The Washington herald., 1906-12-09


service in the army of Uncle Sam, now,
at the age of eighty-two, has retired
from his labors. Surrounded by many
friends and blessed in his family, he
spends his well-earned leisure indulging
his taste for reading; in fathoming the
intricacies of bridge" and in coming
over the memories OF the past Glorious
memories they must be- too. Extending
back 10 the year 1915 when. as a cadet
at the Military Academy. he first donned
the uniform which he was TO wear with
honor through many a bitter night; MEM
ories that tell of the friendship of Lin
coin. stanton, Buchanan. Grant, Sher-
man, and Of Jefferson Davis and his
l sUeet-faeed wife who We're proud TO
&Aumber the young soldier among their
friends The sword is laid away. but
the memories remain, and with the sword
is put away the Medal of Honor awarded
10 the soldier whose skin and energy
beat back the legions OF Stop wall Jack
son and stopped. at a critical time, what
threatened 10 become q hostile investment
of Washington
ton was born in Greenfield. Mass. Octo-
ber 1a 1874 He was not. like so many
Of his confreres in the civil war. made a
soldier simply because Of the need of his
country in a time of peril: he took up
the profession Of arms from choice.
There have always been soldiers in our
family" ne says. And although in the
United States every man is his own an
cestor, the family roll of the SaxtOns
shows the names Of many a man distin-
euished in war by land or sea.
He entered the Military Academy as d
mere lad. was graduated theTefrom in
1913 and enLGed the service as lieutenant
of artillery. He saw some service in
the West, and in 1888 was assigned to
duty uu tie Northern Pacific Railway ex-
pioration and survey. He made the bar
ometric profile of the route across the
Rocky Mountains on which the railroad
was afterward built For this service
he was warmly commended by Isaac l.
Stevens. governor of Washington Terri
tory. From time 10 time until the civil
war Lieut. SaxJon was on the Coast
Survey, and then he was sent 10 West
was an interesting period in West Points
career. Says Gen Saxton: James Blu
chanan was then commander-in-chief of
the army and navy. John Floyd was
Secretary of War. Mai. William J. Har
dee was cOmmandant of cadets at West
Point and Lieuts. Dodge, Williams. Ne
Cook. and Fly were my associates in the
tactical department. All of these men
rose to eminence in their profession.
last saw Maj. Hardee when he was re-
lieved from duty at the Academy, and I
was on my way 10 England TO investigate
some improvements in the artillery serv-
ice. In New York Hardee said good-by
TO me- He said: 'Good-by; our next
meeting may be on the battlefield. Three
years later he was driven from his head
quarters at Charleston by the guns
which l had trained on them from Morris
Island"
did you go to England, general?'
mo. The war clouds were gathering
thick and fast and I had my travel or
ders revoked so that I might not miss
anything that was going Instead Of sail
ing I was instructed TO take recruits TO
my company at Fort Randall. During my
service AT West Point had come 10 know,
very intimately. the Jefferson Davises
Senator Davis was president of a board Of
visitors 10 the Academy On my way TO
Fort Randall met Mrs Davis in Wash
ington. and she took me with her to the
Senate chamber, where we heard the
great war Senator. Ben Wade, speaking
Facing WigfaH, of Texas; Toombs, Of
Georgia. Mason. OF Virginia. and Jefferson
Davis, the old war horse, with blood in his
eye, cried.
Gentlemen Of the south, what do you wautg We
have passed a resolution through both houses Of
Congress that it IS not purpose to interfere with
the institution ~ slavery within the states. The
SuTremc Court has given you its Dred Scott de
cisinu- The old who sits up y0nder IL the
White HouSe-yCu oWn him as truly as you do the
UiggeTs on yOgr plantations. IJu propose nothing
bUt TO destroy the Uuion. Pointing upward % the
Stars and Stripes he continued. Aly father fought
for that uae and, by the blessing Of God vii die
under its folds
That morning Mrs. Davis spoke long to
me about the determination OF the South
90 establish a separate government with
jefferson Davis at its head.
Four years later Mr.. and Mrs. Davis.
their dream of empire shattered, passed.
as prisoners, through Washington again.
Mrs. Davis sent TO Gen. Saxton a little
negro boy with a letter setting forth that
she took great interest in the child, whom
she had found suffering from severe
whipping on the streets of Richmond
She commended the boy to Gen. Saxton s.
care
He was a bright little fellow says
the general. and very loyal to his bene-
factors, Mr. and Mrs. Davis. On the nigh,
OF his arrival there was a commotion
among the servants. and I had 10 rescue
him from their wrath He had been sing
ing for them, and this was his song:
Jca DAVIS he rides on a milk-white stced,
And Lincoln he rides a mule;
JEFF Davis Is the President,
And Lincoln is the fool
"As the lads auditors had been hanging
JEFF Davis on a sour apple tree for some
time. the lads efforts were not appre-
ciated. When I explained things TO him
ne sang the song no more, but he never
waveTed in his loyalty and devotion TO the
leader Of the lost cause"
One of the most exciting periods OF
young Saxton's career was in 1862. when
he was appointed military governor OF
the South. While on his way from Wash
ington 10 Beaufort. S. c., the ship on
which he was was wrecked of Cape Hat
teras, and it was with extreme difficulty
that he and his feIlow-pa ssengers were
taken off by a passing vessel He was
taken to Fort Monroe and thence came
back TO Washington. literally stripped OF
all he possessed. He was summoned al
once to Secretary Stantons Office. where
he was handed the following order writ
ten in pencil on half sheet Of paper:
War Department. May q, 1862
tiru. sexton; You sill pressed With the troops
from Washington 70 Harpers Ferry and operat,
With them circumstances may require, assuming
command of thlm.
EDWIN ~ STANTON. Secretary Of War.
Says Gen Ssxton: Il hurried to the
War Department sorrv-I0oLiDg ohieei