The National tribune., 1892-03-03

row-head were picked up the missiles or two
styles OF warfare. How different! Just rs we
had gained their breastwOrEs Lieut. VIII G..
Wood, now a minister resident I'm Boston,
picked up this diagram. IL seemed a coinci-
deuce that those who confronted Us at trcder-
ic,sburg should be found confronting US after
two years az Petersburg.
The diagram had peBcled upon the back
the names Of j. A. BrOdc, and much fainter, A.
J.. Platismier Fourth Battalion Washington
Artillery New Orleans, La
Recently, correspondence has been had with
both these soldiers 10 learn the history OF the
map. Mr.. BrOdo, sinEularly, had no recoilec-
ton Of the diagram, though his name is con-
splcuOusy upon the back. lie may have had
il bat a short time IN his possession.
Recent correspondence with A. {. Plattsmier,
now at the Soldiers Home IN New Orleans,
Camp Nichols, brings ont the following inter
estug statement about the diagram:
a" lost my haversack 81 Orange Courthouse
about Sept. l. I-G3, containing the diagram and
some letters Said drawing was made for me
by Mr.. Albert NOrcum a day OF two after the
battle Of Fredericksburg. A few days after he
gave me some sketches OF the Mcrrimac's crew
and others, which I sent to my sistcT-in. law,
then residing in Magnolia, Miss, 10 keep FOR
him. lie wrote mo ia 1864 70 send them 10 his
ad dress, Enterprise Miss; be acknowledged
that hc bad received them. j have been in
formed that he died several years ago. il the
drawing is Of any benefit to you, you can ac-
eept IL, as il was made FOR me-
Z" A. {. N8rcum," he says in a later letter,
was a native Of B0tctOurt, Va. He had been
employed la the United States Engineer Draft
ing Department. lie was private IN tho 4th
Co, Washington Artillery Battalion. lie drew
the sketch on the battlefield the next day
after the battle Since the war be was en-
plOycd in the drug business AZ the establish
meut Of Mr. l. Syme * Co, Canal ST. between
ROYAL aud Bourbon"
Mr. Plattsmicr, the soldier for whom il was
made, says Of himself:
" i received "a comm issiOn in October lsG3
from Gen. soddon, Secretary Of War e. S. A.,
and Joined my company, 2lst La, at Enter
prise, Miss the parole camp Of prisoners who
had been surrendered al Aicksburg. We were
recognized a short time after aud were sent
10 Mobile. was there placed In the 22d La,
under command Of Col. J. W. Patton. ] left
the Washington Artillery at Petersburg aud
aiterwaTd served lu heavy artillery. Oar regi-
meut had four companies at Spanish Fort
three at Battery Hugcr aud three NJ Battery
Tracey. We evacuated Mobile. April 9, 1865
and were pGroled a. Meridian, May 9 1865, by
Gen. COnicy. ] was engaged ln nearly all the
battles Of the war and had clean record. T.
A. Br0de WIS in the same company I4th Bat,
talon, Washington Artillery when i left
]
There is, Of course, an unexplained mystery
who had this valuable diagram all this time
and through how many hands it may have
I passed between September 1863 when Mr.
I Plattsmicr lost il with his haycrsack al Orange
/ Courthouse, and April g. 1865, when Lieut.
/ Wood found IL.
Rev. Viii {. Wood who still owns the map
will donate the original 10 the Boston Publ,
1 Library.
A recent letter from Mr.. Plattsmicr expresses
much pleasure ia receiving copies: j think
/ they are an exact copy OF the original, and an
/ glad yOu have placed the original ia tho Boston
Public Library have kept one for the Home
. and sent one TO Gen. w. J. Bchan commanding
Confederate States Association he being
4 Lieutenant dth Co, Battalion Washington Ar
/ tiilcry, az thc time Of The battle. My nephew
has taken one copy, and will copy good mauy
iOr me, which Wlii distribute % acquaintance
and send you d copy. ! was 90 Battery Huger
aud my piece WAS a sepen-IuCh Brooke ride
made thc braR shot Of The regiment. Have nc
latI0us here, and iu baltimore New York ans
OHlO. A. Tor tHe Colonel who commanded thl
Washington Artillery, J. b. Walton, be died
lev years ago. MAJ. H. a. EscAclmau. whr
commanded my company, i nj present lrrsi
dent 0i Post Is. Battalion Washington Ar
tiiicry. &C. WOoD, Lieutenant, Ilth y. H.
Boston, Mass