The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-07
Interesting Narrative.

The Beaufort correspondent of the New
York Times, under date of January 10th.
writes the death OF Lieut.. VALLANDINGHAM,
South Carolina rebel officer, who was shot
at the battle OF Cooshaw
have been passing few days peasants
ly at Beaufort, and find that all the interest
attaching to the affair of the LIST instant, at
Port Royal Ferry, was not exhausted with
the recital of the dslodgment and rout of
the chivalry."
We have since had communication with
the rebels under flag of truce, for the pur-
pose of exchanging the remains of Vallan-
bingham, the wounded man who was ADAM
doned by bis comrades when they fled from
| the fertilization, for those of General j. G.
Adams, of Company A, Michigan Eighth
Regiment, who was captured by the enemy
after he had fallen MORALLY wounded in
front of the battery concealed in the woods.
For the facts of the following narrative,
respecting Vallandingham's death and the
interview with the enemy, am indebted to
DR.. George S. Kembe, Surgeon of Stevens
Brigade, who was bearer of the flag of
truce.
1t was late on the night of the LIST, and
the Doctor, with few volunteers, went out
upon the causeway to bury three dead bodies
which had been shockingly m4ngled by a
shell from one of the gunboats. They had
nearly finished this humane work, when a
CRY of distress reached them from the corn.
field at the side of the road. Going to the
place, they saw VaIlandingham lying upon
his back, greatly exhausted, with shatter-
ed gun few feet distant from him. He
told his name, and said that he had been
among the first injured. Knowing how
needful draught of water must be to one
in his condition, the doctor babe one of his
men give him drink from his canteen. But
Vallandingham, tortured by thirst as he
was, could not be prevailed upon to taste it
until our men had first drank some, for he
had been taught to believe that we did not
hesitate to poison all whom the chances Of
war threw into our hands. He was care
fully removed to one of the house near the
Fort, and placed under the care of DR..
Mulford, of the Forty-eighth New York
Regiment, who did every thing to make him
comfortable. But the poor fellow received
every attention with distrust. The physi-
clan attempted several times to administer
an anodyne, which be repeatedly refused to
take, although his suferings must have been
intense. DR.. Kemble, next morning, had him
taken across the ferry to the headquarters
OF the .Highlanders, and endeayored to
assure him of our good intentions toward
him. 1t was evident, from the terrible
character of the wound, that the poor fellow
could not be saved, and the Doctor inform.
ed him of the fact. He replied that be knew
he must die, and soon after becoming salts.
fed that there was no intention to injure
him, consented to drink the stimulants which
were offered him. Before be died he ex-
pressed surprise at the kind treatment he
had received, and seemed to be very
grateful. He admitted having labored
under a great mistake with regard
to u.s. The leading men of the South
had carefully inculcated into the minds
of the troops an idea that the North
carried on the war for the purpose of SUBJ
jugating the people of the South-to con-
fiscate their houses and lands and free their
slaves. He had believed this, and thous-
ands of others gave it credence; and if it
were not true-if the restoration of the Un>
ion were all that the North sought, then
there was a great mistake somewhere. He
emphasized the words great mistake" and
seemed to realize fully the wicked deception
which had been practiced upon him. In
the course of the conversation he said that
drafting had been resorted to in order to
fill the ranks of the army, and drafted men
received No pay. To avoid such chance,
many more enlisted voluntarily than other.
wise would be the case.
Valandigham died on the evening of the
I'd, and few days afterward Gen Stevens
learned through deserter of the death of
Corporal Adams, whose brutal treatment
in he hands of the enemy afforded mark
ed contrast to that which we had extended
to Vallandigham. The poor fellow, suffer-
ing untold torments from bullet wound,
was laid upon gun chaTriage, and carried
in that position, without halt, to Nc.
Phersonviie, distance of twenty-one
miles from the ferry, whittier, in their pam
ic, the main body of the rebels retreated.
Partial confederation of this tale of inhu-
mainly was given by private Armstrong,
also the Eighth Michigan, (since dead of
injuries received in the skirmish,) who,
from place where he lay concealed, saw
the wretches throw Adams roughly upon
the carriage and carry him away, after they
had abused him and threatened to shoot
him. The General was informed also that
every effort was made to obtain from Ad-
ans what he knew respecting our forces
and the plans of our commanders, out be
could not be prevailed upon to reveal any
thing, remarking invariably to his perse-
cutOrs, Gentlemen, you can't expect me
to answer questions of that sort"
| A New Office.
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