Showing posts with label Joseph K Barnes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joseph K Barnes. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

The Accident To Secretary Seward.

In our third edition yesterday, we announced a serious accident happening to Secretary Seward. It appears that the Secretary, with Miss Fannie Seward and Mr. Frederick Seward, started from his resident on 15½ street, near Pennsylvania avenue, for the purpose of taking a drive, and when on Vermont avenue stopped to take in Miss Titus, who was to accompany the party. When Miss Titus entered the carriage the driver got down from his box to shut the door, (at the same time holding the reins,) but experienced considerable difficulty in doing so. The horses becoming restive, Mr. Frederick Seward attempted to grasp the reins to assist the driver, but failing to do so, he jumped from the carriage in order to stop them, but fell, and somewhat bruised himself. Before Mr. Frederick Seward could regain his feet the horses broke away from the driver, he being unable to regain his seat; and when the horses suddenly turned into H street, Secretary Seward attempted to get out of the carriage, but fell violently to the ground, bruising his face severely, and badly fracturing his right arm just below the shoulder blade. The horses continued running, and when turning into the yard adjoining Mr. Seward’s resident one of them fell which stopped the carriage when the ladies alighted in safety.

The Secretary was immediately picked up in an insensible condition and conveyed to his residence, where the fractured limb was braced, Surgeon General Barnes, Dr. Verdi and Surgeon Morris attending him.

The driver was not killed, as at first reported, but was somewhat injured.

The fracture of the limb is a bad one, but Mr. Seward’s injuries are not considered dangerous, we are mostly happy to state.

The news of the accident to Secretary S. caused much excitement last night, as it was at first feared it might prove fatal, and the general feeling that his loss would be irreparable to the country was mingled with the feeling of high personal regard entertained for him by all in the community.

P. S.—We regret to learn since writing the above that Secretary Seward’s injuries are more serious than was at first supposed. On examination this morning, the attending physician discovered a fracture of the right jaw. The operation of setting it was very painful, but since it is bandaged, the Secretary feels more comfortable.

At 3 o’clock this afternoon he was comparatively easy, and there seems every reason to believe that he will soon be in a way of convalescence and able shortly to resume the functions of the office he fills with such distinguished ability.

SOURCE: “The Accident To Secretary Seward,” Evening Star, Washington, D. C., Thursday, April 6, 1865, p. 2, col. 4

Friday, February 9, 2018

Edwin M. Stanton to Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant, January 6, 1865 – 3 p.m.

FORT MONROE, January 6, 1865 — 3 p.m.
General GRANT:

I arrived here an hour ago en route for Savannah, by way of Hilton Head, and shall remain until to-morrow. Have you any word you wish to send, or any military news? Quartermaster-General, Townsend, and Barnes are with me.

E. M. STANTON,     
Secretary of War.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 47, Part 2 (Serial No. 99), p. 18

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Lyman to Elizabeth Russell Lyman, Friday, October 17, 1864

October 17, 1864

It is indeed not difficult to get material for a grumble, if one will but look about in this world. You see I can't be enthusiastic about such a government as Lincoln's, when I see, under my nose, the petty tyranny and persecution they practise against subordinate officers. Now there is Colonel Collis, a petty, scheming political officer; he sends letters to newspapers and despatches to Mr. Stanton about the enthusiasm for Lincoln in the army, etc., etc. Nothing is said to him; that is all right; he has an opinion, as he ought to have. But there is Lieutenant-Colonel McMahon, lately Adjutant-General of the 6th Corps, an excellent soldier, whose brother fell at the head of a charge at Cool Arbor, and who himself had been in all the battles: he is a McClellan man, as was natural in one of General Sedgwick's Staff. He talks very openly and strongly about his side, as he has a right to do. What is the consequence? He is, without any warning, mustered out of the service! That is to say, a soldier who don't agree with the Administration must be got rid of; it is nothing in his favor that he has exposed his life in twenty different actions. You would scarcely credit the number of such cases as this, cases of petty spite, fitting rather to a bad-tempered child than to a great and dignified cabinet minister. They suffer chances of victory to pass, rather than take voters from states. They send down three brevets of brigadiers, only one of which has been recommended by General Meade; and all three are men from the much dreaded and uncertain state of Pennsylvania. Don't think I am a grumbler; all this wickedness and smallness and selfishness is a part of humanity, and to be expected; but don't ask me to be enthusiastic for such people. There were a parcel of them down here to-day; bah! the sight of them is enough!

As we sat at breakfast there came a despatch saying that Hon. Secretary Stanton, with a long tail, might be looked for, per rail, very presently. It is an historical fact that General Meade expressed his gratification at this deep honor, in the following terms: “The devil! I shan't have time to smoke my cigar.” Immediately I got on my double-barreled coat, with a sash withal, and a pair of white cotton gloves; but there was plenty of time to smoke a cigar, for they didn't get along for an hour or two, and then the greatest posse of large bugs! First, on horseback, Generals Grant, Meigs (Quartermaster-General), Barnard, Eaton (Commissary-General), Barnes (Surgeon-General), Fessenden (with a Palmer leg). Then, in ambulances, Fessenden's papa, the Secretary of the Treasury, a sharp, keen, quiet-looking man; Hon. Secretary Stanton, who looks like his photographs, only more so; Hon. Sim. Draper and Mr. Barney, twin New York politicians. The former had a very large, long nose, and a very round and abrupt waistcoat, so that he resembled a good-natured pelican, just after a surfeit of sprats. General Meade received them with his usual high ceremony. He walked out of his tent, with his hands in his pockets, said, “Hullo, how are you?” and removed one hand, for the purpose of extending it to Grant, who lighted down from his horse, put his hands in his pockets, and sat down on a camp chair. The pelican came up and bobbed at the Meade, as did his friend. We carted them all to see Fort Wadsworth, where Rosencrantz swears that Mr. Stanton, on being informed that there was only a picket line between him and the enemy, pulled out his watch and said they really must be going back! which indeed they did. When the train started with its precious freight of military and diplomatic jewels, General Meade accompanied it, with Biddle, Mason and Rosencrantz. It would appear that they encountered, at City Point, Admiral Porter with Mrs. P. and another lady, who came, on their return, as far as Hancock's Headquarters. The hospitable H. did thereat cause supper to be set forth, for it was now dark, and the General, with much talk and good humor, took root there; for he is death to hold on, when he gets talking and in company he likes. At nine o'clock came the galliant Generale, with his aides, whereof Rosencrantz and Mason were bursting to tell something good; whereas Biddle had a foolish and deprecatory air. It immediately was related, midst loud shouts, how, at City Point Grant had given General Meade a bunch of cigars to beguile the way of himself, Admiral Porter, and some other guests going to the front. The Chief handed them to Biddle, asking him to take charge of them for the present. Now B. has few equals in the power of turning things end for end; and so he at once and clearly understood that he [was] made a sort of almoner of tobacco, and proceeded to distribute the cigars in the most liberal manner, to everybody who would either smoke or pocket them! The Staff and bystanders asked no questions, but puffed away at Grant's prime Havanas. Arrived at Hancock's and supper done, the General said to Porter: "I think now is the moment to enjoy those good cigars!" Out comes “Shaw,” the faithful servitor. “Oh, if you please, Major, the Gen'ral sends his compliments, sir: and would like that bunch of cigars, sir.” Biddle immediately assumed the attitude indicated in the accompanying drawing! and the curtain dropped. . . .

SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness to Appomattox, p. 247-50