Kansas Veteran from Hutchinson, Kansas • 1

VV 6U5itf(0(afic2 cieatdV Tlous and (oazitu cr flLff." SEiiiccfn. VOL. I HUTCHINSON, KANSAS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1885. NO. 12.

6 Ay show their greatness, but we should never forget the deeds done by the obscure that have helped to make the Official Paper of the G. A. R. of Kansas stay in the poor house it is no place for him. I am still willing to do all I can and will give my time almost at any time to see him or take him where he wants to go.

Let me hear from you. I am yours, David F. Myers. Daniel McAlpin was born forty miles north of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, on the Susquehanna river, May 20, 1787, being now in his 99th vear. Enlisted at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, in the year 1814 in Major Steele's command, 16th regiment United States infantry.

After enlisting at Wilkes-barre, Pennsylvania, he went to Easton. Pennsylvania; from there to "New Cas-tie, Delaware, and to Lewistown, Delaware, where he remained wTith the regiment and served as drum major until peace was declared; went from there to Philadelphia, and has since lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas in Rice county where he now is homeless. Topeka Capital. GOING OUT OF THE COUNTRY. "When we were all down at Milledge-ville passing the ordinance of secession," said Gen.

Toombs, while propped up against his pillow recently, "the excitement wras most intense, and when the ordinance finally passed the people hud a big impromtu jubilee, lasting late into the night. Some of the members grew hungry at last and went to the hotel to get supper, but found that the cook was later than usual in getting it ready. The took occassion to 'damn hi in' for the delay, when the sable humorist coolv remarked: 'Well, gem'men vou all said dat vou all was gwin outer de United States for 3 o'clock dis ebenen', an' darfo' I thought that mebbe Vou all ud be purty late a gitten back! Dat's do reason I warn't in no great hurry." And with one consent the crowd excused him," GREAT MEN. We remember when a boy of reading an alleged conversation between a Father and son. The son was of an enquiring turn of mind, and at that particular time had a desire to know why a certain man of whom he had just been reading was called "Alexander the Great." This was a pertinent question and the Father gave him the desired information and informed him ihat Alexander wras not great in size, or tall in stature, but that he earned his title to greatness by the deeds he performed, History gives us the names of many men who have done deeds that entitle them to be called great men.

The greatness, however, is different as some do good deeds and some bad ones. Some are ambitious of power and use every effort to get it, prisons; 37,214 died from wounds received in action, making the entire number killed in action, and who died from wounds received in action, 86,761, or 3.75 per cent, of the number received into service; and 47.83 per cent, less than the percentage of deaths in rebel prisons. If we add to the foregoing the number who died from disease and unknown causes, not including prisoners of war, hich the records show to be 213,675, making the total mortality of the army, not including prisoners of war, 300,437, or 12.86 per still we find the risk of life in the field, taking all the chances, was 38.72 per cent, less than the risk of lif in rebei prisons. "Camp followers and coffee coolers" were seldom found where they could be captured- they were in the rear on the advance, and in the front on retreat. On the contrary, it is well known to those who were in the forefront of battle that it was the forlorn hope, or the men whose bravery carried them too far to the front, and stayed too long, who were captured.

It has become a part of history that while our prisoners were enduring sufferings and privations which sooner or later must end in death to most of them, the Confederate authorities made almost daily and persistent efforts to induce our prisoners to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederate government, promising as an inducement, liberty, food, clothing, and good wages to them as citizens. Yet, out of the entire number captured during the war, but 3,161 enlisted men, an not one officer, accepted their offer even to save their lives. Vfe should also consider the fact, that we had in our ranks hundreds of substitutes whose patriotism and loyalty were supposed to be valued in dollars and cents, besides many foreigners who were not even citizens when they enlisted, some of whom were prisoners of war before they had been six months in the country. Then let those who will call us camp followers, cowards or skulkers. In denfense of the memorv of 50,000 comrades who lie buried in prison graves, I protest.

