The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-09-07


United States military service in March
1866. In the following September he
received the appointment of Collector of
Customs of his district, and retained the
position by successive re-appointments
until 1881, when he resigned to accept the
presidency of Coal and Iron Company,
to the interests of which business a large
portion of his subsequent time has been
devoted. He was closely and prominently
identified with the Grand Array OF the
Republic, being member OF Harlow
Dunbar Post SO, and Past Commander
of the Department of Maine he was
elected to mem bership in this Comman-
derry February 9Th, 1867, his insignia be-
ing 1855.
COMPANION Hall was married in 1856.
His wife and their only daughter sur
yive.him With them we mourn, and to
them we would tenderly extend our sin
cere coincidence in this their most poig-
Samuel H. Allen,
VIM. II. Fogler
Samuel l.. Miller,
Committee
Announcement was made of large
number of additions to the library of the
commandery which is kept in theslibrary
room of the Maine Historical Society in
Baxter building.
DIR. Burrage's Paper.
The pa er last evening was read by
DR.. Burrage of this city. The following
is an abstract;
July "a, 1888, there appeared in
announcing the death of Major
W. T. Sutherlin of Danville, Va,
a wealthy tobacco manufacturer, promi-
nent Virginian, and ex-Confederate
officer and the man in whose house the
Jefferson Davis Cabinet, in fleeing from
Richmond, held it's last meeting. This
despatch brought back to me some
pleasant recollections On the morning
of July II, 1865, the corporal of the guard
in the Confederate prison at Danville,
where was detained, informed me that
visitor wished to see me. ! found an
aged man who introduced himself as a
citizen of Danville, Levi Holbrook by
name.
LIDO not particularly remember what he
said to me on that day. But on June 16
he called again. He said he had learned
that my exchange would be made very
soon. He wished to know, in case
should be exchanged, if | would take
note to his son, Levi Holbrook, Jr., then
living in Cam bridge, Mass Ireplied that
/ would.
The old man then drew near me, and in
a low voice so as not to be overheard by
the guard, informed me that he was a
Union man from Massachusetts,. have
since learned that he was the son of
farmer of Worcester county, Mass, and
graduate of the University of Vermont.
He had gone South to teach, and for
generation had been principal of Danville
academy. His pupils were men of middle
age, on the stage of affairsswhen the war
broke out; and their respect and vener-
alton enabled him to remain South
through the war, although an openly
avowed Union man. His age and the
South kept him in the South, but he
sent his son TIC Yale college, and kept
him there during the war. - --s~-
We had been expecting exchange for
long time, but hope was in each case de-
ferred. One day, through the kindness
of Col. Smith, the commandant OF the
prison and humane and gentlemanly
man, was allowed to go under guard to
visit my acquaintance.
On the way the guard informed me that
Mr.. Ho1brook lived in Major Sutherlln's
house. We soon approached 1T, mag
nifcent mansion on the outskirts of the
town. When the war broke out he was
mayor and soon became provost marshal
and major in the Confederate service.
When Sutherlin was a poor boy, Mr..
Holbrook had befriended him and helped
him start in life. Major Sutherlin in later
years requited this goodness OF his be-
nefactor by giving him home during
the war. ss
When we arrived at the house we were
received-by Mr.. olbrook, who introduced
me to Major Sutherlin. After a. few
minutes pleasant conversation Mr.. Hol-
brook invited me to his apartments. AS
we went out the guard started to follow
us but Major Sutherlin stopped him, say
ingaI will be responsible for this officer"
in, Mr. In1 hronR1c
apartments he told me that he had a
difficult commission which he wished me
to undertake He said that when the
war broke out, Major Sutherlin owing
several thousands of dollars to the
Continental bank of New York, the Con-
federate States had passed law forbid
ding citizens of the South to pay debts
owed the Northerners. But Major
Sutherlin was very anxious to pay this
debt, and Mr.. Holbrook wished me to
take to his son in the North note which
would effect this purpose. l agreed to
do it, but suggested that the note would
have to be very carefully concealed. We
finally decided to rip up one edge of one
of my shoulder straps, insert the note
beneath it, and sew it carefully down
again. This was done at once, and in
such way that the Confederate guards
never discovered it.
Mr. Holbrook then began conversation
on general topics, relating to me many
interesting events. At the breaking out
Of the war the aged Unionist was an
object of considerable suspicion. Some
of the young bloods at one time deter
mined to run him out of the town. But
the older men who had been pupils OF
the aged teacher, heard of the plan, ana
rallying at Major Sutherlin's house, III
formed the young bloods when they came
that if they attempted to take Mr. Hol-
would have tn take Gn1m 100.
Alter. that Mr.. Holbrook was never mo-
Tested, although he steadily refused to
contribute towards the fitting out of
troons. and was an .outspoken Unionist
He was one of the very few pronounced
Unionists who lived openly in the South
After short time spent in CONVERSE