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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 1900)
OMAHA ILLUSTRATED .tniumry l-l , 1000. Omaha Man's Romance of the Civil War Living quietly In Omaha , nt 2123 Wlrt street , IH u hero of onu of the peculiar tuinnnri'fl Hint mink the civil wiir a iiiiui who treasuns as n trlhuto tu his deed of daring a handsome nicilnl Htriick In his honor by uriloi of congress tnoru thnn a quarter of a conlury afterwards. This man IH Andrew J. Traynor , general baggage agent of tliu Union 1'aclflc ronil. I'naasumlng and inllil of manner , thu An druw Traynor of today gives llttlo uvldonco of the llerco fighter ho must havu huun back In the 'fis. ( Although Mr. Traynor has hud his nicilnl more than two years his mod esty hus kept him front giving the full do- talls of thu cplBodo by. which ho won It to the pnhllc. As told hy him It Is as fol lows : "In 1801 I was a corporal In Company I ) , First Michigan cavalry of volunteers , sta tioned at Fort Albany , Vn. On March 1C of that year I was sent on a number of scoutIng - Ing expeditions with Thomas Donahue , an other soldier attached to the same station. A short distance fiom Fort Albany , In the vicinity of Mason's 1II1I , wo were surprised by a detachment of guerrillas and the two of ns thrown Into an Improvised prison where live other union soldiers were cap tives. Of course 1 was not Inclined to remain In prison any longer than I had to and at once sot about trying to devlso some plan to escape , not only for myself , but also for my comrades. Sonic lNirrn | to K In III IIIK. "We hurriedly conferred together , some of them expiesslng the fear that they might bo killed should they make the attempt , but we did not give them time enough to consider the danger. Wo made a chargu upon the guerrillas who were stand ing guard , took their arniH fiom them after it fearful struggle In which two of their number weio killed. It was a question ot killing them or being killed ourselves and naturally wo preferred to protect our own lives. "Ono of the slain was John Lee , a nephew of General Uobelt E.v Lee , at the head of the confederate army , and the other John Slerrltt , known as ono of the most reckless and daring guerrillas who followed the rebel Hag. Leo was the Ilrst to fall , a bullet having pierced his neck. Ho made a desperate - perato light , but was outclassed. Sterrltt offered the same kind of resistance , but In splto of the odds he had to glvo way. "Wo weio now no longer prisoners , but the question was how to got back to Fort Albany and report to my commander. I started back at once , traveling In a round about way to avoid being captured by pur suers whom I know would bo on my trail at short notice and would expect mo to tiilui the road back to the fort. My com panion , Donahue , and the other prisoners who had been freed by our encounter , did not accompany mo , but each man looked out for hit ) own tmfcty. All Ailvfiiliiri'Miiiiio Hlilc. "Tho road was rough , and dashing through the scrubby woods on a spirited hor.se with ono of my eyes badly hurt by a blow re ceived from ono of the rebels , left mo In a rather disfigured condition. It became neces sary for mo to got a drink of water and flighting In the distance an old southern homestead I resolved to take my chances and made direct for It. It proved to bo the mansion of a family named Shrovco at Aspen Hollow , a llttlo place only a short dlHtanco fiom Fort Albany. "While stationed nt that post I had nmdo the acquaintance of the daughter of the household , Mattlo Shrovcs , whoso father and mother were old-time southerners and nat urally kept their child In sympathy with the southern cause. Her father , however , had taken the oath of allegiance , which In a measure reassured mo. With my horse foaming 1 arrived at the Shrevcs place and WIIH quickly recognized by the young woman. " 'What's the matter ? ' excitedly ex claimed the young girl. " 'Nothing , ' 1 replied , 'only I must have a ill ink of water. ' " .MIi-H Mattlo brought me a glass of milk Instead of water and then anxiously In quired whether she could render any fur ther assistance. Her father emerged from the house and