The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-15
CAPTURE or GENERAL ROGER A.
PRYOR.


newspaper to point ont the truth In the
( light of the facts and 10 do justice we
call attention 10 the features Of the case
that seem to fair minded people
10 settle it beyond further dis
putc Men who go TO war are
sensitive about their reputation, for
danger and hardship and death are not
things TO court except from the motive
OF pride and honor which to wound If
always cruel. and terribly so, il the wrong
is done without absolute proof After
twenty five years a story has been mate
rallied 10 the effect that General Pryor
deserted the Confederate army in
the face of the enemy There
was nothing ever positive TO that
effect until the recent narrative OF a
Confederate soldier who pretends to
have seen Pryor desert to the enemy.
But az the same time the statement OF
the officer who captured him is absolute
I ly positive that General Pryor came to
the skirmish line TO exchange newspa-
pers. a common custom Of the day. and
that he was captured because Federal
officer had been taken under similar cir
cumstanccs a few days before.
From The number Of documents re-
laiineto this affair we extract the fol-
lowing statements, that certainly ought
TO put General Pryor's character beyond
the reproach Of rumor and scandal. The
words can speak for themselves
Mr.. Washington Mclean, editor Of The
Cincinnati Enquirer, says in letter 20
Roger A. Pryor, Jr., May sth, 1889
81 have now in my possession letter
written by your father to Mr r. NJ I.
/ Hunter. asking him to use his, Hunter s.
efforts TO accomplish his exchange. The
letter was sent tome to- be sent 10 Mr.
Hunter but could find no means of
reaching him Your father was in CON
fncmcnt i'm Fort Lafayette for several
months, and was held as prisoner of
war and treated as such.
Special dispatch to The Worhi-"Hoad-
quarttrs drmg az Hl Pof0mae, November
| 3sth. -Ex-General Roger A Pryor, now
private soldier in the Rebel service,
was captured here this afternoon by our
pickcts. The circumstances, as related
/ bv himself are as follows. One of our
men gave a signal 10 exchange papers
with the Rebel pickcts, and Pryor, ac-
cepting the invitation, advanced 10 with
i'm range of our pickets, when he was
summoned TO surrender, and of course
had no alternative bat to submit. The
act is justified as retaliatory for a similar
trick praciiced by the Rebels some days
ago when they captured Captain Bur
rage. who is still a prisoner in their
/ hands. although he has since been dis
missed from the service for violation OF
orders in attempting TO hold communica-
ton with the enemy
Pta.dsvg Erpfoss. Monday, November
2sth. lS64.-"Gcneral Roger A Pryor
was captured by the enemy Yesterday
+ While riding along the lines on our
right. ho stopped at one of our vidette
posts. and left his horse and private
arms. with one or two other articles. in
charge of the pickets stating that he in.
tended. as was his custom, 10 90 forward
and exchange papers with the enemy,
videttes lie advanced i'm the direction
of the Yankee lines. fOurishing paper
in his right hand In token Of his object
and after proceeding some distance wa,
met bv a Yankee officer An exchange
of papers was effected, and General
Pryor had turned 10 retrace his steps
when he was suddenly seized by two on
three armed men who were lying in am.
bush. and hurried away The whole trans
action. we understand was witnessed by
some of our men, but 40 too great dis
lance tO render any assistance General
Pryor had frequently exchanged papers
I with the enemy. and his name and char
acter had no doubt, been reported Ia
them. They resolved to have him by
fair means or foul, and descended TO the
hasest treachery 90 accomplish their pur
pose We trust that some notice may be
taken of the matter by our military au-
ih0rilies. and every EFFORT used 10 secure
his early return. During the last few
months the General has been acting a.
independent scout i'm which capacity he
has rendered yaluble service
Nao York HcrqH, Wednesday, Nov
Both. lsGi-NOrth Army Corps \ir
gmgia. Nov. 2oth. A. NJ" Yesterday a
rebel officer made his appearance in
front of our lines, waving paper which
10 was evident he wished 10 exchange
The officer i'm charge OF the picket, sud
denly remembering that Captain Bur
ridge of The Seth Massachusetts was
taken prisoner some time since by the
enemy while on q similar errand, COB
bed the rebel. who proved TO be the
famous Roger \. Pryor, eN-member OF
1 Congress and acknowledgement OF
jeff Davis army. He protested vehe
mently against what he styled fragrant
breach of faith on our part He was as.
surod that he was taken in retaliation f0l
like conduct ON the part of his friends
and sent TO General Meade's headquart
ers for further disposition
Hcrald. December I. 1864. Roger A
Pryor arrived in This city yesterday
morning al O'Clock, in the custody Of
Brigadier- General Vessels At the
party proceeded to Hamilton Ferry &c
take the ears in Brooklyn for For
Hamilton. from whence he was sent tC
Fort Lafayette. where he is now con
fined Previous TO proceeding to For
Lafayette the party stopped at the Mer
chants Hotel where Pryor registered
his name
PROPHET PARSONS.