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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 26, 1901)
First Man to Answer President Lincoln's Call I A. Lirlhllistool.) N THE Natiouul cemetery al Arlington thero Is u burial plot presented by the United Status government to Dr. Charles F. Hand of Washington, 1). C. Tho plot Is not occupied, there Is no reason to suppose It will bo fur many years. Hut when its owner Is laid thero fur his last rest the monument that marks his grao will commemorate the distinguished services of tho llrst volunteer to enlist for the civil war In respousu to Lincoln's call for Tu.UUO men, who was also a beater of the tare and highly prized Medal of Honor, to be won only for notable gallantry In action. Dr. Kami's Meual of Honor Is the llrst that was ever struck oil and the deed that won It was pcrfoimed beforo the decoration was In existence. Tho opening chapter In one of the most remnrkublu military eareers on record In this country, was on April IS, 1S01, when jouitg Hand, then an l!-yuar-old clerk, at tended ii meeting In the old Eaglu taorn at llatavia, N. V. There had been a heated discussion over tho probabilities of war, In tho middle of which a man came rushing In waving a telegram above his head. "The president has called for "li.uuu men to go forwaid and light," he shouted. Henry 1. (Jlowacki, who was presiding at the meeting, took tho telegram, read It and said: "Tho war Is already upon us. We have to raise our quota of men to 1111 this call. Wo must have them Immediately. Who will bo tho llrst man to enlist?" i'iiMl lo Slun the Roll. Young Hand stepped forward on tho spur of tho moment and said "1 will." Ills name was put down In his own handwriting on the muster roll, and the Twelfth New York volunteers had their llrst soldier, while New York state had the proud distinction of enlisting the llrst volunteer for tho civil war. Hatavla's quota of men was soon raised and left for the front. Very soon afterward Hand performed tho daring uct w hich won him the llrst Medal of Honor over presented by congress for most distin guished gallantry on the battlelleld. At Hlackburn's Ford, Va., July IS, less than Hi no munths after he had enlisted, his command was ordered lo retreat. The order had been given on account of tho deadly lire of tho enemy's artillery, which wad masked on the banks of Hull Hun. Iniaulry also poured In u terrllle lire. The rest of his battalion of MO men was swept in disorder from the Held, but Hand, ap parently not nutlclng the slaughter all aoout him,' held his ground with an old Harper's Kerry inuskei thai bad been changed lrom a Hnitioek. The ground was plowed in all directions by shot ami shell, yet the only Injury ho received was from Hying dirt and stones. Across u deep ravine he saw the command of Captain llarnuin (later Cultural A. II. Harnuiu), who were on their faces lliing, not In lug able to rise to their knees to load on ac count of tho deadly llro of tho confederates, but turning on their backs for that pur pose. Hu made his way to them on his knees, Joined the lino and fought with It to the end of thu engagement. (Jul Hie Kii-Nt Mcilul. Thu congressional Medal of Honor was not Instituted until July 12, 1S02, one year later, and the llrst ouo struck oil' was prescutud to Charles F. Hand for his distinguished gallantry at Hlackburu's Kord, three days before tho battle of Hull Hun. This medal he prizes above all otlurs. Thu United States government la very Jealous of the Medal of Honor and protects It with all lis power, and, in order that the medal may be deserved, torvice must have been performed in action of such conspicuous character as to distinguish clearly tho man for gallantry and lutiepldlty above his comrades service that involves extreme Jeopardy of life or the performance of ex tremely hazardous duty. These medals were awarded as follows: In 1801, 18; In lhGJ, ll'J; In lit;:!, -Mi; in IStil, Ulb, in 1SU5, IS'l. Captain Hand's decoration Is a trl colored double bow-knot worn on tho left lapel of the coat. The rlnnoii Is au eighth of an inch wide by one Inch In length, and is composed of n whltu stripe tit the ceutor, llnnked by two blue stripe and these by two red stripes. Thu medal is engraved; "Tito Congress to First Lieutenant Chillies 1''. Hand, Veteran Hoservo Corps. For Most Distinguished tiadantiy at lilaekburn's Ford, Va., July IS, 1SH1." On state occasions at the White Ilotisi Dr. Kami wears this medal upon his shirt bosom, suspended by a broad baud Not until elghti en months after enlist inent, when Hand, then a sergeant, was homo upon furlough