The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-20
4 PETERSBURG CAPTIVE,
Tho Way Gen. Roger A. Pryor Was
Taken Prisoner at That
Place.
Gen. Byron M. Cutcheon Tells the
Interesting Story to tho
Public.
An Exchange of Newspapers Followed by
Serious Results - Gen. Pry or In u
Hostile Camp.

Especial Correspondence o. THE INDEPENDENT. I
WASHINGTON April 15.--Upon entering the
hall of the house of representatives. one
afternoon last summer, / saw q tall gentle
man with long black hair, pronounced
features and Riittering eyes leaning upon
the brass railing near the entrance. Al
though he had been a member of congress
thi,ty-6ve years ago, there were few silver
threads in his hair. He wore the conven-
tisl frook coat apd carried q soft felt hat
in his hands. Not q representative on the
floor recognized him. He antedated them
all, oven tho renowned Gen. Banks. Ihad
heard him arguing cases in the New York
courts and had seen him at many a state
democratic convention. He was Con.
Roger A. Pryor, formerly of Virginia, now
a judge OF the supreme court in
New York city. l was surprised
that no one addressed him. When
told who he Was, many msmbers sought an
introduction, and he held n levee upon the
floor of the house. Sometime afterward
Gen. Byron ri. Cutcheon. of Michigan,
heard of ths circumstances. He expressed
regret that he had not met Gen. Pryor. He
told the story of the generals capture in
front of Petersburg. Although the story
has often been told, Gen. Cutcheon's vers-
ion of it is extremely interesting.
I'm the early part of November, 1884,
says he, II was commanding q brigade in
the First division of the Ninth army corps.
1t was on what was known as the PEBBLES
farm. to the left of Petersburg. 1t fell to
me- to act as division officer of the day quite
frequently. On September 30 we had had
q very sharp engagement at Poplar Spring
church, adjacent to the PEBBLES farm.
Late in the fight | had been ordered to take
my regiment and deploy on q swamp.
My brigade was to skirmish there to pro-
tect tbs left flank of the army. While l
wa out to the left, beyond the swamp, a
division OF the confederate army crept in
between the Fifth and Ninth corps to my
right. 1t got in the rear of our division
aud forced a part of it, to fall back very
the swamp. we had a hard time to get
out. L lost quite a number in killed.
wounded and prisoners. shouted the
number of my regiment repeatedly in rally
ing my men and in drawing them out of
the swamp.
"All this is preliminary to what happen ed
two or three days afterwards. 1t was on
the morning of the Thursday or Friday fol-
lowing President Lincoln's reelection. L
was acting as division officer of the day.
One OF my duties was to ride the entire
length of the division Inns to inspect it. l
was to report everything that appeared upon
the line OF an unusual cnnracter, to the GEN
eral commanding. l started upon the left
of our line, where Fit. Fisher was afterwards
constructed. AS soon rs I came up to the
outer line, l saw a confederate officer y
site on the rebel line. He rode an iron-gray
charger-a fine horse. There was no firing
at this time. AS l rode up on one side, he
Gallantly saluted, n 0 doubt recognizing my
ram and duty, which was apparently the
same as his own. We rode each upon his
own line until We came to a square earth
work, on what was called the Square Level
Road. In passing throueha piece of woods
we lost sight of each other. As we came
out of the woods the rebel officer rode upon
tho earth-work and waved a newspaper
toward me. l understood what it meant.
1t was an invitation to exchange newspa-
pers. Gen. Hartranft, afterwards governor
sitting there pom his horse. He was corps
officer OF the day. / said: General, what
do You say? Shall | exchange?'
"'Well,' he replied, 4 have no doubt
there weuld be something very interesting
in that paper. The confederate cong ess
has just assembled, and it will contain jeff.
Davis' message. iii risk it. You may make
the exchange
II had no newspaper with me, but Hart
rauft had a copy of the Washington Chron-
icle and the Philadelphia Inquirer. He
gave me those newspapers, and the officer
on the other side advanced into a little hol
forward to meet him. His orderly was
with him.. We ranged alongside Of ZACH
other. | noticed that his revolver was
pulled well down in front. SO was mine.
We maintained perfect courtesy however.
de saluted and l did the same.
Capt. Brown, of the First Virginia. he
said by way of Introduction.
y replied, Col. Cuteheon. of the Tween
tieth Michigan
"'Oh!' he responded, the Twentieth
Michigan. | heard the name the other
day in the little affair of the Both of Sep
tember.'
I'VE exchanged a few words. Then he
said, i would like to exchange papers,
u replied that l would be glad to accom-
modate him.
81 pulled out the two Gen.
Hartranft had given me and passed them
turn ana turned them over to me. They
were Richmond papers, the Wing and Ex-
%aniner, / think. They contained the pro-
ceealngs at tbs opening OF the confe lerate
congress- and the message of President
Davis. l didn't opsn the papers then, but
simply Jammed them into my pocket.
HE asked, what's the result of the
election?'
"'Lincoln is reelected / answered.
"'You don't say SOP He responded.
YES said l. he is reelected. He has
carried every northern state except New
jersey
Did not Mcclellan have the vote of the
army?' He asked.
I'm our part of the army, said l, Lin
coin carried it by nearly four votes to one.'
My Godn he calculated, is that so?'
eyes, said ]. that is So
"'Well, then he replied, there is moth
ing left but to fight it out to the bitter
end
Mo- said, there is nothing else left
"He turned his horss and rode away. |
did the same. | rode back to Gen. Hart
ranft. AS | pulled the papers from my
pocket ! saw written upon the margin of
one OF them the words:
.''t''.'''.'....' ......,.,,,....., ,.,,..,..
Mrs. RoGEt A. FRYoR, PETERSBURG.
II said to Hartranft, What does thai
meanY
~ believe the Pryors live in this neigh
borhood,' he answered.
"Ho took the papers TO headquarters and
rpoa thn,, tn fln, Dn,lyn ,k,n ,u,, &l,,,,