Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-05-23

Island creek the confederate batteries
at Secessionville opened a very hot fire
upon her. Capt. Nicl1erson became
demora1ized and left the pilot house
and secured himself in the coal bunker.
Smalls was on the deck, and finding
out that tine captain had deserted his
post, entered the pilot house, took
command of the boat, and carried her
safely out of the reach of the guns. For
this conduct he was promoted by order
of Gen. Gilmore, commanding the de-
partment of the south. to the rank of
captain, and was ordered to act as cap
tain of the Planter. which was used as
a supply boat along the coast until the
end of the war. In September, 1866, he
carried his boat to Baltimore where she
was put out of commission and sold.
Congressman Amos ]. Cummings, of
New York, who has been a voluminous
writer for many years, gave me good
war story from one of his scrap books.
1t is concerning the celebrated New
York lawyer, Roger A. Pryor, who for
merly resided in Virgins, and was a con-
federate brigadier general. Exon
gresham Byron M. Cutcheon, of Michi-
gan, told the story. He said: I'm
November, 1864, I was commanding
brigade in the Ninth corps, before
Petersburg. We had just heard of
Lincoln's second election. I was in
speeding my division and noticed a con-
federate officer apparently on the same
duty with his line. He waved a news
paper towards me, and went out to
meet him. 1 knew that he wanted to
exchange newspapers with me. We
knew that the confederate congress had
just assembled, and wanted the Rich
mond newspapers. The rebels were
anxious to learn the news from our cleo
tions.
when we met and saluted, the con-
federate introduced himself as Capt.
Brown, First Virginia. replied: Col.
Cutcheon, of the Twentieth Michigan
He gave me two Richmond papers, and
l gave him the Washington Chronicle
and Philadelphia Inquirer. We chatted
for few moments, as though we were
friends, and then rode to our respective
lines. When L met my commanding
officer, Gen. Hartranft, and gave him
the Richmond papers, he noticed the
penciled words, upon one of the papers:
Mrs. Roger A. Pryor, Petersburg Gen.
Hartranft said that he knew of the
Pryor family, and that they lived in
that neighborhood.
Il heard nothing more about it until
the next Sunday morning. Then had
occasion to go up to headquarters with
Gen. Albert e. Potter. who commanded
the second division of our army corps.
I was in his tent when a guard came to
the door and raped upon the tent pole.
1.-The general called out: Come in
1.-TWO guards wheeled around and
brought in prisoner. sat on one side
of the tent L recognized the prisoner
as Capt. Brown. He was tall and COM
manding. His head was erect, his hair
was long, and his eyes black and pierre
ing. He seemed highly indignant
is this Gen. Potter?' he asked.
1T is replied the union general.
81 am Gen. Roger A. Pryor, of the
confederate SERVICE the prisoner re-
piled. L have been basely trapped
Il started in establishment.
How is that?' asked Gen. Potter.
"'Well, said Pryor, i was invited out
between the lines to exchange newspa-
Pers. The pickets covered me with
their rifles, and 1 was broughtin here a
prisoner. L demand that be released
~ don't know, general replied Pot
ter. that can afford you any relief. I