from terrible wounds received In the seven dnys' battle before Hlclimoiid, lit which his whole right shoulder was shot away, was the fact of his being the llrst man In the I'ulted States to respond to Lincoln's call for volunteers made known to him. The original paper was shown him and tho information given that It had been impossible to find any record of a soldlor who claimed earllur en listment. Wuiiiitlril, hut (iuiiit-. It was at Ciilnes' Mill that a musket ball orushod through Sergeant Hand's left shoulder, mashing It to a Jelly. Ho re fused to rido In an unibulance, saying. '"I lint wagon Is needed for thoso who can't i walk." Ho waa tnkun to Savage station, where his right shoulder Joint and bIx Inches of the shaft of thu arm wero ru moved. Portions of shattered shoulder bone and fragments of his clothing weru taken out through his back, the bullet having passed through one of his lungs. The night after the operation ho was placed In a ten near the railroad track. Nine men had been placed there at sun down. Al sunrise seven were removed to the trenches. One of the survivors was a confederate major named Lamar, from Ala bama. Hand and the major became friends. Two days after Hand's arrival there thu batllu of Savage Station was fought. He and his rebel friend weru discussing the pros and cons of the coming battle, prepa rations for which they could plainly hear from the tent. At the sound of the bugle calls the southirner crawled outside the tent. Hu would have helped his friend, but his strength was not snllkient, so he sent men to aid him, and soon they were both hide by side near the railroad track. The two soldiers between them had secured a hatdtack box and had bolstered themselves up so they could overlook the scene. They had not long to wait. In a few minutes everything was engaged and for awhile It seemed ns If thu whole world had gone to destruction. These two sol diers, as the lidu of battle ebbed mid Unwed, now to one side, now to the other. CHARLES F. HAND, M. D. the contest, while lory for his own the terrible din bugle, and down of Sumner's corps. cheeied with all the voice they had left, each for his own party. At thu crisis of each was claiming vie side, there came above thu shrill sound of a came thu Irish brigade The baltlu front now changed. The Irish charge did the work when It was most needed. The confederates gave way and fell back, and the contest passed on out of view. Sinl lo l.lhh) I'rixtin. Thu bnttlo was finally won, but It nearly cost young Hand bis life As ho was at tempting to help himself back to tho tent a second hemorrhage set in ami ho was un conscious bifore It was arrested, nefore he could be removed from the spot Stone wall Jackson and his men had taken him prisoner in company with others Ho was taken on a gravel train lo Richmond and thrust Into Llbby prison, Here he dressed his own wounds with old newspapi rs. His truusets and tdilrt weru so saturated with his blood that hu had to throw them away Ho sold his shoes to a guard for $U In con federate money, and, pui chasing sixteen loaves of bread, divided them with those around him who were less fortunate than himself. Later he sold ' his socks for $1 and gave that for an extra allowance of soup, taking thu last ctip'for his portion He had but one garment left. In this con dition li.' remained while a prisoner, and was carried through Richmond In daylight In an old furniture cart to tho train, and theucu to City Point, in due time hu was exchanged and scut lo the hospital 111 Philadelphia, where hu rapidly recovered and was soon able to walk. Thu slater of charity who nursed him thero afterward became his wife. I iieiniiiiHuilv iiIcmin lo I'lulil. As hcon as ho was able to travel ho was discharged with a pension for totnl dis ability and sent to his homo In Hatavln, N. Y. i-'or many weary months ho suffered, his wounds refusing to heal. Finally he became tired of waiting, and, while his wounds yet needed care, surrendered his pension certificate, secured a commission and reported for duty with his new regi ment 111 thu Held. Rut the medical olllcers of the regiment refused to pass him, as his sword arm was powerless Instead they ordered him to report to tho hospital for treatment, lie respectfully declined to go. He then appinled to the colonel and the general In command but In vain, There was now but one ohuuee bit li I in. Ho would appeal to thu cummuudcr- lu-chlut of the armies thu president of the United States. Hu returned lo Washington ami made his way to the White House with beating heart. Ho was admitted lo the president's private room, where he was not long In stating the reason for his visit, that because of wounds received In action ho was lefused service. President Lincoln becnnio Inter ested anil iUestloucil young Hand closely. Ily degrees he drew from him his whole hlstory--tliat in his native town he had been the llr.