The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-03-04
A Victim Of Copperhead Treason.

On the 23d of October last, by order of Gen.
Burnside, Reuben Strout, Of Co. X, Goth In
diana regiment, was executed at Johnson's
Island, for murder and desertion. Previous to-
his execution, the doomed man made q con-
fession, from which we copy the following.
Receiving furlough to 60 home he says:
i went home and stayed out my time, and
then started to go TO my regiment, 1 went
as far as Lafayette-my wife and her sister
going with me as far as Dayton, Indiana. l
took sick at Lafayette, and stayed there about
five days. My father in-law then took me
to his home TO stay till / got well After /
had been there about two weeks tods ddris-
ed by rdrious persons not TO go back to the
army. They said this was only an "Aboli-
ton war, and ddrised me to stay at home and
they could protect me. was induced to go
to a so-called Knights of the Golden Circle,
and was made a member of that organization.
The obligations OF the order bound us to do
all We could against the war-to resist draft
il one should be made, and likewise to resist
all confiscation or emancipation measures,
in every possible way. We were sworn to
stand by each other in all measures of resist
ance. We were pledged to do all we could
TO prevent another man or another dollar GO
ing out of the State for the further prosecu-
ton of the war. | met with this secret meet
ing several times and entered into their views
and plans.
stayed about four months with my father
in-law, and then went to see my brother near
Delphi, Indiana. On the second evening af-
ter my arrival there, Soloman Huffman and
man named McAfiee came to my brothers
house. | was up stairs about to go to bed
Ny brother aud family and my wife were
down stairs. One OF the men asked il Simon
Strout was there. My brother said no such a
man was there. He asked If my brothers wife
was there. He answered she was. He asked
ii her husband was in the house. She answer
ed no. He then asked my brother something
TO which he replied that my wife had not un-
derstood his question. He then said: "you
are all set of id copperheads, and if we
get him it will be the last time for him. The
other man asked my brothers wife for can
die to search the house: The other man said
ask no iavors of these id copperheads. If
we get him we will shoot him."
When he said this became alarmed for
my life, and cooked my pistol and stepped to
the door at the head of the stairs, as Huffman
was coming up with candle in his hand. |
told him to step back and would come down.
but II be made another step up stairs | would
shoot him. He changed the light from one
hand TO the other, and made as il to draw a
pistol from his pocket or belt. then fired
upon MIN, lie Tell Dack exclaimlng, 'Oh, my
God, am killed. He was carried out and
never saw him aiterh he fell.
was led by evil counsel, and my connec-
ton with secret traitors organization, to
stay away from my post of duty in the army.
| am truly sorry acted thus, or that / for
moment listened to these evil counsels. / am
sorry that ever lifted up my hands against
the life Off fellow man. l think the men
who came to arrest me did not act right, but
do not excuse myself for any wrong doing
on that account.