Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-27
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.I
MANCHESTER, N. H, April 26-The
true story of the capture Of General Roger
A. Pryor, the ex-Confederate officer who is
so bitterly assailed by the Southern press
on account of recent speech, is made pub
lie to-day for the first time by his captor in
order to refute the charges of cowardice
which are made against the ex-rebel. The
officer who effected his capture is Captain
H. o. Dudley, of this city. To-day Gem
eral Pryor's son, Roger A. Pryor, Jr., came
to Manchester for the purpose of clearing
his fathers name from disgrace.
The story of the capture of General
Pryor, as told by Captain Dudley, is
prefaced by the following explanation Of
the circumstances which led to the capture:
In November, 1864, Captain Burridge, of
the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts, Regiment,
had been captured by two Confederate Off
GERS while between the lines engaged in
sort of contraband trade which was going
on between the picket lines of the opposing
armies, by which newspapers were ex-
changed for tobacco, etc., and each side
thus became informed of the others move
ments. Captain Burridge had gone out
alone to meet two Confederate officers, and !
they had walked him into their lines, one
on each side of him. This capture incensed
General Meade, who ordered Captain Bur-
ridge dismissed from the army, but he was
reinstated the next day by General Grant.
RETALIATION DEMANDED.
The capture of Burridge was considered
by the Ninth Corps as reflection on them,
and General Parke was eager for retalia-
ton General Grant told him that he had
his (Grant's) permission to capture a rebel
officer as an offset, and if any officer should
capture rebel officer of high rank, single
handed. in retaliation for that of Burridge,
such officer should be considered in the line
of duty, and if killed or wounded, he or his
family should be pensioned accordingly.
General Parke Immediately notified his
officers of the order.
At this point the story Of Captain Dudley
begins: "About the 9th of November, 1864,
I was in command OF the brigade picket
line. My advance picket was on knoll
in an angle of the line, and commanded
considerable of distance. 1 had Just been
to dinner when L was told that a rebel
officer wished to communicate with u.s. I
selected ten men, the best marksmen and
coolest soldiers Of the regiment, who were
sent forward to the advance post with orders
TO keep us in view and to fire in rotation,
commencing with No. 1, if raised hand
or got into quarrel, to fire at the rebel, and
kill him if they could. General Pryor had
been standing in front of the rebel picket for
halt an hour, trying to effect an exchange of
newspapers.
HOW THE GENERAL WAS FOOLED.
"As walked out 1 took short steps,
which brought Pryor more than half way to
A ok L. I L. i
and said: Good morning, Colonel, let us
sit down and have a chat My answer was:
NO, sir. came here to make you a pris-
oner, in retaliation for the capture of Cap
tain Burridge, captured within 100 rods Of
here ten days ago. He replied: I had
nothing to do with Captain Burridge's cap
ture.' 1 told him that was nothing to me,
1 should capture him in retaliation. His
answer was: BY II can't see it. Be-
fore the words were out of his mouth a six
inch Smith & Wesson six-shooter was pressed
against his shirt bosom, he wearing a low
cut vest. 1 told him he should surrender
there, or would leave him with a bullet
hole through his body, and 1 would take
my chances of making my line. He raised
his left hand, saying: Under the eircum-
stances, am compelled to surrender to you.
You have the drop on me-
"As faced toward my line, I threw large
circular which he wore partially over my
body, with my left elbow, saying: "A word
from you or
A PARTICLE OF RESISTANCE
and I shall drop you and go to my line
keeping my revolver constantly at his
breast. In that position we moved to my
post, Immediately in front of where we
stood The post was occupied by Captain
Hussey, of the Thirty-second Maine, and
the men referred to. As we stepped into
the post, General Pryor drew his revolver
from under his circular, with his left hand,
cooked it, and made pass to shoot, when
the revolver was knocked from his hand By
Captain Hussey. After searching him for
further arms and taking his name, imme-
diately took him to General S. G. Griffin,
Brigade Commander. and resumed my posi-
tion in command of the picket line. With
in one hour General r. E. Potter sent his
marshal to me, to present his compliments
and congratulate me on the greatest achieve
ment ever accomplished by an officer of the
Ninth Corps. have now in my possession
the revolver, belt and holster that 1 took
from General PRYOR "