Jnlned his daughter with equal curiosity. They could see by my In jured eye and lacerated face that I had been In some kind of nn encounter , but before 1 could glvo an explanation 1 sighted a party of southern puiHiiers who had struck my trail coining straight for us. " 'That Is what IH the matter , Mr. Shreves , ' I Bald , pointing to these desperate followers , which explained everything with out a word. ii Siu'ooNKful llt'trcnl. "After a hasty conference 1 asked Shroves to get a gun and help drive them off 1 Insisted that \\tiuld I stand my ground anil light. Mlm Mattlo ri-.ill/ed the danger , 'Go , nho tald. Her father stood silent , motioning In the only direction which offered tin es cape. I took the hint , wheeled my horse dashed over the fences and was BOOH oul of sight. "My purmierB hurried to the Shrovei home HH ( illicitly as they could , where Mr Shroves hulled thorn and held them in con uultallonhllo I kept right on and reachei the fort In safety. Mlsa Mattlo and hoi father Drained to have Influenced the rebeli to abandon the pursuit. Upon reaching tin fort I reported what had happened , M < superior ofllcerB expressed unbounded 8ur prise and went to see for themselves the riHiills of the light. "After a brief rest 1 sot out again with a detachment for an o"icort detailed to go with nia to Hie place where the prison had been kept. W ( . reached the scene of the fight without special Incident and found the two dead guerrillas still unburled. We dug trenches for them and gave them a hasty burial. I was personally complimented by the commanding olllrer for what I had nc- compllHlied In Having myself and comrades. I never expected nor sought any recognition , encased In the silk-lined box that carried It to him. It Is a heavy piece ot solid gold , with a Grand Army of the Republic design upon It. The Inscription Is as follows : Til 1C CONGRESS to CORPORAL ANDREW TRAYNOR , Company D , First Michigan Cavalry , For Gallantry Near Mason's lllll. Va. , March 1C , ISM. Corporal Traynor might have had the medal many years earlier had ho been In clined to press his claim. thought of the brave corporal on account of his individual worth , the fire In her southern blood could not permit her to entirely forget the stars and bars. Among Mr. Traynor's war relics Is a note received from Mattie in the June following the date of the guer rilla killing. A copy follows : ANDREW : While It may bo true that there are two of God's noblemen less , the stars and bars still wave. God bless them. MATTIE. The war ended and Andrew Traynor turned to pursuits of peace and business. In both ho has met with gratifying success. En tering railroad work , he has reached a good THOMAS DONAHUE , NOW OF DAY CITY , MICH. A PAH- CORPORAL ANDREW J. TRAYNOR OF OMAHA-RECIPIENT TICIPANT IN THE MASON HILL ADVENTURE. OF GOVERNMENT MEDAL OF HONOR. but two years ago I received this letter which you nee framed on the wall ; " The letter reads : WASHINGTON , D. C. , Sept. 20. Andtew Traynor , Esq. , General Uaggngo Agent Union 1'iiclllc Railroad , Omaha , Nob. Sir : You tire hereby notllled that by direction of the prcHldciit , and under provisions ot the aet of congress approved March 3 , 1SG3 , providing for the picbcntutlon ot medals of honor to such officers and privates as have most distinguished Uieinsolvcs In action , a congressional medal of honor lias this day been presented lo you for most distin guished gallantry In action , the following- being' u statement of the particular service : "Near Mutxm's Hill , Va. , March 10 , ISM , this soldier , then a corporal in Company Dj F.rst JUIeliigau cavalry , with ono com panion , having been sent out on a scout from Fort Albany , Vn. . was surprised and caplm cd by a detachment of four guer rillas , whuuo prisoners numbered seven in all. While two of the enemy were absent Corporal Traynor and other prisoners seized the arum of the two guerrillas on guaid and killed the other two when they returned and the whole party escaped. For this act of gallant and soldierly con duct the corporal was at the time thanked by the department commander. " The medal will bo forwarded to you by registered mall as soon as It shall have been