The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-03-29
A STRANGE STORY.
Extraordinary Romance Of Soldier
He Reported Dead-His Property
Stolen by an Uncle

Troy correspondence March 49, Of the New
York Tribune 8aa
There arrived in this city last evening
from New York young man named VIM.
II. Lewis, late major in the federal army,
whose adventures constitute a chapter As
romantic and interesting as any found upon
the page OF fiction. Having letters to
Gen. Wool, he disembarked at this point
while en- route for his home in Iowa, and
was in the act of registering his name at
the Troy house, when he staggered and fell
| to the floor, profusely bleeding from =
wound in the right lung. He was picked
up by the attendants of the hotel, convey
ed to a room, and medical attendance sum
moned, After ralying somewhat from the
effects of his sudden prostration, Lewis re-
ouested that a messenger would be dis
patched for Mai. Gen. Carr, of this city,
and that gentleman called upon him. To
the general he related his singular story,
and as he had abundant evidence in the
shape of letters and communications, testi-
flying to his character and position, there is
no doubt of the truth of all he says.
| At the beginning OF the late war Lewis
was a student in Eastman commercial col
Ilege at Poughkeepsie. He enlisted in
| Dodge's mounted rifles, and was trans.
ferred from that organization, as second
lieutenant in the one hundred and fifty
second infantry. Subsequently he was
| made captain. While engaged IN laying
| the pontoon bridge at Fredericksburg, he
was wounded in the knee, captured and
taken south, where he was detained tor
months and months, and had no opportu-
nifty to communicate with his friends.
When released, he again joined the army,
| J. nd ror1
at Gettysburg, where he received shot in
the head, fracturing the skull, and from
July to November remained almost totally
unconscious in one of the hospitals at Phil
adelphia. Recovering, he again re- entered
| the field. and at Sailors Greek received
the wound through the lung, which re-
,pened last evening, and prostratet him as
stated. And now comes the singular part
of the story. :
The father of young Lewis was man of
large property in the state OF Iowa, was =
| brioodier in the volunteer service, and fell
MORALLY wounded while leading his brigade
at the battle of Chattanooga. His only
brother was lieutenant colonel of the twen-
tv first Iowa infantry, and was killed at An
tietam. His mother died during the war,
and while her husband and only children,
the two boys, were in the service: While
the young man was prisoner IN the south.
general Halleck certified to an uncle Of
Lewis, living in Iowa, that VIM. ii. was
among the killed at Fredericksburg. On
the strength Of this certificate, 1t Is alleged,
the uncle secured the necessary legal papers
to administer upon the estate OF his brother
and deceased family. The uncle was de-
clared the only heir; he immediately sold
the property, receiving therefor over SloO,-
OU0, ard with this money at once LETT Tor
| Europe, where he Is now. The hrst mt
nation that young Lewis had OF the death
of his father, mother or brother, was after
his release from southern prisons Subse
nuently he wrote 70 his friends IN Iowa To
look after his property, and also to send
him means: and to his great surprise then
learned what his uncle had been doing, and
that he had left the country. About a
wear ago Young Lewis resolved to pursue
the uncle, and has been absent from til,
country on this business, arriving In New
York by the ship William Penn on Satur-
day last. The uncle was found living IN
Paris, and man of property. The whole
facts of the case have been laid before Gen.
Dix. the American minister at Paris, and q
dwelling house in Paris owned by tic uncle,
and also a deposit In one OF the banks.
/ have been attached under legal proceedings.
The uncle fed to Prussia, and detectives
are now on his track, IN the earnest endea-
vor to effect his arrest Learning that
some months must eiapse before an Issue
in the case could be finally rendered under
the French laws, and further testimony
from Iowa being required, young Lewis lett
Paris recently for America, and arrived in
New York as above stated. Papels in
possession of major Lewis include auto
grapG recommenlatory letters from gener..
al Grant, general Sheridan, ard general
Burnside.