Such slanders come with a bad grace from men who should know who and what these men were. These loj-al heroes, who could have purchased their lives and their' liberty with a pledge of allegiance to the Confederate states, stand forth as monuments of surpassing heroism and genuine loyalty, worthy of admiration and commendation in all coming time. And now, in conclusion, that we may not be misunderstood, we will say, that while we do not admit that our government wras justifiable in refusing to exchange prisoners of -war, yet the course pursued was no excuse and cannot be accepted as an apology for the cruel and barbarous treatment of our prisoners by the rebel authorities. National Tribune. fortunate ones greater.

THE OLD 1812 VETERAN. Daniel McAlpin, 99 Years of Affe. Languishes in a Poor Housa. Long before the reunion, at the suggestion of Mr. W.

W. Cone, of the Capital staff, P. H. Coney, the secretary of the committee of 38, caused to be sent to all the survivors of the war of 1812. in Kansas, an invitation to be present at our reunion.

In response to thirtv-six invitations sent out by him, only ten responded, showing that twenty-six service on Of the ten had been mustered out of this side of the living line, who responded but four were able to attend the reunion; of the four the oldest survivor known was Daniel McAlpin, 99 years of age, now a resident of Rice countv. Kansas. Transportation was. kindly furnished him by the T. S.

F. railroad company, and Captain David F. Myers, of Marion countv with whom he was stopping and who was taking care of him, brought him to the reunion. At the big camp fire in the big tent the cid survivor wTas present, arid" ah effort was made to raise a fund to send him his only grandchild, now living in Washington City. A small sum' was raised, but not enough to send the old hero to his last wished-for- home.

Mr. Conev, who has. since the reunion, been preparing a sketch of the old survivors and endeavoring to see them provided for in their closing days, has received the following from Mr. Myers, relative Captain Daniel McAlpin. It is deplorable that an old sur-.

vivor of the battles of 1.812, a resident of patriotic Kansas, should now be an inmate of a poor house in Rice county. It is a burning shame. He should be in some soldiers' home, or sent where he wrishes to be sent to his grandchild at Washington. Read the correspond ence and then let the charitable spirit of the old soldi ers of Kansas be indignantly aroused to the shame of his condition, and let them see to its, that the necessary means are raised to send him either to Washington or to some soldiers' home, where he will be comfortably provided for during his few remaining days. The following is Mr.

Myers' letter. Marion, November 9, 1885. Mr. P. H.

Coney Comrade: Enclosed you will find a sketch of Mr. McAlpin's life as near; as I can get. The old man is in his usual health althogh the cold weather will make him more feeble and will ne(ed more care. He was most of the time since his return from Topeka at a friend of his near Raymond, in Rice couuty, and they were unable to keep him any longer, so on Saturday they took him to the poor house in Rice county a place he should never have been allowed to be taken but no one would keep him for has nothing except the little sum of $8 per month pension which he needs for clothing and medicine, and it dosen't reach far at that, and I fear he will not stand it long at the poor house as I am told that others that had been taken there would not stay as it was such a badly managed affair that they could not stay. If.

I had any other place for him here he should not stay one week, but I am away from Rice county for the winter, have my family with me in Marion and can't keep him, but will look after him the best I can. It seems most to bad to to be in the poor house the balance of his days when he is anxious to go to his grandchildren at Washington. I see no reason why the railroads should not give transportation to some party to take the old man to Washington. I think it would be nothing more than right that that they should give portation- to get him to his friends where he can spend his last days and be cared for. I fear the longer it is left go the harder it will be to take him as I think he.

will be more feeble as the weather grows colder. Let me hear soon, hoping that something will be done for him as I don't want to see him DEPARTMENT OFFICERS. M. STEWART, L. N.

WOODCOCK, A. A. General Wichita J. A. DORAN, A.

Q. M. General Wichita J. Li. CARNAHAN, Medical Direct'r Pleasanton ALLEN BUCKNER, Chaplain.

City S. V. TIM MCCARTHY Larned J. V. S.

H. MAUNDER Washington J. W. A. McDONALD Wellington Inspector, II.

M. MILLER Iola Chief M. H. B. HUGHBANKS.

City KXTBACT FEOM THE O. A. B. INSTALLATION SKR- VICES. ''Cultivate a spirit of true charity.

