Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-28
Communicated.
pauMMoprowN, Feb. II, lsO2

DRUMMoDTOwN, Feb. IL, 1862
l observed paragraph iu your paper of lat
Friday, which would hardly have noticed but
for its heading, Z" Stand by the truth" will
eadeayor to give you the history OF the cannon
alluded to.
While we in the Second Regiment Delaware
Volunteers, were encamped above Drummond
town, soldier brought negro 10 me who be
taid knew where WAS hidden piece Of cannon.
Ou questonngltbe darkie, learned from him
the place Of eoncealment Of the cannon. and for
the information gave him hall dollar.
Having 10 opportunity To search for several
days, for | was convinced no one knew of lis
whereabouts except Col. Wharton and my self
one day, about week after the talk with the
negro, Lieut. Col. Johannes anj Dr. Cader Of
the Purnell Legion, came over 10 pay their re-
spects 70 Col. Wharton, ! was in the Colonefs
quarters at the time. After talking on various
subjects, Colonel told them of the cannon and
wished that they might recover it. aud informed
them that | knew its precise locality. frankly
told them all knew about it, and offered to gu
with them and fnd il Accordingly, that same
afternoon, requested our Adjutant, Lieut.. Tor
bert 10 ride out with me for that purpose. On
our way met DR.. Babb, our Assistant Surgeon,
and invited himto come along. We then pade
uptO the camp Of the Plrne Legion, and soon
Lieut.. Col. lohnnDes and Dr. Cnder were in the
bAuult Lieut. NOl. JuHhuUeb anu Ut. DhOu
started ahead, and as was the only person who
had any knowledge whittier we were 10 go, they
rode mile or more out Of the way and were
forced to rOturn. They overlook me in company
with Dr. Gader, Lieut.. Torbert, and two soldiers
aud negro driving cart
The darkie's description of the hiding plnce
of the cannon was very imperfect so we visited
Mr., Curtis burton and MIR. Ioyrs houses and
were about to give up the search when Dr. Bahh
esped another house and declared that that must
be the right one, spurrng his horse into II full
run, reached the house Of Mr. James Garrison
much in the advance Of the rest who rode at an
easy pace
When | came up, | found Dr. Babb and MIR.
Garrison standing on the porch. Mr.. G. politely
invited us TO dismount aud come in, but | in
formed him that we were in pursuit Of q piece Of
cannon which had learned was hidden on his
premises. The negro told me that =" it was just
back o de house in de garden" Mr.. Garrison
replied thnt there was no cannon on his land,
but did not believe him and jumped over the
fence and searched the rear of the house down to
Folly Greek on my return, MIR. uarrisen asked
me what kind OF gun il was we were searching
for; finding that | had been deceived by the
| negro, htsitated about describing the gun,
which | had been told was an iron one lle
asked il We had found the brass cannon AT
once coDjectured that brass gun Was hidden
and if was shrewd we might get both, so
promptly answered, ''we want the brass one we
have the boat howitzer." MIR. q. said the
brass cannon was buried five miles from here and
it is raining and getting dark. Lieut.. Col.
Johannes and DR., Babb both said, 1--WE have
come for the gun and are going to have it if il
takes all night" | then said 10 Mr.. g., " you
will please, sir, mount your horse and show us
the place." which he did. After we started
said to Col. Joh times, we are in an enemy'i
country aud it is not prudent for us 10 go 50 tai
without II guard said /, suppose you order tel
or twelve men and four horses, take also the gUi
carriage phich the Wisconsil Regiment found hetolt
the Purnell Legion came to Drummondtowl,
/! Soon the men and the horses were ready nut
we started, MIR. Garrison riding with me- WheI
we came to the woods where the gun was con
cealed, it was intensely dark and Mr. G. sai,
really, sir, | cannot find the gun now. | dis
mounted from my horse and commenced huntinl
round; in few minutes my foot slipped in
hole as far as my spur would permit, thrustinl
down my hand grasped the knob of the caunol
and shouted "Eureka.' The men soon kindle
a fire aud we all lent hand te resurtect tn
gun. Having accomplished my work, | wa
anxious to return, which did in company witt
MIR. Garrison and DR.. Babb. The men with tn
gun came more slowly
This is oil the connection which the Secon
Regiment Delaware Volunteers had with til
gun, aud this is the whole truth which we viii
stand by.
GEO. NJ. CoNDRON,
Chaplain I'd Regiment Del. Vol.