Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-07-14
Death OF Lieutenant Drew, I. s. A.


Drew of this city, that he received official
notice from the War Department on Monday
last informing him that it his son Charles
c. Drew whose death has been reported of
late as having taken place whilst in pursuit OF
the Indians in the desert mountains of New
Mexico.
1t seems that he was acting at the time as
Indian Agent at ella Apache Agency, having
company under his command in charge of
commissary stores, amongst which a
herd of beeves. Certain Indians had stealthi-
ly driven off some of the cattle. Lieut.. Drew
with fifteen men started in pursuit, and got
lost in the mountains near paraje. There
was no water in all that region, and after sew
eral days wandering in the intense heat, the
sufferings of the men became intolerable.
One died on the spot, thirteen succeeded at
length in reaching Paraje but the Lieut..
unable to proceed, was left until fresh party
could be sent in pursuit of him. When found,
the was just alive; but after being brough
four miles, he expired in the arms of his COM
rades. His body was buried at Fort Craig;
and the Colonel who dispatched the informa-
ton of his death to the War Department
gave him the highest praise as a faithful and
popular officer.
He had been in the service ever since
April, 1861. When the first three years reg
ment was raised in this State, Maine Sd,
commanded by Col. O. o. Howard,-he en-
listed as Corporal, in the company of Henry
G. Staples, of this city. In June the regi-
ment left Augusta for the seat of war, and was
engaged in the first Bull Run battle on the
2lst of July following. Whilst stopping
during the retreat, to take care Of a wounded
soldier, he was captured by the enemy, and
after three days confinement at Manassa
junction without food, was conveyed TO Rich
mond, where he imprisoned in the tobac
co warehouse, in which he saw several of his
comrades shot down for approaching a win
dow to look out of it. The horrors of that con-
fnement need not here be related They
have passed into history.
In September he was removed to New Or
leans, where, like others, he was confined in
felons cell. When allowed, at certain
times, to pass from the cells to the corridor,
which was then filled with Union soldiers, he
has seen an armed rebel stand in the door of
the long corridor and, saying he wanted to
kill id Yankee" level his musket at the
crowd and fire, killing whomsoever the bullet
might chance to hit In this prison of hor-
rors he remained from September till the next
February, when he was transferred to the
Rebel prison at Salisbury, N. C. This was
hardly less internal than Andersonyille, S. c.
Here he remained till the following June,
nearly year from the time of his capture,
when he was released on parole, and was per-
Initted by Gen. Butler to return home for
few days. This was the last time he was ever
in Augusta or seen by his father. On his
return to Annapolis he was Immediately ex-
changed, and appointed Adjutant of the reg-
ment maine Third to which he formerly
belonged. Soon thereafter, he in the
sangninary battle of fredericksburg, in which
he received slight wound 1t was but few
days after, that the battle of Charlottesville
took place, in which he engaged. lie
then proceeded with his regiment and partci-
pated in the battle Of Gettysburg. lie was
also in the battle ofaAntietam. E
the, Wilderness, under Gen. Grant, on his
way to Richmond. With the army before
Richmond or Petersburg, he remained till
April or May, 1854, when he was allowed
furlough of certain number of days in which
to return home. Unfortunately, on his way
hither, hewas taken sick in Philadelphia. and
preferring to tarry with a friend in that city,
rather than so to the hospital, he chose not
to report himself to the Provost Marshal, but
ventured to remain where he was till he
should be able to return to Petersburg. This
was a sad mistake of his. The 4th of June
was very near--fhe day on which his three
years service would expire, when he would
be honorably discharged and paid Off; but
though he fastened his return in a state of
weakness, he did not reach his quarters till
day or two after his regiment was mustered
out, and he, being absent, beyond the life of
his furlough, was by the red tape rule record
ed as deserter. The matter, however, was
soon explained, and, liking the service, he
Immediately Joined Delaware regiment,
which took the place of the Maine Sd on the
line, and continued in that till the war closed
by the surrender of Lee. This was on the
9th of April, 1865. But only nine days be-
fore this, viz. April /, he was struck by
shell from the rebel battery, that fractured
his thigh, which wound, being severe, made
it necessary for him to be removed to the
Hospital at City Point, for surgical treatment.
BY the blessing of God, after lying there five
months, his limb restored, and he was
discharged, cured, and forthwith enlisted in
the regular -4rmy, and was so soon ordered
with his regiment to California, that he had
not time to return home to see his friends
here and bid them farewell. N
On the Pacific coast, the army in various
detachments, has been in different directions,
from Oregon to New Mexico, chiefly watch
ing and sometimes fighting the Indians. 1t
was not known to his friends here just where