engraved. Resnectfully , H. A. ALGER , Secretary of War. V M dial of Honor. iMr. Trnynor keeps the medal at his homo The letter from Secretary Alger Inform- lig Mr. Traynor of the medal Is a neatly typewritten document on the otllclal linen stationery used by the War department. It covers a regular lotter-slzo sheet and the frame that surrounds it Is costly , but plain. But of all the relics Incident to the Mason's Hill episode , one stands out In prominent relief above all others It Is the pistol with which Corporal Traynor shot and killed Leo and Stcrritt. The weapon Is an old-fashioned army cap and ball pistol , ancient In appearance , but well-preserved. "There it Is , " said Mr. Traynor , as ho pointed to a corner of his library. Ho keeps the pistol encased In a scabbard , the eame ono that was originally made for It. Thomas Donahue , who accompanied Cor poral Traynor on that memorable scouting junket , Is atlll alive , a resident of nay City , Mich. There are also numerous other sur vivors who are familiar with the circum stances. Among them are : S , L. Brass , a well-known attorney of Junlata , Neb. ; J. W. Smith of Owosso , Mich. ; Joseph Cross , E. T. Wealo and Bradley Bennett , each of Ovid , Mich. ; W. A. Llnman of Elsie , Mich. , and Colonel H. H. Wells of Washington City , all of whom were members of Mr. Tray nor's company. The father of W. L. Park , the Union Pacific superintendent at North Plattc , Nob. , was the captain of the com pany. lliM SluWIIH ii Itrl.cl Still. However much Mattlo Shrevcs may have position. For years he has been a respected citizen of Omaha. He Is a companionable 1 gentleman , still on the sunny side of life 1 despite the vicissitudes ho has encountered. Mattlo Shreves Is no longer a girl In Virginia. She developed into a cultured woman , becoming the wife of a man who la 1 connected with the Postofdco department at Washington City. She is now Mrs. Mattlo > Donaldson , the matron of a happy homo In i Georgetown , almost within sight of the na tional capital. Mr. Traynor was In Washington on a business trip about seven years ago. Ho i called at the homo of Air. and Mrs. Donald son and there was a happy reunion in i which the tragedy of Mason's Hill was re viewed amid the peaceful environments that ; characterize the ro-unltcd north and south. , Laundry Work in the Philippines Hero In the Philippines are new dlffl- cultles In connection with the laundry prob . lem , relates a correspondent of the Chicago j Record. And to Illustrate this assertion an 1 Incident that happened to a troop of the > Fourth cavalry Is told. It Is told as the j soldier told it with certain parts elimi nated , "Tho laundryman ? " the trooper queried . "Oh , lila nnino was Pedro , On the first daj f when the top sergeant asked him his nanu 2 "SEWARD LOCALS" 1899 FOOT BALL TEAM , he only grinned , exposing to view two rows ot betel-stnlned teeth of assorted sizes. The sergeant asked him again , and Pedro nn-- swered him , 'No sahby. ' The sergeant was not up on Spanish and took the expression for the name. So the pass was filled out. Pedro Nosaby , wash gentleman. ' H became a fixture , that name did , In the barracks of the Fourth cavalry at Pasay , ns did also the native. "Tho guards had strict orders to allow no natives or vendors on the grounds. But Pedro wns nn exception. Pedro did washing for the soldiers , and ho did It on the 'jaw bone' plan. That's the credit plan. And then the first sergeant had given Pedro a pass , ostensibly as a favor to Pedro , In reality to Insure the return of his clean khakis. What Pedro's former vocation had been no ono knew , or cared , for that mat ter ; but one thing wae certain Pedro ns a laundryman was a flat failure. Clothes In variably returned minus several buttons. No ono would ever suspect that they had been treated to n bath were it not for the fact that they were scrupulously folded and Ironed when delivered. There was a sense of importance and an air 01 Superiority about this swarthy Individual that seemed to defy criticism , and a severe reprimand was usually followed by an apology. Perhaps - the hearts of the men were touched at the s ght of the wan , pinched faces and tooth