The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-29
CLEAR HIS NAME
Senators FindTreatment of Kan
sas Man Unwarranted.
Order Record of Civil War Sol
der Cleared of Disgrace.
OFFICER ABUSES HIM
Tells Him to Go Home After
Imposing Sentence.
Drunken Major Vents Spite on
DefenseIess Man.
OFFICER ABUSES HIM

Washington, Jan. 29.=Behind a
measure just reported to the senate
favorably from the senate com mittee
on military affairs with the plebeian
title of "A bill for the relief of VIM.
o. Mallahan," is a story of unreward-
ed service of country and flag, of
harsh, "unwarranted' treatment of a
private soldier at the hands of a
drunken superior officer and of a plea
that children s'can have a record of
their fathers service as a soldier in
the civil war" Mr.. Mallahan is a
resident of Kansas.
From the undisputed record of the
facts in this ciaSe, the senate commit
tee on military affairs has reported to
the senate, mo more meritorious case
has ever been presented to this COM
mittee calling for legislation by con-
greSS in order that the record of a
faithful young soldier of the civil war
may be corrected, not only for the
benent of the soldier himself, but also
that his children can have a record of
their fathers service in the civil war" "
On the records of the war depart
ment Mallahan has been put down
for history as a deserter. The bill
proposes that he shall hereafter be
considered to have been honorably
discharged as private in Company
A, 18th Iowa volunteer infantry.
In outlining the cause of his de
Serton' the committee relates an in
cident that condemns the major of the
He Makes Good Record.
He (dallahan) enlisted May p.
1862, as a private in Company A,
Eighteenth Iowa Volunteer infantry,
at the age of fifteen years and five
months and gave honorable service
with his regiment until March FL.
1854" the report says. t'At about 1
O'Clock in the morning of March 10,
1864, Private Mallahan was doing
guard duty at the headquarters tent
of his regiment then stationed near
Fort Smith, Ark. An officer of the
regiment, a major at that hour in the
morning in an intoxicated condition,
rode his horse up to the tent having
passed the guard line east of the post
where Private Mallahan was doing duty.
In his befudd1ed state of mind he be-
came incensed a Private Mallahan,
and commenced swearing at him. He
said he ought to shot him, and taking
a small revolver from his pocket, went
up to Private Mallahan and put the
muzzle of the pistol in his face,
swearing and damning him and threat
ening to shoot. In his drunken rage
ne used vulgar and profane epithets
| towards the young officer.
Arrested and Sentenced by Officer.
Private Mallahan protested the IN
called for treatmnet of the drunken
officer and the private applied a vile
epithet in his own righteous anger
and threatened to personally chastise
the officers for his unwarranted ac-
THE sergeant of the guard heard
the noise and interfered. Private Nal
lahan was ordered under arrest by the
officer. The next day the same officer
sentenced him to two weeks hard la
Dor grubbing stumps Three days Ia
ter, while serving this unjust sentence,
this same major called Private Nal
lahan 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 I'M
der the influence of whisky himself,
the officer became angry and again
used violent and prOfane language to-
ward the soldier.
Private Mallahan's captain, hav-
ing overheard the proceedings, threat
ened to prefer charges against the
major for his unbecOming conduct.
About the goth of March, Mallahan
was ordered to return to his regim ent
and report for duty. He did so. Later
in the day. while passing the majors
tent, he again was called by the Of
ficer who wanted to know What are
| you coming back fOr?' Mallahan went
4 to his own company tent-the other
| soldiers in the company having heard
the abusive language=and conferred
with some of the older men on the
situation. All of the men, including
| the orderly sergeant, said that they
] would not stand such abusive and I'M
| just treatment. and advised him to &C
| home At the advice of the older