The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-02-21
Susan Read, Of Freedom.

~--N--~ -~Se~~'y AoSs.S.-s
Now that the Copperheads are talking
about recognizing in every town and school
district, so as to be ready for the "crisis, 1t is
instructive to consider what warfare this is
which they propose to carry on, and to re-
hearse some of their glorious deeds in 1861 5,
when they talked very much as they are talk
ing now. The general headquarters of the
Rebel reserve in this State were in Freedom,
it will be remembered. The case of Mrs
Susan Read, of Freedom, which has just been
reported to the State Senate by the Commit
tee on Claims, is a shining example of the
achievements of the "Sons OF Liberty" in
those stirring times. Mr.. Holbrook reported
in favor of Mrs. Reads claim. Mr.. Billings,
of Freedom, then addressed the Senate as
follows: t@riY F.sag 1'@ aaa'i 51Ht
Her husband in 1861 enlisted in the 14th
Maine regiment, and he died in the fall fol-
lowing and left his wife extremely poor, no
land house nOr shelter whatever. She had
an only son who enlisted in the 20th Marie
regiment, Gov. Chamberlain's first regiment,
and served his time. After her husband en-
tered the service of the United States she was
entitled to State aid. She called upon the
authorities of the town and received about
twenty-eight dollars. But after her husband
died, the selectmen said, we cannot grant you
State aid-you must take care OF yourself.
She kept pleading; she was turned away and
rebuked, and told, when you are SO poor that
you cannot maintain yourself, the town will
maintain you. In 1861 was organized in the
town OF Freedom company of two hundred
men to resist the draft. / tell this to show
the feelings, the dnimus, the soul which guild
ed these men in refusing to this woman the
aid which the State had authorized, because
the simple statement would hardly be credit
ed. They organized to resist the draft and to
protect each other. 1t is true that they arm
ed themselves and drilled in our streets. A
Union man hardly dared to speak. 1t SO hap
pened that these individuals, after loud talk
ing that they would protect each other, were
put to the test. In the summer of 1854, about
| four O'Clock one morning an order reached
| that section stating that certain individuals
must be drafted into the service of the United
States. At four o'clock ir the morning the
| draft took place. A certain individual was
compelled to leave his home and enter the
| service. He found he was not compelled to
walk: coach was in attendance and men in
waiting. He was told that the Governor
| wanted to see him. He was afterwards told
| that he was on his way to Fort Lafayette In
| New York. l presume the man was some-
| what surprised. Alter two months he came
| back again, but more vindiciive and savage
| in his manner than ever, and especially to-
wards those who had been in the Democratic
party and now were Union men. '"t 4a1
This Mr.. Read had formerly been in the
Democratic party, servant of the Emperor.
and when hel volunteered fer the service. his
son also went with the Union party. This
act was enough to call down the vengeance
of the ruling spirit OF the town ON their heads.
1t went along that year. From that time the
| town authorities would not grant State aid l
came here last winter to see it it was possible
to recover the State aid. I came here last
summer for that purpose. was advised by
the Governor to apply TO the Legislature.
This petition does not ask for donation
from the State, but that just aid which these
disloyal men in that neighborhood were able
to keep from her. 1t is ior the Legislature OF
Maine to unlock the door which these men
had closed against her, and disclose her just
right.
Wha. has she done for the country? She
has given husband as an offering upon it
altar, and her only son, in the hour of he,
country's need, she sent forth to fight Its bat
4 ties and defend its flag-this son on whom
she relied tor support in her old age-the onl.