Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-05-11
Local
A Pleasant Memory Of thu civil We

A Pleasant Memory of the Civil War.
Maj. J. W. Newton this week, received
in letter from New York. an editorial
published in the Rockingham REGISTER of
January 18th. 1870. The paper on which
it Is printed is yellow and creased with
age and keeping, but we suppose the
owner prizes it beyond price, az well he
may, Tor it is a certificate of the posses
sion OF true manly spirit which was not
warped, even in the bitterness and excite
ment of civil war. 1t seems that when
Gen. Banks first invaded the Valley Of
Virginia in April, 1862, lie appointed Capt.
Erwin A. Bowen. of the 2Ssh N. Y. Vol
unteers, 1.-THE regiment that has Invited
the old 9th Va. Veterans to Niagara this
month";, Provost Marshal of Harrisonburg.
The Registers editorial says: During
the term of twelve days of his official
sojourn am ,ngst Us, Capt. b. developed
all the noble instincts of An intelligent,
brave and humane gentleman. This opin-
ion, shal ed as it Was by the people of that
town, was afterwards of good sci vice to
the captain. He was captured in August.
1862, in the action of Cedar Mountain aud
the Confederate Government, at tha'
time being engaged in offsetting Pope's
Infamous order about prisoners Of war.
ordered him in close confinement in LIBBY
prison. The people Of Harrisonburg on
hearing of it, at once got up petition to
President Davis, asking that Capt. Bowen
should be made an exception to the reta-
liatory order. The following action was
the result OF their petition
HEADQUARTERS Dept OF HENRICo,
Richmond, Va, Sept. II. 1862.
Capt. Er,sin A. Bowen,
28sh ~ Y. Vols,
q. ). Mil. Prison.
SIR Il am instructed by the General
commanding this Dept. to inform you,
that in consideration of your kind treat
ment to our ciGiZons, Will. acting as
Provost Marshal. the Secretary of War,
has directed that you be treated as pris-
ouer of war to be exchanged at AN early
date. WINDER. A. A. G..
In 1870, gentleman of Harrisonburg
wrote TO Capt. Bowen the circumstances
that led to his release. of which he had
been befor. unaware. The Captain was
delighted to get the information and
wrote eply, of which the following is
all that the worn condition Of the paper
will permit US to make out:
"Whiie aware that I had friends in
your place, their names were to me un-
known until received your welcome let
ter, and | avail myself of the first oppor-
turiiy to thank you, and through you.
other friends IN Harrisonhurg, for the
kindness manifested in my behalf
''Some persons may question the conduct
Of Federal ff1cer that would Call forth
the above order, but l entered the Army
in defense of a principle, not for plunder-
to fight armed men, not defenseless women
and children
''Of course made enemies as well as
friends in yOar town. The former. de-
SODburg and her cit,Zsns among the few
pit asant reeoliections of the war.
sit would be source of qualification to
me to obtain the autographs of those who
used their influence in my behalf. If you
can manage to send them Tor a portion Of
them.) You will place me under further
obligations to you"
With best wishes for you and yours
remain Most Respectfully &C..
E. A. BOWEN.
Should the veterans of the two regl-
ments meet, there will be many delightful
acauaintauces made, but we doubt if there
is a member of the 2Sth IL. Y, who will
get a warmer handshaking from the 5th
Va, than the writer Of the above manly
letter.