Seek out and aid the deserving poor wiio would rather starve than press their necessities upon you. Let them know that the help the soldier gives his crippled comrade, or to the widows and orphans of the fallen, is not the nlms-giving that parades itself for the commendation of the world, but a pure and holy offering, tendered in the spirit of our holy religion the practical exemplification of the Golden Rule." "To care for him who has bourne the battle, and for his widow and orphans. Abraham Lincoln. "The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned." Ser. 4, Article XIV, Constitution of United" Stales.

RULES AND REGULATIONS 6. A. E. CHAPTER ARTICLE IX. POLITICS.

No officer or comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic shall in any manner use this organization for partisan purposes, and no discussion of partisan questions shall be permitted at any of its shall any nomination for political office be made. POST MEETINGS. Notices under above hend; not exceeding lines, insgrted one yar for 50 cents. four JOE HOOKER POST NO. 17, Hutchinson, Kansas.

Meets first, nnd third Friday evenings of each month. 8. H. Sidlinoer, P. C.

John Campbell, Adjutant. Bathing in public schools is the latest pedagogic innovation in Germany, which has received the hearty approval of Dr. Koch, the professor of hygiene in Berlin, and of Prince Albrecht, who thinks this precedure "has a great future." The Burgomaster of Gotten-gen informs the Berlin Tageblatt of September 13th, that when bathing was first introduced into the public schools of that town, only a few of the pupils availed themselves of the privilege, whereas now five hundred out of seven hundred gladly take part in it several times a week. The children are bathed in sections of six to nine and, as they immediately return to the school room and resume their lessons, no risk of catching cold is ever incurred; while the refreshing influence of the bath shows itself in a greater energy and eagerness to study. And in the homes of the poorer children, too, their new habits of cleanliness are already exercising a most benficial influence.

London Free Press. KANSAS' GROWTH. In 1880 the population of Kansas was 995,906 and in 1885, 1,168,432 making an increase of population in five years of 272,466. The last statement is from the return of the assessors made up to March 1st," 1885. The emigration since that time has been greater in proportion than previous years.

Kansas is growing but we have yet millions of fertile acres that are not under cultivation. We are not like the omnibus, full but room for one more, but have plenty of room and will welcome all new comers. CANADA FRENCH AND SMALL POX. A Bangor man just returned from the Chaudiore River District tells how the people look at small pox. He stopped over night at a French Canadians whose son was foolish.

The native said he was made thus by small pox. Said he: "You see we have all got to have it sooner or later, and so last fall, having our work done up early, I said to my wife, I guess this a good time to have So I hitched up, went down to the village and got it. It killed three of my children and made that boy foolish." That Bangor man failed to say that the French Canadian was a fool himself. The tale, however, as told by the Bangor man is rather iishy. Ex-Prisoners of War.

The Kansas Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of War held its annual meeting at Topeka, Kansas, on September 30. A resolution to attach the Association to the National Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of War was adopted. An able paper in defense of prisoners of war and prisoners, pensions was read by O. R. Mc-Nary, chairman of the Historical Committee, and its publication requested by the Association.

The following1 officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Dr. II. W. Roby, of Topeka; V. W.

II. Ward, of Topeka; Secretary, (). R. MeNary, of Leavenworth; Treasurer, C. 13.

Haslett, of Frankford; Surgeon, Dr. F. W. Xoblett, of Coffeyville; Caplain, Rev. F.

R. Stanton, of Grenola. We make the following extract from Comrade MeXary's address: We have been amazed at the great I number who have no proper conception of what it was to be a prisoner of war or the true history of prison life or rather prison death, who profess to to believe that prisoners were out of danger, and much less exposed than their comrades at the front. These men would like to have people believe that prisoners had a pleasant time, in fact that a rebel prison pen was a desirable place for a soldier, and was sought as a haven of rest and shelter from the storm of battle. In answer to all such we ask their attention to the comparative risk of life in the field, even at the front, and in prison, as shown by the statistics of mortality as given by the War Department.

