Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 4.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Judge Kelley came in with a youthful-looking officer, whose empty coat-sleeve hung from his left shoulder. He was introduced to the Secretary as Brevet Lieut. Harry Rockafellow, of Philadelphia. “My friend,” continued the Judge, “ left a situation worth eight hundred dollars per year, three days after the President's proclamation for troops, to carry a musket at eleven dollars a month, with his regiment, the New-York Seventy-first. After the term of his enlistment had expired, he marched with his regiment to Bull Run. Early in the day he received that ugly rifle-ball in his mouth, (pointing to a Minie ball that was hung to his watch-key,) and for two hours and a half he carried it in his fractured jawbone, fighting like a true hero, until a cannon-ball took off his arm and rendered him powerless.

”He was captured, and for three months lay in a mangled condition in a tobacco warehouse in Richmond, without proper surgical treatment. He was breveted a lieutenant by his Colonel for his bravery, and is now filling a small clerkship. I beg of you to appoint him in the regular service.

” “But where could I put him if I were to?” said Mr. Stanton. The Judge was about to reply when the young man raised his arm and said with an imploring look: “See, I have a right arm still, and Gen. Kearney has only his left; send me into the line where there is fighting to be done! I have letters from--” he tried to draw a bundle of letters from his pocket. Mr. Stanton stopped him. “Put up your letters, sir; you have spoken for yourself. Your wish shall be granted. The country cannot afford to neglect such men as you!” Ere the soldier could thank him for his kindness, his case was noted. He turned to leave, and remarked to the Judge as they left: “I shall be proud of my commission, for I feel that I have earned it! This day is the proudest one of my whole life.” His heart seemed so [27] light that we doubt if he then realized the loss he had met with, or remembered the weary nights, and the long, long days he had suffered in the vile prisons of the traitor crew. Congressman Ely came in just as he passed along the aisle and remarked: “There goes the noblest and most heroic of all our prisoners. He was the pride of the boys — all loved him as though he were a brother.”