politics.

Comrade Jennings has been greatly bereaved by the loss of his wife who died at South San Diego, Cal., April 14, 1894. He and daughter Edith accompanied her to the Pacific coast during the preceding autumn, vainly attempting to save her from the fatal malady to which she finally succumbed. Our comrade’s home is now desolate.

ELIAS KILMER, Prophetstown, Whiteside County, Ill.

April 24. 1861-July 14, 1864. Born in Oswego county, New York. Twenty-one years old when enlisted. September 5, 1864, enlisted in 146th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, and was discharged therefrom July 5, 1865, by reason of the termination of the war. Is pensioned at rate of six dollars a month. Since the war has been a farmer. This is the way Elias writes: “Politics, black republican. In regard to religion, my wife belongs to the Methodist church. I suppose you preached prohibition and voted democratic.” There are very many republicans of my acquaintance whom I would be glad to see preaching prohibition although they continue to vote the republican ticket. No class of American citizens would be more greatly blessed and benefitted by prohibition than republicans.

JOHN LEACH, Morris, Ill.

April, 1861-July 16, 1865. Born in West Virginia. Twenty-two years old when enlisted. A carpenter. A very active republican—never preaches prohibition. Is a christian, but has not worked at the trade for many years. Did not answer my letter, and am unable to give further facts from memory.

JAMES B. LITTLEWOOD, Washington, D. C., No. 415, B Street, N. E.

April, 1861-July, 1865. Born in England. Was struck, I think, by a spent ball at Britton’s Lane. Was a good soldier. Since war, has held clerical positions in Washington; is now in the Patent Office. While performing clerical duty, studied medicine and graduated from Medical College at Georgetown, D. C. Owns a home in Washington. Is probably a democrat at the present time. Did not answer my letter of inquiry.

JOHN P. MULLENIX, Fairfield, Iowa.

May, 1861-March 25, 1862. Born in Ohio. Thirty-six years old when enlisted. Receives pension at rate of thirty dollars a month for disability incurred in service; has drawn pension from date of discharge. Badly crippled; cannot go without crutches; has no use of left arm and shoulder; rheumatism is the main difficulty. Is a Presbyterian in belief, and a republican from principle.

ALBERT PIERSON, 10 Prospect Street, East Orange, New Jersey.

June 3, 1861-November 20, 1862. In 1863, when Confederate army came up into Pennsylvania, enlisted in a militia company, and served thirty days. Born in Orange, N. J. Was twenty-two years old when enlisted. Had the pleasure of participating in only one battle during the war—that of Fredericktown, Missouri. About November 1, 1861, became very sick at Bird’s Point, Missouri. On the 20th of that month received furlough and went to Mr. Jessup’s, Na-au-say township, Kendall county, Illinois, where he remained for six months a very sick man. In May, 1862, was sent to East Orange, N. J., his former home, in charge of a personal attendant, and came near dying on the journey. Remained at East Orange, sick, for four months. In August reported to hospital, on Bedloe Island, from which he was discharged November 20, 1862, and it is the regret of Comrade Pierson that he was not with Company K, 20th Illinois Regiment, during the whole war. Since discharged he has been seriously sick, and has paid out money to doctors. “Yet, I believe there is One above who rules over all, and when my time comes no doctor can save me.” (Doctor Taylor, what think you of this?) Comrade Pierson is a Presbyterian. He is not a pensioner; he has never applied for pension. He is a republican; is a powerful republican, and is in grief because of the ascendancy of the democratic party. This is the way he writes: “O, what a great big humbug Grover is, anyway; he ought to be in England, not America. I recall the night after the election; I expected nothing from New Jersey—she has always been a democrat—but I did expect good news from the Prairie state. At twelve o’clock report came, ‘Illinois is against Harrison.’ At first I refused to believe it. I had been proud of Illinois up to that time, as I had spent some years there, but now I am in sorrow for her.” Albert, I am surprised that a grave and serious man of mature years would sit up till twelve o’clock watching election returns. Don’t do it again. Retire at nine o’clock regularly the night after election and in the morning you will be in better condition to hear the news. You may get bad news next time, too. As ordered by the people, so will the result be.

Comrade Pierson has been engaged in different lines of business since the war—is now, and has been for some years, in the wood and coal business. He gives this cordial invitation: “If any Company K boys ever come East, I want them to run out to Orange and see me; about fourteen miles from New York City, and trains run all the time. Remember!”

In a subsequent letter, Comrade Pierson has given additional facts concerning himself. In the spring of 1857 he went out to Illinois to be a farmer. Was in Kendall county, Illinois, when the affair took place at Fort Sumpter in Charleston Harbor, and immediately joined a Company that was started at Oswego. That Company was unfortunate in not being accepted, and he was obliged to go back to work. In the meantime a Kendall county Company was organized at Newark and went into camp at Joliet. Some of the Oswego boys went to Joliet and joined that Company and sent back word that a few more men would be received. Comrade Pierson was full of the war, but was reluctant about quitting work again. One day he was plowing. His team consisted of a free horse and a very lazy one. He talked a great deal to the lazy horse and pelted him with chunks of dirt, but all this was unavailing and he decided to resort to harsher means. He stopped, threw the lines from his shoulders, swung them around the plow handle and went up alongside of the lazy animal to thrash him. But as soon as he commenced operations the free horse jumped and away went the team. After considerable time he caught them. He then felt very gritty and resolved to be a soldier. He tied the horses to a fence and started. As he passed the house he called at the door and said, “Good bye! I am off for the war,” and moved on toward Joliet. On this journey he was troubled by the thought that he was liable to be rejected, as he was a small man and, at that time, first-class war material was in great abundance. When, however, he reached camp he passed muster successfully and was happy. Comrade Pierson closes his letter thus: “When another election comes ’round I want you fellows out there to attend to business better than you did before. Watch New Jersey next time.”

WILLIAM PRENTICE, Soldiers’ Home, Quincy, Illinois.

Enlisted in April, 1861; served for several months in Company K. Was discharged for disability, and afterwards enlisted in another Regiment. Is a pensioner.

WILLIAM PRESTON, Steward, Illinois.

April 24, 1861-July 16, 1865. Born in Kendall county, Illinois. Twenty-one years old when enlisted. Receives pension for disability incurred in service. After war, engaged in farming; later was in business; now somewhat retired. Is interested in Company K matters, and is glad that a roster is likely to be made up.

JAY DELOS PRUYN, Oneonta, New York.

May 1,