The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-07-01
Whose Cos; Was III


To THE EDITOR: In nearly every issue of
TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE / notice an offer Of
some one OF the thousands of veterans who
still live, for the return 70 the former owner, of
Of relics captured, stole or accidentally found
during their campaigns, and my soul is filed
with admiration for their generosity.
j was a soldier-0ne OF the veteran stripe.
j picked up few relics during my service
from almost every field from Gettysburg to
Appomattox-pebbles pipes, and pin-cushions,
etc. Most of them are now lost; but three
remain-yiz., a chip from the tree at Frederick
City upon which was hung the spy-Richard-
son, believe; the owner can have that by
proving property. A pin-cushion, with his
tory; also embroidered with the historic name
Of +" Maria" This was confscated from the
plantation house which was used as hospital
at Sailor Creek, in which i was q temporary
guest over. night. This relic can also be
recovered by Maria" by due process Of
law, on evidence furnished by defendant,
az follows: OF course you remember, Ma
ria, the night the Union army advanced 10
Farmville, removing all their wounded from
your house who were able 10 be moved, leaving
behind the scores Of C0nfederates who were
also too badly wounded 20 move around? Re-
member how the parlors were packed with
wounded, in. solid columns, on those floors
Remember the one single solitary boy. with
blue pants on, hobbling around the place on
one footg Remember bis banging on the piano?
Remember your mother passing around the
coffee az ~ O'Clock az night and refusing 10 give
any 10 Union soldiers? Remember, Maria,
that afterward, in the wee sma' hours of that
morning Won inveigled the said blue coat into
the back kitchen and gave him taste Of that
coffee, nnbeknownest 70 your mother, who was
snoozing by the fireplace? And do yon remem-
Der, Maria, how, when the said aged female
Rwoke from her cat-nap and beheld the situa-
ton, how vehementiy she used the 6re-pOlzer
In DISCRIMINATING the presence of said blue coat
from that ROOM Well, that was me, Maria, and
perhaps you never knew that the angry passions
engendercd by that act was the motive power
which forced me to retaliate by confscating
every portable thing in the upper chamber Of
that house, and carrying them away In the ann
bulance which came that morning to take us
Rwayi OF al that trash, only that pin-cush-
ION survives your old love letters are lostl
You can have IL by proving property. But
there's one relic no one can have for love or
money. A Confederate officers coat. with three
bars on the collar and gold trimming ON
the breast and sleeves, which captured in the
charge on the works at Petersburg, at a point
opposite Forts Gregg and Fisher, April 2, 1865.
IL was not yanked from the back Of an enemy.
IL was not stripped from the dead body Of q
Confederate; but il was seized from of a bunk
IN one OF the tents said 10 have been az the
headquarters Of Gen. Heath, which lay in the
way Of the advance Of our regimental line Of
battle. At the moment Of the capture ] had
the choice OF the coat OF the leg Of some officer
disappearing under the rear Of the tent !
never have regretted the choice, for ] have
been offered as high as $50 many times for the
cost, and probably had ] took the leg with
General on the end of il ] wouldn't now be
offered 10 cents. But, as the value OF the coat
Is nothing compared with the memories sur
rounding u, 30 money viii purchase, and the
owner cannot have il on the usual terms. How
ever, II some one win inform me 10 whom IL
did belong viii pay the full value Of the coat
and thousand thanks bcside-E G. HALL,
90. q, 10th VT, NiDeland, Nj