have subcom-
mittees of the full committee, and in
this manner most of the work is ac-
complished by private Investigations.
When our subcommittee report to
the full committee, we have all Of the
available facts. Consequently, when
a. favorable report is made to the
house by the full committee, through
Chairman Hull, it receives respectful
consideration by the house of repre-
sentatives if the house has time to
take it up. Very many meritorious
cases are sometimes delayed because
the house has not time to take them
up" @
That is true. Many meritorious
cases are delayed year after year, and
sometimes good men die before jus
tice is melted out to them. Maj. Long
and Lieut.. Davidson are made happy,
by having lived long enough to ac-
quire rights which should never have
been taken from them. Justice is not
only blind, but sometimes dreadfully
slow. SMITH d. FRY.