Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-07-15
AN AUrHENrIo STATEMENT.


l
The story of Colonel selden's Advent
ure In the Mississippi Corroborated.
lFrom the Norwich Buletin.l
The article which appeared in the Bulle-
tin July 4, taken from the st. Louie Post
Dispatch, giving an account of show
Colonel Joseph Selden came home from
Dixie, &c" brought to my mind afresh the
remarkable experience of Colonel Selden |
with which was perfectly familiar. Since |
the article referred to appeared, at least |
two officers of the Twenty-sixth have ex- |
pressed doubts as to the authenticity of
| the statements.
For this reason am prompted to state
| the circumstances as they were known to
me at the time. Before going further 1
may say that it is not surprising that the
writer in the Dispatch has ''got things
mixed up" somewhat. While he has evil
IDENTIFY "flled in" in order to make COM
plete story, the main statements are cor
rect, as will show.
The dreary and bloody campaign of Port
Hudson, which had lasted for forty-five
days, had closed. Our army had been sue
Major General Frank Gardner and ., Aus
prisoners, with q large quantity of stores
and ordnance Our losses had been very
severe; in the corps 500 killed and 1880
wounded, of which the Twenty sixth reRi-
mont has the honorable official of 1853
casualties in battle during the siege. At
the surrender the Twenty-sixth was Sc
lected as one of the regiments to receive
| the capitulation of the garrison and hold
/ Lee of Tho 1ipa-fha aooOnd
position of honor Colonel Selden, then
} lieutenant colonel, was in command, and 1t
was without doubt the proudest day of his
army life. Our regiment was Immediately
placed on provost duty within the cap
tured citadel. Our wounded, including
Colonel T. G. Kingsley, was at Baton
Bouge and New Orleans, about hundred
affectionate and sympathetic nature of
, Colonel Selden turned. He expressed to
the writer, time and time again, his desire
, to visit them and if possible render COM
+ fort and assistance. With this end in
view only, he secured leave of absence
, to visit New Orleans, and went to that
! city on a river steamer. This occurred
y about July Is, 1868. On July 25 the regi-
| ment received orders to embark at Port
Hudson on the steamer Saint Maurice and
, proceed hence via Cairo for muster out.
= The..convalescents at New Orleans, as well as
: those on detached service at various points
down the river, were ordered to return
homo by outside steamer via New York. AS
stated, Colonel Selden had been stricken
| down with mslsrial fever and was lying in
hospital near Carrolton. Being advised
that the regiment had been ordered home,
he was very DESTROYS to accompany it, as
a he had been it's commander during the
Y greater part of its active service. Although
| in low state, he was taken on board 6
:, steamer which was bound up river. Al
remarkable as it may seem, hi
8 was not accompanied by any o.
his own men, but was placed IL
4 care of attendants on the steamer. Th'
colonel related that he was conscious o
the time of embarkation and was vel
r aware of his intentions. Then all wa
+ blank to him until he found himself on tn
right bank of the Mississippi at Bonnet
Care, which Is some twenty five mile
d above New Orleans. He remembered tn
% struggle in the river and reaching the rive
o bank. The confederate who found him il
n his pitiable condition the next mornin
cared for him in his own home for da
70 or two when he was placed again upon an
other steamer and proceeded homeward
He did not arrive home, however, the sa IN
's day that the regiment did, but fe,
N days later. The following add itiona
"a particulars may be of interest
a, Upon our reaching Norwich 1t was ru
90 mored that Colonel Selden had bee
Of drowned by falling from steamer. Tn
ID report was discredited. Being at m
t. country home, we'll remember my Joy q
=. receiving telegram cent by special mel
20 senger from New London that Colont
Selden was safe and en- route home vi
10 Chicago. I returned to Norwich and wa
o, invited to accompany Governor Buckint
70 ham, H. H. Starkweather, James S. Care
Q; and FIVE or six other gentlemen to meet tn
q; colonel at the Norwich and Worcester raj
y road depot. Upon his arrival we all too
n carriages and drove to his residence o
n Laurel Hill. Mrs. Selden came down
!, the street to meet her husband. The NEE
nv ing was very affecting. Governor Buckint
nj ham remarked, "Gentlemen, we can do \
Is; more; we will return" The muster out
ga the regiment occurred at the fair GROUND
%, on August 10 (papers dated ~, whe
IN Colonel Selden was present. I was qui
e, familiar with all these circumstances an
40 heard the story from the colonel repeate'
49, ly. 1t was dark, sad experience to whic
n; he seldom referred. After lapse of
On many years 1t is not surprising that
newspaper correspondent should be pa
TALLY inaccurate. That the main facts a.
correct as stated can attest.
ny CAPTAIN COMPANY F.