pick legs of the large assortment of picka ninnies who trailed at Papa Pedro's shirt tails and struggled to balance big bundles of clothes on their wee heads. Pedro never carried bundles. Besides , ho were a derby hat of the German comedian variety , and it was suspected that he wore it for the sole purpose of dodging the 'carry' act. "Sometimes the bundles would be re turned to their respective owners in the ; course of a few days. But more often a j week or ten days would slip by , and the , trooper , reduced to his last clean garment , \\ould loudly threaten Pedro with immedi ate and barbarous punishment. Pedro would smllo blandly and gather up the lemaindcr of the trooper's wearing apparel in utter r disregard of the fact that the trooper would then bo reduced to the clothing he had on his back. "Saturday and muster day came. Pedro had been missing for a week , and with him almost every dress khaki suit in the troop. At 9 o'clock there was an Inspection. The Inspecting officer was known to bo a strict disciplinarian. The guns and equipments were slick as pins and the troop barber had been busy with the faces of the men since early in the morning. At S-li : ! the bugle sounded assembly. At S:15 : Pedro was still _ missing. The air was blue with titles affixed to Pedro's name. The sergeant appeared in a canvas fatigue blouse and white trousers and ordered the men to fall In. Just as the Inspection officer arrived the troop lined up clad in the most astonishing costumes ever witnessed on inspection day. Combinations of pajamas nnd ponchos were conspicuous. Ono fellow who had waited too long ap- poarcd In a cotton shirt and one legging. " 'Sergeant , ' roared the Inspecting officer , 'what do you mean by turning out the troop In this manner ? Do you think It's a joke ? . If you do I'll change your mind In short order. ' " 'Sir , ' said the sergeant , 'It's all Pedro's fault. He ' " 'Who's Pedro ? What's he got to do with It ? ' " 'lie's the wash lady I mean laundryman - man , sir. You see he's vamoosed and he's got all our clothes and ' " 'Dismiss the troop nnd report to mo at my quarters , ' growled the Inspecting offi- ccr. Just how the sergeant smoothed It over no ono ever know. "Lato that afternoon Pedro , minus his derby hat , his clothes soiled and nn cxprcs- slon of disgust nnd indignation written on his dusky face , appeared on the scene. It took the combined knowledge of the whole tioop to understand what he had to say , because - cause ho talked In Spanish. Pedro had de cided to extend his business beyond the south lines. With that object In view ho had applied at headquarters In Manila for n gen eral pass through the linos. The clerk who Issues thcso passes , being versed In Spanish , had no trouble In getting Pedro's surname nnd filled in the pass accordingly. Pedio had Bomo friends who lived beyond the south . lines nnd ho decided to tnko n holiday and ' ( visit them. Having two passes he was assured - ' sured that ho cornl go unmolested by the sentries. Guarding this line wns n regiment that had recently arrived from Ameilca , whoso efficiency In catching smugglers was the prldo of the officers connected with that organization , "Pedro boldly presented the general pass nnd was promptly passed through the lines. When Pedro returned late that afternoon his stop was unsteady. Under his belt ho carried n large-sized 'beno' Jag. When ho approached the outpost ho was nt po-ico with himself and the world and was 1 I'y ' hinging 'Viva Americano ! ' 'Viva Agu i u" The sentry halted him nnd Pedro preti nod his barrack pass by mistake. The sentry 10- memberlng him by his derby hat Immedi ately discovered that the pass was not 'reg ular ' Not being good beyond that line , ho knew that It was not the ono on which Pedro had been admitted. Pedro saw his error nnd found his regular pass and the sentry compared them. The names were dif ferent Pedro was arrested nnd hustled to the guardhouse. Seven days later an orderly , from the cavalry guards chanced to ride to the south line and saw Pedro working on the road with the other prisoners. The or derly explained the circumstances and that afternoon Pedro delivered the missing clothes. "