Parentage and early life, from first settlement of ancestors in Massachu- setts, who distinguished themselves in Indian wars at that time- Great-grandfather selected by Washington to guard chain across the Hudson-Boyhood at Annandale, Va.-Riding at Secesh Tour- nament without saddle or bridle-Arrest No. 1, on way to Washing- ton-Calling on Secretary Seward-Arrested and threatened to be hung by Cassius M. Clay (Arrest No. 2)-Ordered released by Sec- retary Seward and appointed his private messenger-Led the ad- vance into Alexandria, Va., with Gen. O. B. Wilcox, and with one hundred men of the First Michigan capture Captain Ball at slave pen-Shot in right breast while leading a charge with Lieutenant Tompkins at Fairfax Court House, Va., May, 1861—Arrested by order of General McDowell and General Scott (Arrest No. 3)-Im- prisoned in the Marshall House and afterwards released by Secre- Save a few dollars and obtain permission to sell necessities to soldiers, clearing over $1200 in three weeks-Stock my store and place it in charge of a clerk, who sells building and stock, disappearing with everything-By permission of Secretary Seward, go as scout to Gen- eral Heintzelman-Arrested by twenty Dutchmen of General Blen- ker's command and thrust into an icehouse (Arrest No. 4)-Wounded in First Bull Run-Second commercial enterprise in life-Buy a wagon load of watermelons and undertake to sell them to the Twelfth New York Volunteers; robbed of every melon-Start stage line from Alexandria to Manassas, and run the Union Hotel at Fairfax Court House-Charter a vessel and transport supplies to the Army of the Potomac-Invest $3000 in horses and wagons and contract to haul supplies to the camps around Washington-Stables catch fire and everything destroyed-Resign position at $50 per month and enlist as a private soldier at $13-Promoted to the first vacancy as Second Appointed Second Lieutenant in Invalid Corps-Missing roll-call while on duty at Hartford, am placed in arrest (Arrest No. 5)-Detained while on an excursion, and arrested when I return (Arrest No. 6)— Placed in arrest while taking a detachment of substitutes to the front, for receiving a testimonial of gratitude (Arrest No. 7)-Recom- mended for a commission in the First New Hampshire Cavalry by Colonel Fearing and Maj. George H. Chandler and ten other offi cers-Served with Lieut. U. A. Woodbury (since Governor of Ver- mont) in conducting substitutes to the front-Detailed by Secretary (v) of War Stanton to deliver in person to General Grant private dis- CHAPTER IV. Recommended for a commission in the Regular Army by General Han- Mr. Lincoln-Report that he is not among them-Contradicted by Take advice and accept commission in Second United States Cavalry- Obtain interesting letters from Secretary Seward, General Howard, Gen. C. C. Augur, Col. M. I. Ludington (now Quartermaster-Gen- eral)-Report to Col. I. N. Palmer, Second Cavalry, at Fort Ells- worth-Ordered to Pond Creek--Lieut. A. E. Bates (now Pay- master-General) and I select the site and commence Fort Wallace- Made Post Adjutant at Fort Wallace-Placed in command of Troop M-Take possession of stage horses while in pursuit of deserters and continue search-Arrest General Superintendent, placing him in the guard house for finding fault-March command from Fort Wallace to Fort Sedgwick, through country never before crossed by white man-Swim two rivers and destroy a village of Indians-Compli- mented in general orders for "Performing the greatest cavalry feat ever before recorded"-Specially promoted by General Grant over the heads of several hundreds of Army officers-Placed in arrest for adopting methods of exercising horses not found in established tac- tics (Arrest No. 9)-equired to stay over night during buffalo hunt on account of being lost-Placed in arrest on my return (Arrest Captain Mix assumes command of the Post, making me Post Adjutant— and lifted on my horse-Complimented for saving command-Rec- Ordered to Leavenworth, Kans., to appear before court-martial No. 2— Tried before court-martial at Leavenworth for assault on quarter- master-Court composed of gentlemen-Honorably acquitted- Social life at Leavenworth-Capture several deserters near Topeka, Kans.-Governor Crawford's guest-Request Court of Inquiry- Pleasure trip to Jefferson City-March with command to Fort Hays, Kans. Entertain Governor Price, General Crittenden and several railroad directors on a buffalo hunt-Mischief-making officers pre- fer charges, seeking trouble for me-Major Kidd placed in command of battalion-Officers conspire to fix up another set of false charges-Placed in arrest (Ârrest No. 13)—Turn command over to mischief-making sneak posing as an army officer-Well-trained chickens-Incident of Indian campaign in Kansas-Ordered to Fort Hays to report for trial (court-martial No. 3)—Lieutenant Brownell, who shot Jackson, the slayer of Ellsworth, Judge Advocate of Court -Charge of "conduct prejudicial to good order and military disci- pline"-Appear before court-martial composed of honorable and just men-Honorably acquitted-Sentence of court approved by Depart- ment Commander-Reprimanded and released from arrest without explanation of cause (Arrest No. 14)—General Sully investigates and orders release-Ordered to relieve Major Kidd and take command of the battalion-Ordered after a band of Indians near Fort Dodge, Kans. March to Fort Lyon, C. T.-Gen. William Penrose relieves me of command, and we start in Indian campaign without forage for animals-General Penrose orders horses shot in rear of command as fast as they give out-Placed in arrest by Captain Byrne (Arrest No. 15) Prefer charges against Captain Byrne, who was also placed in arrest by General Penrose. Several months of scouting-Return of command to Fort Lyon, mostly Prefer charges against Major Graham for selling Government horses Ordered before a picked court of army loafers-Maj. Lewis Merrill, Judge Advocate-Desperate effort of General Schofield and his conspira- tors to force me out of the Army-Sent to common guard house in full uniform by General Sturgis, president of court-General Scho- field declines to try Colonel Nelson and denounces me in violent terms-Inform a member of court I would not believe him under oath-General Custer comes to my defense-Purpose to force me out of the service-Bring civil action against court-martial, and have court arrested for false imprisonment-Court reassembles-Dismissed from the service-Ordered several hundred miles out on the frontier by General Schofield-General Miles and many other officers testify in my defense-Arbitrary and brutal action of General Schofield and his picked court-Sacrifice $10,000 worth of property and life-long savings to defend my commission-Borrow money to pay my way to Washington---Arrival at Washington penniless-Interesting let- ters from Governor Kirkwood and others of note to Secretary of War in my behalf-Judge Moore and Justice Bright take me into their office free of rent and back me up in my expenses-Employ Judge T. W. Bartley, bother-in-law of General Sherman, and Hon. F. P. Stan- ton and Judge Joseph Casey as counsel and attorneys-at-law to pre- sent my case-Call on Secretary of War Belknap with letter from Governor Kirkwood-Insulted and harshly treated-Meet with finan- Take in social features of the season-Appeal to Members, Senators and |