The Portland daily press., 1888-04-27
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR.
A Confederate Officers Hayersack
Returned After Twenty Four Years.

At the battle of the Wilderness on the
morning of May g. 1864, the rebels charged
upon the Union soldiers who were behind
breastworks and were repulsed. As they
fell back the 18th Maine regiment, then Of
the I'd corps was ordered out on the skirmish
line AS they left the breastworks Con-
federate officer was discovered standing
against tree near the foot of the earth
works and Corporal Seth b. Day was order
ed to take him to the rear. Corporal Day
found that the Confederate was wounded
and unable to walk and he called for squad
Of men to help him to take the man in a
blanket from the place. The Confederate's
haversack was removed by Corporal Day
who took charge Of it, and the wounded
man. who had been unable to retreat with
his comrades was taken to the rear and was
not again heard from during the war. Some
time afterward the hayersack was opened
and In II, among other things, were found
number Of letters and the soldiers commits
sion as anofflcer in the rebel army.
A few weeks ago Mr.. A. M. Sawyer Of
this city, at the suggestion Of Mr.. Day,
wrote letter addressed to the rebel officer
who, more than 20 years ago, was wounded
at the battle of the Wilderness. A note was
also sent to the postmaster asking him to
give the letter to some of the relatives If the
person addressed was dead.
The letter stated that the rebel officers
haversack was in the possession of Mr.. Day,
and that the rebel officer or his relatives,
might have the same If they chese to send
for 1t. Mr.. Sawyer also enclosed his photo
graph.
A day or two ago the following letter was
received from the brother of the deceased
Confederate officer which explains itself:
SUMMERvILLE, Ca, April goth, 1883.
Mr.. a. III. SU1CVeF. Portland Ne.
My Dear Sir--Your very kind and welcome let
Yer OF March 9th, came duly to hand with con-
tents, duringmy absence, having been from home
about month, which Is the cause of the delay In
my answering. l can never. never thank you
and sisters sufficiently, for your very great kind
ness, and your good long minute letter, with its
many kind expressions, etc.
Your account, being the only one we ever had
of our brother after he fell, except we found his
grave on the field where he was buried, which had
date Of % death t marked on It. which Showed to US
that he even at, and In DEATH had met and fallen
with friends, as he always did In life. He was
noble fellow, always made friends Of all he came
in contact with, and l have no doubt but that
some noble fellow in blue" marked that board as
last act of kindness to and for his new and late
made friend in gray" who had fallen in his
hands.
don't think could ask any other question Of
eer & oyeps "a ny 9esr
through you to thank Mr.. Day thousand times
over and over for his great ana very great kind
will see from letter head enclose that { am in
terested in cotton manufacturing which busi-
ness may carry me some day upin your coun
| try. And ifl Il should / shall certainly make
| II part of my business to call and look your
| good sell and Mr.. Day up, so that / Can thank
| you both face to face in way and manner that
| no one else can do, except one who feels as l do
| towards you and him, And If you or MIR. Day
should ever come South, (and hope you Willy
ana will come TO see me, assure you that you
shall and will have and meet with a regular South
ern welcome from me, my family and my people,
From the different enclosures In your letter.
which was glad to see, one can readily see how
you stand at home, (Which am proud to see). !
regret to say that have not picture of myself
that am willing to send you but the first / get
| will send you one. Yours you sent Is splendid
one, any myself and family prize it highly as one
| of our Northern friends, etc
/ refer you TO Merchants National Bank of
| Rome, Ca, First National Bank of Rome Ca or
any business firm or bank of either Rome or At
lanta, Ca, or to Bradstreet's Commercial Agency,
as TO my standing or that of my family either so
cially or politically or any other way.
Again thanking you and Mr.. Day for your
prOmptness ana Kindness, and regretting the de-
| lay IN answering your very valued letter. with
many, very many good wishes for your present
and future prosperity and happiness,
am your most obedlent servant,
JOHN S. CLEGHoRN.
1t is needless to say that the dead soldiers
| haversack was forwarded to his relatives.