Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-25
Story of Mallahan.

tic tMdtIananD ctlllStsdLMdN l., lSti., rs a
private in Company \. 18th Iowa Volunteer
Infantry, at the age of fifteen Years and
tive months. and gave honorable service
with his regiment until March Il. 1861.
the report says at about I o'clock in
the morning of March 10. 1864. Private
Mailahan was doing guard duty ut the
headquarters tent of the regiment then
stationed near Fort Smith, Ark. An off
Ger OF the regiment, "a major at Tint hour
in the morning in an intoxicated condi-
tion rode his horse NJ to the tent. hav-
ing passed the guard line east of the post,
where Private Mallalian was doing duty
In his bcfuddlcd state of mind he became
ncensed at Private Mallahan and COM
menccd swearing at him. He said he
ought 10 shoot him.. and. taking IL small
revolver from his pocket. Went up, TO. Pri-
vats Mallahan and put tn muZZle of the
pistol I'm his face, swearing and damnine
him and threatening to shoot. In his
drunken rage he used vulgar and profane
epithetS toward the young soldier.
Private Mal:ahan pro eSted against the
uncallcd-for treatment Ui the drunken Of
ficcr. and when he applied vile cpithet
in his own righteous anger lie threatened
to personally chastise him for his I'M
warranted action.
The sergeant of the guard heard the
noise and Interfered. Private Mallahan
was ordered under arrest by the officer
The next day the same officer sentenced
him TO two weeks hard labor grabbing
stumps.' Three days later. while serv-
ing this unjust sentence, this same ma
jor called Private Mallahan to his tent
and ordered him to-take a drink OF
whisky at the same time handing him
a tin cup that held about a half pint OF
whisky. which Mallahan refused to take.
Being under the influence of whisky him
self. the officer became angry and again
used violent and profane language toward
the soldier.
Private Mallahan's captain, having
overheard the proceeding. threatened tC
prefer charges against the major for his
unbecoming conduct. About the 10th OF
March Mallahan was ordered to return
to his regiment and report for duty. Hs
did SO. Later in the day, while passing
the ma jors tent. he again angiily called
to him and wanted to know what are
YOU coming back here for? Mallahar
went to his own company tent-the Other
soldiers I'm the company having heard the
abusive language-aHd conferred viii
some of the older men on the situation
MI of the men, including the orderly ser
geant, said they would not stand such
abusive and unjust treatment, and adj
yised him to go home. 1T the advice
of the older men of the company the
Young man went to the majors tent and
told him that on account of his unjust
conduct that he was going home. The
major. still under the influence Of drink,
replied in the hearing of the men, Go,
YOU. 60 and Mallahan went.
This happened the morning of March
u. 1864 Mallahan Was marked desert
err He then went to Fort Scott, Kan.
and April got employment as civilian
under Hugh kirkendall. the. master of
transportation at Fort Scott taking the
name Of John Mack, that being the
name of his uncle. who lived in Ohio.
After some months service as civilian
employe of the army he went to Leaven-
worth, Kan. where. January .. 1865, he
enlisted in Company i. 9th Kansas Vol
unteer Infantry. to serve three years, and
was honorabIy mustered out of the serv-
ice as a private July H. 1865. at Devall
Bluff, Ark.
For more than twenty-three years VIII
liam o. Mallahan has been trusted
employee of the Northern Pacific railway.
and has held the responsible position of
foreman of the machinery department of
that company at Butte, Mon. One of the
Montana senators fMr. DiXon) stated to
the committee that he had personally
known Mr.. Mallahan for years and that
his standing as citizen was above re-
proach.
Dan BOYLE. who was formerly general
superintendent of the western division of
the Northern Pacific railway. and now
one of the railroad commissioners OF the
state of Montana. states in a letter under
date of November Is 1910, that he has
known William O. Mallahan. foreman of
the machinery department of the North
ern Pacific railway at Butte, Mont, for
more than twenty-five years: that during
that time he has demonstrated not only
his ability as competent officer, but has
ALWAYS horne excellent reputation
among his fellow citizens. MIR. Boyle
letter is attached as an exhibit 10 this
report