The National tribune., 1889-05-16
Gen. Roger A. Prror,s Canfure.

The Southern press have been assailing the
character Of Gen. Roger A. Pryor, formerly of
Virginia, but now leading lawyer of New
York City, on account Of recent speech, say
ing that he was a coward and deserted his
colors. The true story of the capture of this
ex-Confederate officer was made public for the
first time last week by Capt II. o. Dudley, Of
the l1th n. H, Manchester, n. H, who was the
Generals captor, 10 refute the charge of cow
ardice which has been made so extensively
against Gen. Pryor.
1t appears that in Nov. 1864, Capt Burridge,
Seth Mass, had been captured by two rebel
officers while between the lines engaged in
sort Of contraband trade in which newspapers
were exchanged and coffee traded for tobacco,
etc, and in this manner each side became in
formed of the movements of the other. Capt.
Burridge had gone ont alone to meet two rebels,
and they captured him. This capture incensed
Gen. Meade, who ordered Burridge dismissed
from the army. The capture was also consid-
cred by the Ninth Corps as a reflection upon
them, and Gen. Parke was eager for retaliation.
Gen. Grant told Parke that he would be per-
mitted to capture rebel officer as an Offset,
and if any officer should capture rebel officer
/ Of high rank single-handed, in retaliation for
\ Burridge, such officer should be considered In
/ the line of duty and his family pensioned
should he be killed or wounded Gen. Parke
/ Immediately notified his officers of this permis-
sion. Capt. Dudley tells the following story of
/ the capture:
ABOUT the 9th of November, 1864, was in
/ command of the brigade picket-line My adj
/ vance picket WIS on a knoll in an angle of the
! line, and commanded a considerable distance. l
had just been to dinner when / was told that a
rebel officer wished to communicate with u.s. /
] 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. / if / raised hand or got into quarrel
! to fire at the rebel and kill him if they could
"Gen. Pryor had been standing in front of
the rebel picket for half an hour trying to effect
an exchange of newspapers. As ! walked out
/ took short steps, which brought Pryor more
| than half way 10 our lines AS we met he put
out his hand and said Good morning Col
onel; let US sit down and have a chat
Ny answer was: No, sir. | came here to
make you prisoner in retaliation for the capt
ure of Capt. Burridge, captured within 100 rods
of here 10 days ago. He replied: / had moth
ing to do with Capt. Burridge's capture
told him that was nothing TO me. l should
! capture him in retaliation. His answer was:
BY, 1 can't see it, Before the words were
out of his mouth Smith & Wesson sixshoOter
was pressed against his shirt bosom, he wearing
a lOW-cut vest. told him he should surrender
there or I would leave him with q bullet-hole
through his body, and would take my chances
OF making my line. He raised his left hand,
saying: Under the circumstances, l am COM
PEELED to surrender to you. You have the drop
on me-
"As 1 faced toward my line 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 l shall drop you
and 20 TO my line l kept my revolver con-
stantly at his breast. In that position we
moved TO my post Immediately in front oil
where we stood The post was occupied by
Capt Hussey, of the 32d Me-, and the 10 men
referred TO. As we stepped into the post, Gen
Pryor drew his revolver from his circular with
his left hand. cooked it and made pass to
Shoot when the revolver was knocked from
his hand by Capt. Hussey. After searching
him for further arms and taking his name !
Immediately took him to Gen. S. q. Griffin
brigade commander, and resumed my position
in command of the picket-line. Within one
hour Gen. r. T. Potter sent his Provost Mar.
shall to me to present his compliments aud con-
graduate me on the greatest achievement ever
accomplished by an officer of the Ninth Corps
! have now in my possession the revolver, belt
and holster that took from Gen. Pryor"
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