Evening journal., 1910-02-23
OLD SOLDIER MAKES
PLEA FOR FELLOW VETS

Editor of THE EVENING JOURNAL:
In your issue OF February 18th. it is
stated that Senator Henry A. DUPONT, has
introduced in the Senate az Washington,
pill 80 make the officers and enlisted
men. of tho Fifth and Sixth Regiments
OF Delaware Volunteers. eligible &, pen
sons This Is certainly a praise worthy
act in our worthy Senator and should be
appreciated by every surviving member
Of those regiments. But 81 does seem that
tho bill should have been made sufficient
~ comprehensive 20 include the Seventh
Regiment also. During the civil War
Delaware contributed to the defense OF
tho government ten fun regiments, to-
gether with recruits to decimated ranks
of those regiments, sufficient 20 increase
the number 70 nearly fourteen thousand
men
or these regiments the Fifth. enrolled
in 1862 did service mostly in guarding
bridges on the p W. and b. r. r.. and
were enlisted principally from New Cas-
tie county. The Sixth Regiment was en-
rolled in 1859, about the time Of Lees in
vasion into Maryland and PENNSYLVANIA,
at the time OF the decisive battle Of Get
tysuurg. and were stationed near VIII
mington.
The Seventh Regiment, Delaware Vol
, unteers was mustered into service on
July 1s. 1864. at wilmington. and con-
} sisted Of men from all parts of the state
Q men Of the most patriotic character
J, among whom was tho Hon Jacob Moore
y at that time Attorney-General. under
Governor William Cannon.
This regiment. as soon as mustered into
! service. was hurried with all possible
speed to Baltimore. AZ this time Early''
Cavalry had swept around Baltimore and
burned Governor Bfadford's house. From
Baltimore We were sent 10 the Relax
. House nine miles from the city, and were
7 placed In General Lockwood's division
From there we we're sent to Camp Fisher
near Baltimore to remain but few da' =
Thence TO Philopols. on the r. and o
u r. r.. between Baltimore and York.
So rapidly were we hurried from on
: place TO another and so much "red tape
: was displayed by our super.ors, that ou
: commissary stores failed to keep wit
us. and half the time We were withou
" rations only as We bought. begged or for
: aged them. we remained At Phliopop
- the balance Of bur time. when we wer
: ordered TO Wilmington. and on Angus
n is. we were mustered out OF service N
n mastering oficer being careful to hav
n our discharges dated August y. Shortl
r after disbandng the Seventh Regimen
= the Ninth Regiment was formed to serv
: one hundred days at Fort Delaware. A
% of the Seventh that re-cnlisted in tn
70 Ninth have been provided for by the Ac
! of June 27th. 1890. while the few VIII
: could not. have been contemptiously is
4 nored.
y Il is a shame when the government ric
il as the United States wantonly with
holds from her poor old patriot soldie
il that small pittance that woui1 render hir
II moderately. comfortable in his declinn
y years and flaunts in his face that detes
j. table slogan. You have no status un
d der the law"
u IL the bill offered by our worthy sena
D. tor could only be so amended as to re
= ward all soldiers who were in the ser
vice Of the United States and were hon
orabiy discharged without regard {
length of time, then It would become ma
tional in its character instead of local
II would give many deserving old soldier
proper recognition and ever after reliev
Congress of any legislation for soldier
Of the Civil War. While our governmen
has been generous in most cases towar
her soldiers she has utterly failed in he
duty to this class of her patriots; she ha
allowed them to remain neglected and un
cared-for.
Until now very little definite actor
has been taken in their behalf and If Sen
ator DUPONT is successful in his en-
deavor. he viii have accomplished a worl
and performed duty to his constituent
that will ingratiate him in their affections
If IL be possible that his bill can be s.
arranged as to include all deserving sol
diers that are outside Of the existin
laws. it viii be a blessing to many oil
men in the evening Of their life with n
reward except the satisfaction Of know
inF that they did their duty to their couu
try in the hour Of her direst calamity.
Yours very respectfully,
Isaac r Jester.
Milford. Del. Feb. %.