The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-30


ARMY.
New York TimesI
A few months ago the Democrats oil
Portsmouth. N. H., picked out the only ex-
rebel soldier In their city and elected him
mayor. He Is native OF the town, but re-
moved to Mobile, Ala, shortly before the
breaking out Of the war, and went into
business there, being then about twenty
five years OF age. When the State OF Ala
bama seeded he voluntarily enlisted as O
private In Company B, OF the Alabama
State artillery, and served throughout the
war, being commissioned second lieutenant
Of the company shortly before its close.
Upon being mustered out he returned to
Mobile, but not long after went back to
Portsmouth and entered into business
| with his father. Recently he has written
q letter to his old Confederate commander,
which the Mobile Register publishes,
prefacipg It with some explanatory re-
marks, in which 1t says: Taking great
| interest in the temperance movement he
was elected to the New Hampshire State
Senate on the Democratic ticket. during
one of the debates he argued strongly on
| the question OF military regulations, ana
was challenged by the opposition, as at
tempting to speak upon subject OF which
| he had no personal experience. The Sena-
tor begged pardon, but he had had, he
thought, some little experience III military
matters. How and when was Immediately
asked. 'Wby, I'm the Confederate service,
OF course. and for four long years OF O
rather serious war; he answered. ltseems
now that the fact OF his having served in
the southern cause Is well known, but is
not considered as a drawback in his case.
Yet this fact OF the service is at times cal-
culated to place him in rather a peculiar
position, az will be learned by letter
which hc has lately written to his old COM
mander. Captain James II. Hutchinson, OF
this city" Following Is the letter:
PORTSMOUTH, N. Ii. March 5, 1888.
Captain HutcfiSon:
Old Friend,--I received the paper and
representations Of the parade OF the Order
OF Myths, for which please accept my
thanks. / would have been delighted to
have seen the parade, and also to have
seen my old friends Of Company b. sup
pose that very many have gone to that
bourne, &C., but the ones that are left
nothing would give me more pleasure than
to see and talk over old times with them.
often think OF the many kindnesses you
showed me. and hope since the surrender
that the world has gone well with my old
commander. AS for myself, | have been
fortunate as far as honors are concerned,
having been State senator, and HOW mayor
of the city of my birth; elected in each in
stance over two of the wealthiest men among
us as Democrat, with n large Republican
majority against me. So. you see, that
way up here one "rebel," at least has
been forgiven. On Docoration-day they
have big services here over the Union
dead, at which the mayor always presides.
How do you suppose / shall feel when the
time comcs2 All here know what my feel
ings were and where / was. dread for
the time TO come, but hope to he able for
the emergency. am married, but have
no children. 1 own and live in one Of the
prettiest places about this handsome old
town, lust on the outskirts. IL contains
three acres Of land. one hundred nice fruit
trees. keep couple OF horses, and have
two pigs down in my barn-cellar that will
weigh six hundred pounds now. l shall
not kill them until they are one year old,
when they will weigh eight hundred
pounds. There is some difference between
them and the ones l drew when commits
sary. Iwould much like to see you in old
Portsmouth. Rest assured, you never
would regret your visit. Give my best
wishes to all the boys, and tell them, one
and all, that should be glad to hear from,
and happier to see, them again. Best
wishes to you and yours, and hoping at
your earliest leisure you will answer this,
remain your friend. john 5. TREAT.