The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-07-23
A BIRCH-BARK LETTER.
From KennebagO Lake to a Virginia
Battle Field.


Brother at the Front-He Sought the
Buried Soldier on the Battle Field aud
Was Captured by GuerriIlas.
There Is birch-bark letter in this
city that has an unusual history and is
rather unusual itself. 1t is a tough
piece of the inner bark of the birch tree
and is about two feet in length and
seven inches wide. The writing, though
about 81 years of age, is still perfectly
legible and the letter is intact except
for fragment torn from one corner.
1t is the property of alderman zenas
Thompson and is valued by him very
highly. 1t was written by himself in
October 1868, and the bark was taken
from tree on the shores of Kennebago
Lake. where he was camping.
The letter desert bes the camping trip
and the big trout. ETC., and was written
to his brother Capt. Geo. M. Thompson
of the 34th Massachusetts, then at the
front in Virginia.
Afterwards he was killed, shot
through the heart, in the charge of
Cooks brigade at the battle of Winches-
ter. His brother Zenas, then a young
man in the twenties, went to the scene
of the battle to bring home the dead sol
dier's body. Arrived at Harper's Ferry
ne took the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
for Martinsburg. Then he was obliged to
leave the train and go across country
IL or Is miles to Winchester, where the
Union forces were. The intervening
and the officer at Martinsburg advised
him not to go across till there was
wagon train guarded by Union troops.
But he would not wait for that. He had
found two men who were going through
in a team and were willing to take him.
They were natives who had lived near
Winchester, who were sympathizers with
the North, who had been obliged to
flee from their homes at the advance Ct
the rebel army and were now returning
to look after their homes and families.
They were armed, and didn't propose to
be taken alive by guerrillas. Mr.. Thomp-
son hired another team to carry the casket
that he had brought for his brothers.
remains, and two soldiers were detailed
to drive it Tor him. They had proceeded
about half way in safety, and as they
approached forest one of the Virginians
said that if they could get through with
out nlolessation they would be all right.
They had proceeded but short way
in the forest when Mr.. Thompson heard
somebody shout close to him: Hold
up thar, dod blast yer, or I'll blow er
hole in yer" He looked around, and
4 L Il ~ |.
Southerner, on horseback, pointing a
large revolver at his head. On the
other side was similar apparltion,
covering the other men.
They held up and obeyed orders with
out murmur. They were disarmed
and searched. The two guerrillas took
$l35 shat Mr.. Thompson had in his pock-
etbook, but luckily did not find 500
that was pinned i'll the little watch
pocket in the waistband of his trousers.
But where were the two soldiers? They
had been driving in the rear, and were
approached and disarmed first. The
whole capture was done livery quietly,
and with dispatch.
They were ordered to leave the high
way and drive off through the forest.
There was no underbrush and this was
easy to accomplish. The guerrillas threw
away the casket, after removing the
screws and other pieces OF metal, which
they seemed very DESTROYS to obtain.
Finally they emerged from the woods
upon cross road, and by that time Mr..
Thompson had told his captors his err
rand, and with remarkable clemency for
men of their customs at that time, they
not only allowed him to 60 free, but gave
him directions to a certain house in the
little neigh boring town of Charleston,
where he might obtain lodging and
food.
The next morning he started on foot
for Winchester, and arrived there after
walking all day, and lodging various
troops of horsemen. which he frequently
saw in the distance.
At Winchester he showed his passport,
and was admitted into the Union lines.
That night, accompanied by an under
taker and squad of soldiers. ne went
out to the battlefield and performed the
sad task of opening the shallow grave
in which his dead brother had been
buried by his fellow soldiers, and bring
ing back thu body. At Winchester he
obtained another casket, and thus
brought the body to Portland, and in
TERED it in Evergreen cemetery in Deer
ing. The birch bark letter was not on
the dead soldiers person, but was in
his haversack that his brother officers
had preserved.
And that is why this letter is SO highly
valued by it's owner, and how he hap
pened to obtain possession of il.