Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-02-15
TAKING A TRAITOR.
BANGOR MAN TELLS THE STORY
OF JEFF DAVIS CAPTURE.
HE WAS ONE OF HIS CAPToRs AND KNOWS
WHAT HE is TALKING ABoUT--A sURLY
AND FRAcrIous PRISONER

VT In Val y M
HE WAS ONE OF HIS CAPToRs AND KNOWS
WHAT HE Is TALKING ABoUT--A sURLY
AND rRACrIous PRISONER.
From the Bangor Whig and courier.l
10 the spring of 1865. was second lieu
tenant of, and 10 command Of, Co. A, Of
the 18th Maine regiment. which was
among the forces sent to Savannah to
reinforce Sherman when he had forced
his way from Atlanta to the sea, and the
surrender of General Lee found us there
among the garrison of the city. We came
to Savannah with but four companies, the
rest of the command having been mustered
out of service on account of expiration Of
time, and the rest of the regiment were
consolidated into four companies but
while at Savannah Colonel Bolan arrived
with six new companies, making a full
regiment.
Shortly after. the regiment was ordered
to Augusta to garrison that city. The
regiment marched on foot for about
twenty miles the first day. but was so
hampered with the baggage that my com
pany was ordered to remain In charge of
the baggage and stores on the bank of the
river and all the first steamer that came
along to take them and their charge up the
river as soon as possible tn their ,iestina-
ton at Augusta.
The steamer Clyde" came along the
next morning, and took us and stores on
hoard, aud we reached the city the next
day, while the rest of the regiment. pro-
ceeding on foot, did not arrive there until
some days after.
Shortly after my arrival at the landing
an orderly came with an order TO report
with all OF my command To the officer
commanding at Augusta. but feeling an
well | sent word that | would send the
men 10 charge Of the first sergeant. aud
stated the reason why but the orderly
soon returned, and stated that the otIlcer
desired me to come IN charge, a. the mat,
ter WAS of gres, Importance.
With The prospect Of some difficulty. my
health seemed to return suddenly, and
marched my command to the officer at the
| depot. The officer took me on one >ide.
and told me he had y,ry important duty
/ Gur me to perform and asked tne II could
/ rely upon my men IN very dangerous nu-
iertshing. replied that my men Mere
/ all veterans. and could be d, pended upon
90 stand To their post, 10 The last cxtrem
+ ity. How maBy men have yuu?" he
/ asked. aud wheh | replied that tai only
{ forty Ave. but they were al brave sud de
( .-Im ned fellows, he replied that however
T brave they might be-. they would siand hut
little chance ia the CoufiCt thst threat ned.
I He then told me That in Davis had
I bcen captured. and would soon arrive in
! the city. aud he had bus little or no force
I Ia the city Ia prevent rcecne by the cit
1 gems aud returned soldiers OF the dl>bsud-
ed Confederate army then thrun@ing The
1 city, and Ne asked me II | had any suggrs-
I lions to make. | vrntured To advise. tn st
4 The train BE- held back from entering The
( city uutil alter dark, aud the steamer
/ clyde" nc sent dpHn the river couple
# MILES, and the word Elycn' out that she
I bad returned ~ savannah.
promi,, Ia keep the people from en-
/ tering the ii, pot st all hazards while the
.
IA the rear OF the d' = {. aud placed in am
/ pulsHces to he conveyed rspdiy 70 the
/ steamer down lN. river. aud after that
I Na- accomplished | wound try To- join them
J Nlth What was lrft Of my ht'lc company
tie PLAINLY slated - me tLat my chance Of
surviving the moo. watch would uuduubt-
Y rdls appear, al- very small, Dut that There
I AA- no other aaS uuf uf the difitusty. and
tr wnutd rrh upon me aid Iny m,u 10 do
I The best we could.
/ Before dark formed my men around
I the front of the depot, and Informed them
all Of the dulles and the dangers and |
4 also instructed them 10 break awsy, alter
/ I had given them signal, aud Try to r. sch
I the steamboat a. best they could.
Al dsrk my command ws- formed
! around the depot aud the people informed
I that MIR Davis ard other prisoners would
/ soon arrive. and would proceed no farther
/ by rail inst Ii ght- large pafts Of sp eta
! tors as mh.vd around aud IN front Of the
Z depot; they mer- quiet, bnt the silence
Mss ominou-. and the determined look ox-
1 pres ~t upon their faces furebodrd no
| good Intention. but my men We're deter
mincd 10 prevent any attempt NJ rescue.
I II all We're sacrificed IN discharge of their
4 duty. All my men recognized the danger
| they were in, hut they al>b f1iy cOlnpre-
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