The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-09-26
.

II
Journaiist-An English Youth Who
Determined to Fight for the South
hts Fidelity and Calamity
Wounds and Promotion-The Story
as Told by Commodore Pegram, of
the Confederate Navy.
Editors Chronicle and Constttutionalist:
was last week at tho White Sulphur
Springs, in Virginia, where I met Com
modorc Pcgran, who is so well known
throughout the country. In the course
of conversation at which DR.. VIM. HUI
ger, Mr.. Frank Huger and other Charles
%tonians were present, the Commodore
gave us the following information. wit,
was so new to all "f MS. IT,, ! determin.
cd to Publish j.. which I now do, with
; the C~ommodore's consent, that the gen.
tleman whose heroic conduct is narrated
may receive at tho hands Of his fellow
citizens that honor which he has so rich
ly merited. In the year 1866, Comma
dore Pegram, then in command of the
Nashville, was, with his wife, in English
waters. One day a very bright-eycd, in
teIligent, well-mannered young gentle.
man, an Englishman, came to him, and
asked that he might take passage with
him to the Southern States, as he wanted
to join the army Of the Southern States
Commodore refused tho request, saying
he was under age and he could not think
to run all the risks of war. The young
vain he asked if he could get the con.
sent of his guardian if he would then Lei
him have passage? The Commodore
still declined. The youth then went tc
Hon. W. l.. Yancy, then in London. He
so worked upon Mr.. Yancey's feelings
that he wrote an earnest request to the
Commodore to bring the young man owe
Still tho Commodore refused. Just then
tho Queen of England, having gone
down to tho coast, and seeing the Tusca'
roaa and Nashville in port, ordered boil
to sea. This command, for reasons, the
Commodore refused to obey, and he went
up to London to arrange for his stay
While away some hands were shipped or
the Nashville, and in duc course she put
out to sea. Some days after the Comma
dorc was accosted by a very bright youth
who was all begrimed with coal dust ant
dirt. He asked who he was and where
he had como from, and to his surprise
found it was tho young mar who hac
tried to come rs passenger. He told the
SotlllllONplo ~ L Wv Ao'N - btO III
had determined to fight for the South
The Commodore pleased with his spirit
told tho officer of the ship to put him tc
some other work. One day a-certain pa
per passing through the young mans
hands he said it was very bad Englisl
and if tho Commodore would allow hin
he would correct it. This was done, m(
80 excellent was the report as made on
by the youth that the Commodore imme.
diately made him the Captains clerk
On the arrival of the Nashville in thu
South tho Commodore informed the Sec.
rotary of the Navy Of his appointment
and asked that it DO continued; this wa:
at once done. Soon after this C0mmo
dore Program was put in command o
the James river squadron, and took the
English youth with him, to whom he hat
become greatly attached. The CommO
dore says moro faithful or Intelligent ser
vice he has never seen rendered than die
that young man give to a cause for whirI
he had left country and friends, and ha'
come n perfect stranger to help them ir
their struggle for constitutional freedom
The fleet in the James river was for
long whilo inactive. It seems that this
come to fight, and so one night n Splasl
was heard alongside of the ship, and sooI
a man was seen rowing over towards thu
enemy. There was a general discharg'
of guns at him, but it vas not know
whether he was hit or who he was. Thu
roll was called, and non was missing bu
the youngh Englishman. The Commo
dore was very much hurt by this, but III
felt sure it would no explained. A few
DAYS atterward there was 4 very heavy
engagement, in which Capt. FeSram's S bat
terry was in the thickcst. After the figh
Commodore Pcgram received q message
from his relative, saying there WAS
young Englishman with them badly
| wounded who wished to see him. TIL,
Commodore went at once Captain Pc
gram told him that he never witnessed
such cool bravery in his life rs this yount
man had displayed that he knew ha(
como from his ship he had told all TIT
circumstances. He had swan out to
wards tho Yankees to escape our scnti
ncls, but had turned rs ROC as possible
and had SWAN to Captain Pegram's batto
and had been severely wounded in thu
leg and the shoulder. The COmmodor,
had him taken to Mrs. Carry's in Rich
mond and carefully nurscd. While tller
an order was issued for an examination
Of men for Office in tho ordnance depart
mcnt. Commodore Pegram furnished
his young friend with books and am
two or three times a week to eXaInin,
him. The Commodore says he progress
cd so rapidly that sOon he found hilnsel
unable TO examine him. AS he knew
more about it than he did. Ho introduce
cd the young wounded man to a certain
gentlemen in Richmond who had SOM
very fine horses. This gentleman con
ceived such a liking for the intclligen
brave young fellow that lie offered hin
the pick of his horses if he would ON,
out No. l in the examination. Thi
the youth modcstly said could scarcely b'
expected. Well said the gentleman, pas
your examination and you shall hav'
tho second choice. The examination
came of, and the young man ctine on
No. l. The best horse of the stables wa
given him, and still wounded and agains
remonstrlnccs he reported toradluy. BE
fore the war was over he had pushed
himself up to the first position in his de
partinent. Commodore Pcgram's hiStO
ny is much longer than this, but it ma,
be summed up in these wOrds-that in al
his experience of men he never met will
more devotion to duty, more gallant &C
ton, seldom more ability than thi
young Englishman displayed on all occt
sions, and in every position, and now 1T
has for him the most sincere and devoted
affection. The circle to whom thcs
things were told were all 50 ignorant o
them that it occurred to us that man,
others were curious, and that was 0nl,
due to ourselves that we should all know
the record Of one who has for veal or wo'
cast in his lot among us. This young
Englishman, my fellow-citiZens, is nom
other than F. w. Dawson, Esq, 0
the able editors OF the Charleston Ncp
md Courier. All honor to whom homo
is due. Respectfully,
A. TOOMiiR PORTER.
ARE You INSURED ?-Since 1871 til,