Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-03
THE POWER OF THE PRESS.
a Long-lost Relic Restored - Reminis-
cence of the War.

A Long-lost Relic Restored Reminis-
cence of the War.
On the 11th of last month the following
item appeared in the local columns of The
RECORD UNION:
The Governor is in receipt of the follow
ing letter, which explains itself, and Is
indicative of how the sectional feeling be
tween the North and South is dying out
RICHMOND (va.), May %, 1885,
To His Ercetlency, Gorerrlor Stonerldn, Sacrd
ne'to, Cat-DEAR SIR: Thinking might graf
ity an old soldier, or perhaps, alas his family,
purchased from q negro man q badge, shield
shaped inscribed Captain n. c. Goodenow,
Stoneman's staff, war of 1861" The badge seems
to be of silver with two sabers crossed, of gold
gave the fact to a local paper, hoping to learn
something. | would be gratifed to restore it to
its owner, since l would be glad to have any
trifle of the sort ret Srned to me. will send il
to YOU to be forwarded il you choose Yours
truly, NoEVELL RYLAND,
P. o. Box SD. Richmond, Va.
The Governor says he remembers that in
1861 Captain Goodenow was one of his staff,
but he has not seen nor heard from him
since the close of the war.
The letter was published at the request
of the Governor, who has unlimited faith
in :" the power of the press" The publica-
ton had the desired effect ,as his Excellency
Yesterday received letter from the widow
of Colonel Goodenow, who is resident OF
the State of Maine A copy of the pub
lished letter having fallen in her hands,
she Immediately addressed the Governor as
follows
PENNINGTON, Ne, June 26 1886.
To His ErcelIency, GoveTnor Stone1ndn-DEAR
SIR l take the liberty OF inclOsing to you two
slips from the Chronicle of this town, which will
H.
relic mentioned is in your possession, will be
most grateful if you will cause il to be returned
to me, and will gladly pay all charges. l am,
respectfully, yours, Lucy B. GooDENow,
Pennington, Me.
Of the slips referred to in the letter, one
is a local item relative to her discovery
of news of the relic through the first publi-
cation referred to. The other is the obit-
uary notice of her late husband, Colonel
Nathan Cutter Goodenow, who died at his
home in Pennington on the 9Th of Febru-
ary last Deceased was born at Wilton,
Me. in 1881. He was the son of Robert
Goodenow, an eminent and successful
LAWYER, who held many positions of public
trust. and who represented the Second Con-
gressional District of Maine in the Thirty
second Congress. Deceased was reared and
educated in Pennington graduate of
Bowdin College, afterwards studied law in
his fathers Office and was admitted to the
bar in September, 1852, and commenced
the practice of his profession at Phillips.
In 1854 he changed his residence to Chi
cago, H., where he had large practice.
AT the beginning ofthe war of the rebellion,
in 1861, he enlisted as Second Lieutenant in
the Second Illinois Artillery, but was after
wards transferred to another body of
troops, which became a part of the Six
teenth Illinois Cavalry, He served with
this regiment during the war, and partlci-
peted in many hard. fought battle. Gen.
eral Stoneman says he remembers him as
being brave, dashing and intrepid officer,
and added: He was capture at the same
time / was. and confined in the same
prison" Since the close of the war he re-
sided portion of the time in the West,
but for some time prior 10 his death he
lived at Pennington. After the war he
never resumed the practice OF his proies-
sion or engaged in any other business occu-
patton, but led a quiet and retired life, oc-
cupied with his private business affairs and
the care of his family. He was severely
wounded in battle during the war, lost the
sight of an eve, and ever after remained an
invalid.
The letter from the widow, together with
the clippings from the Pennington Chroni-
elc, were forwarded to Mr.. Ryland with the
following letter:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, EXECUTIVE DEPART
MENT, SACRAMENTO, Cal, July 2. 1886. }
Ar. NorueN RyldRd, Richmond, Firginid-DEAR
SIE: Upon receipt of your letter. not knowing
the address of Captain Goodenow, his former
staff officer, the Governor gave your communi-
cation TO the REcoRD-UIoS, with the object OF
reaching him, if possible, through the press
that ubiquitous medium. This day the inclosed
communication reached this Office. The Gov
ernor would esteem it a favor if you would be
kind enough to forward the relic to the widow
of Colonel Goodenow direct, or to himself.
Yours truly, J. J. ToBrS,
Private Secretary.