These statements give the number of graves, as near as could be ascertained at each of the rebel prisons, but is not accurate, as it is well known that our dead prisoners were buried in trenches, into which they were often thrown two or three deep, so that there would be more than one body to each grave. If we take the rebel records and the evidence of our own prisoners, we find that the average per cent, of deaths in the different prisons for some time before 1 the prisoners were released was over thirteen per cent, per month, and facts show that owing to accidents and the fatigue and excitement of removal, the rate of mortality was increased rather than disminished for some weeks after their release. Seventeen hundred were blown up on the steamerJSultana, April 27, 1865, and found a watery grave at the bottom of the Mississippi. Many when captured ere simply marked "missing" on the rolls, and the War Department has been unable to complete their history, since in gross numbers the statements of the War Department will show the following result, viz: Total captures by the rebels, number actually confined in rebel prisons, number of deaths in rebel prisons by the graves, per cent, of mortality in rebel prisons 38.70; per cent, of mortality of entire rebel captures, 19.35. Add to this thirteen per cent, for the number who died after they were released who never reached their homes, and who cannot be counted by graves, making in round numbers 48.630, and the total percentage of deaths will be 51.58 per cent.

Add the total percentage of entire rebel captures, 25.80 per cent. While the risk of life in the field, as shown by the War Department, is found to be as follows, viz: Total number of men received into the service ot tne unitea fctates miring tne war, 2,335,951. Total number of men killed in action on the field of battle, 547, or 2.12 per or 49.46 per cent, less than the percentage of deaths in rebel some are ambitious for name and notority and make great sacrifices to at tainthem. Some are great in their aver ice and wear themselves out in gaining great wealth and if successful are call-ed great men. We have our Washington, our Lincoln, our Jackson, our Garfield and our Grant as great in militay and civil deeds.

We have our Beecher, our Talmages, our Simpson and others wrho have attained eminence as divines and all are spoken of as great men. They are idolized when alive and when dead we build monuments to their memory and our historians spend time in writing biographies in which almost everything the party did is painted in glowing colors, even to Washington's hatchet and Grant's proficiency in breaking colts. We have no great objections to this but in calling our prominent men great we are too apt to forget the deeds done by many who are more obscure in the walks and trials of life. We do forget them as individuals and allow them to pass into obscurity. Gen.

S. A. Hurl but in his congratulatory order to his divison after the battle of Shiloh seemed to be impressed with the true idea. He said speaking of his officers "that where all had done their duty so well it would be invidious to mention names, but let us not forget our dead privates who have gone to their graves unwept and unsung and who will be remembered only by dear wives, fond mothers and loving sisters or immediate comrades in arms. Gen.

Hurlbut is dead but the men of his old command will long remember him for the words of that order. We, during our term of service in the rebellion witnessed many actions, saw many deaths in Hospital and field that should be recorded among the deeds that entitle men to be called great. AVe have seen brave officers, men who were brave in life and brave in. death but we have also seen privates just as brave, who, as Gen. Hurlbut says are only remembered by immediate friends and no record made save that they died that their country might live.

At a future time we will give some of these what wre think glorious incidents Opportunity gives men a chance to Kissed by Mail. A young Postmaster of a village post office was hard at work when a gentle tap was heard upon the door and in stepped a bashful maiden of sixteen, with a money order which she desired cashed. She handed it to the official with a bashful smile, who after closely examining it, handed her the money it called for. At the same time he asked her if she had read what was written on the margin of the order. "No I have not'7 she replied, "for I cannot make it out.

Will you please read it for me The young Postmaster read as fol lows: "I send you $3 and a dozen kisses. Glancing at the bashful girl, he said; "Now I have paid you the money and I suppose you want the kisses." "Yes," she said, "if he sent me anv kisses I want them, too." It is hardly necessary to say that the balance of the order was promptly paid, and in a scientific manner at that and eminently satisfactory to the country maiden, for she went out of the office smacking her lips as if there was a taste upon them she never encount ered before. After she arrived home she remarked to her mother: "Eh, mother, but this post office, system of ours is a great tking, developing more and more every year, and each new feature added seems to be the best. Jimmy sent me a dozen kisses along with the money order, and the Postmaster gave me twenty. It beats the special delivery system all hollow..