Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-07-12
srArEMENr or MR. pAnKER.


The following statement Of tho arrest and
confinement Of Reuben NJ. Parker, the mem
Der Of the Woodstock company who was cap
tured by the rebels in the battle at Great Be-
thel, we find in the New York Tribune:
Observing wounded soldier, whom he
supposed was one Of his own company, but
who proved to be Major Winthrop, lying on
the ground, he started toward him Being
cut off, he retraced his steps, and when he had
gone few PAGES file of seven soldiers rose
before him. Their uniform being, in almost
every respect like those worn by the Vermont
ers, he supposed them to be his comrades.
and went toward them, and, when within five
or six rods of them, he was deliberately fred
on by one Of them. The ball passed through
his coat and barely g azed his person, MT
J. raised his gun and returned the fire when
one Of tho seven fell ON his face. The others
rushed forward, and, with their guns elevated
at his heart, commanded him to surrcndor.-
Resting his gun on the ground, Mr.. p. re-
piled: "lf | can have the assurance Of being
taken and treated as a prisoner according to
the usages of war, l will surrender if can
not have such terms, fire and be id The
terms were granted and he was taken into
custody.
He marched to the church, where he was
bound hand and foot aud kept under a strong
guard While waiting in this situation five
wounded men were brought in, and an officer
came in and remarked to another that he had
just assisted to carry in seventeen Of his own
men killed, and was proceeding to mention
names when he was motioned to keep silence.
Soon after shutdown all the forces took up
their march to Yorktown. Mr. Parker was
stationed in the center Of the column, which
he should think numbered between two and
three thousand men, A short time after they
set out they overlook a wagon drawn by two
yoke of oxen at least. IL was heavily loaded,
the box being three or four boards high On
starting again, something, to all appearance a
human body, rolled out Of the rear end and
the belief OF Mr. Parker at the time was, that
the wagon contained large number Of dead
bodies. II was toward morning when they
reached Yorktown, Parker walking the entire
distance under a close guard. On arriving
there he was marched around town some time
IN search Of a guard-house, and was finally
lodged in hut, with his legs bound. He lay
on the ground, without bed OF covering, al
night.
In the morning he was placed in o guard
house where there were three other prisoners.
previously taken. Their names were George
Mason "a lIToyl Regiment Daniel A.
Mooney, do, and Charles Motoalf DURYEA'S
Zouaye Regiment, who had been taken al
different times while out with scouting parties.
The next day (the l4th.) in the arternoon
Parker Mctoalf and Mason were started en-
Richmond. They took the steamer Logan 10
West Point, whence they rock the railroad
Ten Viugnians were taken along at the same
time on suspicion OF being Union men There
was, also, in the party man named T. ".
Clark who had deserted from Col. Townsends
Regiment on the day previous to the battle,
and who gave the enemy all the Information
he possessed concerning our movements and
intentions. They arrived at Richmond ON
the morning of the l2lh. They were marched
by file Of soldiers TO the Custom House
where a brief examination was had. They
were then taken to the jail and lodged in a
room together, with the exception Of Clark,