-ii one to answer thu call for 7.",00U men; that he had been In every battle fioui Hull Run to Caincs' Mill; Hint he was Ihe only sou of a widow; that bis right shoulder had been shot away, but that his left hand was still lit for service. Tho president kepi Ills ee upon the shriveled hand and showed Ills sympathy when he learned that while in prison the soldier had been his own surgeon, dressing his wounds with old newspapers. For some time Pn sldent Lincoln kept tho young olllcer answering questions, then he placed Ills hand on tho shoulder of the lieutenant and roniiukcd: "My young liiend, the surgeons did their duty. They could not do otherwise. You are not able to do any more work in the Held." 111m CoiiiiiiInmIiiii. liftN This last remark power of speech lie tool. ,iwa Rand's had hopiil from t In ii aBk' JBSSbRjI Hm- JiiEEir 'ijBB jBLiLm- D. N. Miner Columbus, W A McAlllBter, Columbus. Uobt, Cooper, Vice I'res, Seward. O W Weill. MndlRon John Lett. Pre. Henecllct. OFFICERS AND MEMHERS OF THE SHILOH VETERANS' ASSOCIATION WHICH J MiiJuib. 1. ltossltcr, A W. (inr!. Peru. Columbus. Columbus. If t Russell, K. D. Fltzpntrlck, Sec Hcliuyler Columbus. RECENTLY MET AT COLl MIU'S Nub. plcsliluiil'tt mutiiiei that his leipiesl would bo granted. Now the oul words that fell fi inn his Hps were. "Mj Coil, Mi. Presl dent!" Ho rose and stalled tor the door, his heart nearly bursting. He could not oven say goodb.e In an instant the presi dent was beside htm. and, (blowing one arm allcclloiiatcly mound the olllcer, he said In a wdee Idled with emotion. "Lieutenant Hand, we need you hero lu Washington a gnat deal moio than thuy do at the front. If jou will go over to the War department In thu morning 1 think Mr. Stanton will tlx you out." At lu o'clock the next morning a com mission had been made out ami before noon It was signed by the president After leaving the at my lu ISitl Lieuten ant Rand eiiteieil Ocorgeiowu university, received the degiee of M. ).. and practiced his profession up to four ycuis ago, whuii he was obliged lo give it up owing lo In cessatil pains arising lioin Ills obi wounds Two gowiunrs of the stale of New Yolk ami thiee presidents or the United States huwi rccogul.ed Dr. Hand's patriotism and gallantry. Ho holds four commissions, all preserved In tho Holland Pin chase Distort eal society's archives at llatavia. N. Y., ono signed by Coveruor H. D. Morgan, one by Governor lloiallo Sosnioiir, one by Presl dent Lincoln and one by President Andrew Johnson. New York has reniembured him with a medal, appropriately inscribed, and will erect a monument to him when the time comes on the plot In Arlington pro seuteil to him by the government. Pointed Paragraphs Chicago News: A true lish story Is "trnugcr than a llctltlotis one. Thu eoat that isn't paid for Is a bad habit (o get Into. Finn language Is used In a roiiversntiou between partners. When mirth comes lu between the slat melancholy Hies the coop. A few drinks of tanglefoot, like pride, wiry often go before n fall. India in tiln'1 Is almost as elastic as tin conscience of a politician. Many a man conducts his biido to 1 1 1 -altar ami then resigns thu leadership. Political success Is llku thu proverbial Ilea now you see It and now you don't. Tho earth Is believed to bo Hat at the poles, and sumo candidates are also Hal toned at tho polls. All work and no play may make Jack a dull boy, but very few boys will become dull if left to themselves. Trouble which today looks as big as a barn by tomorrow may have dwindled down to tho size of a Ill-cent cake of Ice. lie Resented It Ohio Statu Journal: Two men zigzagged unsteadily down Long street tho other morning shortly after midnight. It was u ease of "united we stand, divided wu fall.'' Each, of course, was trying to steer the other safely home. At length No. I came up against a pole and held fast. No. i! Hied In vain to pull him forward. Then No. 1 became impatient at the other's obstinacy and spoke very frankly: "Shay, you're hie you're n shiliup thnsli what you are! l'o seen worau inen'u hie- you In Jail!" This was more than No. L could stand Hu felt that his honor as a gentleman had been sullied, and bracing himself stlllly he replied Willi spirit : "If you shay you've hie- seen worsu inen'u mo lu Jail, why hie you'ro a llur, thash what you are!"