The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-03-18
Letter From Released Prisoner.
l sl -ANS4Forrs Md. Mar. 0, 1866.
To the Editor Of the Press:

l NSAroLrs Md. Mar. D, 1856.
To the Editor Of the Press: 's i.-.s,a
Having just returned from prison in the
South, l desire to give the readers of your pa
per'an idea Of the reception we received from
the army and navy at Wilmington, on the lst
inst.
A prisoner only can really appreciate the
grandeur of the Flag ofhis country, after suf-
fering all the privation and hard hip incident
to prison life In an enemy's dom in.
The drst day of March, 1865, a beyond all
doubt one OF the most memorable days in the
history of one thousand FEEDER 4 officers who
have been held as prisoners of war, for all Pc
RODS, ranging from six months to two years
and a half. 1t was en- that iqorning when a
thousand pairs of eyes were cloudsd with
tears as they beheld the Sars and Stripes
float over the conquered city of Wilmington
and the battered walls efforts Fisher and
Anderson, and Thousand hearts throbbed
with new life as they felt the whitening bur-
den of confederate bar5atity lifted from their
shoulders. sso'oasss
The cars which brought the officers from
Goldsboro', N. G. to tte point of exchange
near Wilmington, haltel first in sight of the
Cavalry guard and es;ort of Colonel Milford,
our exchange agent, Which was drawn up in
line to receive US VITA the proper salute. We
could read in the ceuntenance of that SPLEEN
didly equipped and appointed guard Hearty
welcome. which wss responded to by prolonged
cheers followed by tears Of gratitude. Then
more than on nyother occasion did we feel
and realize the protection of our government
which must have resembled the "Aegis Of Ju-
pitern Then fo the first time in many
months did we ses the good old flag, the in
sigma of freedom and Liberty, which had
been borne aloft in triumph on hundred
battle-felds in defence of Civil Liberty by the
war worn veterans which il now welcomed to
its standard.
We passed to the rear short distance when
the army was formed in line on either side Of
the road, with bands playing some stirring
battle hymn and natiofal airs which Inspired
the officers who were plodding through the
cold water and mud baie-footed, with an I'M
conquerable determination to stand by the
flag Of our fathers until Union and Free
DOM shall reuer1erate rpm State to State,
and be re-echoed from the everlasting belfry
of Heapen! 5sars sao
We came to the city of Wilmington under
the glorious Old Flag tatlered and perforat-
ed a thousand times in our ate battles around
Wilmington; when the Naty-the coicdno Of
deuth-paid its tribute of honor and respect
to the returned captives of var. II one acted
more calamity than anotherit was Lieut.. Geo.
H. Pendleton, Executive oiicer of the U. s.
S. "Sunapee," upon whom too high tribute
Of honor cannot be paid for his indefatigable
and untiring energy in msking all within his
reach comfortable and happy. e
We learned that his unblemished patriotism
and philanthropy were fally equalled by his in
trepid bravery in the terrible battles at Fisher,
Anderson and Wilmington.
On the I'd inst all the officers, embarked on
the steamer Gen. Sedgwick and the Euterpe,
and arrived at Annapolis on the 7th where we
arc "~--7' st excellent STYLE
t. j. THoRP,
lst Ny. Dragons.