Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-09
SEEKING THE FAMILY OF IT'S
LATE OWNER.
DESIRES TO SEND IT BACK
REMARIxABLE SEQUEL TO AN INCL
DENT OF THE WAR.
p1ocKApaRUNNING ooNTINUED
The Thrilling Experience OF Captain
afemtt as Told by Himself-Peri-
ions Positions and Narrow Escapes.
Your -rue Jncktar.
New Britain. Conn. July 20. lSs
Your grue Jncktar.

New Britain, Conn.,, July ~, 1870.
TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:
have had placed in ny hands an ON
GERS sword. taken from the dead body OF
O. Confederate officer. killed at the battle
Of Deep Bottom, Va. I desire TO ascertain
IL che widow or q son OF this officer is
living; and II SO. would they value the
return Of this sword. Upon the leather
scabbard is cut the following: "W. e.
Jones, Company d, Fifty-s.xth (or Fifty
Bec0nd) Virginia" The officer carrying
this sword at this battle was seemingly in
command Of the regiment at the time.
lie wore a very handsome new uniform,
was above medium height, and had full
iight-hrown beard as recalled. II any Of
the family win communicate with me as
soon as possible. give proof Of identity
through my friend, p. J. White, or any
Of thu friends of Lee Camp. of Richmond,
VIII at once forward the sword with our
best regards. giving the family full par
ticulars as TO its history from the day II
came into the hands Of a veteran here.
The rife you kindly advertised for me
some years ago, upon the stock Of which
was cut the letters &C. A. z. Fifth Viz
ginia Cavalry" brought me two letters
one from the relatives Of Comfy A. Peck,
the other from relatives OF Cornelius A.
Parsons--both Of the Fifth Virginia Cav
airy, and both killed at fredericksburg
very singular coincidence. L sent each
family a cory Of the others letter. My
compliments 10 the veterans OF Lee Camp
from whom 1 once had the pleasure OF re-
ceiYing one Of their elegant gilt badges
II any Virginia veteran has any arm
sword. or musket, the original ownership
of which he can trace T. New Britain
veteran, l should be most happy TO assist
him 10 find that veteran or his family. il
the present owner so desires. / recently
had the honor OF returning the sword %
Colonel John A. Fife. Seventh Tennessee
Infantry, taken by the fortunes OF wal
BY my regiment at Gettysburg. The cor
respondence attending the matter has
proven very interesting.
am sincerely yours,
j. WILLARD PARSONS.
Fourteenth Connecticut, Second Corps.
Enclosed In the above letter was the
following clipping from a New Britain
PAPER;
Principal Musician Henry Gussman, OF
the Sixth Connecticut Regiment, and a
conrade OF Stanley Post. has placed in the
hands OF the Grand Army Of the Republic
reporter a Confederate officers sword,
which he took from the body OF the Off
Ger as the latter lay dead upon the battle
He'd OF Deep Bottom. Va Upon the lea
thor scabbard are cut the name and regt-
meut, w. II. Jones, Company j., Fifty
sixth Virginia This officer was IN COM
mend OF the regiment at the battle. and
vas shot through the forehead Mr.. Guss-
man took of bis sword and his papers. the
Importance OF which may be gained from
the fact that one contained orders from
General Longstreet 10 the effect that he
was coming, and 20 hold the enemy IN
check mean time at all hazards Mr.
uussman handed the papers to General
Haw1ay, and In less than ten minutes the
eixfh hed orders TO retire in O certain d.
fsotion one man after another, the papers
inlacating where the Confederates wer'
expscting 20 take position TO surround the
EsderalE So pleased was General hawley
that hs presented TO Mr.. Gussman the
tworc. which he has since retained. lie
nov authorizes the Grand Army OF the
fsprhfhn reporter to discover II the widow
o. ans son OF the officer is living, and II
e,thof would value the return of the
ewvrd. A letter VIII be sent at once to the
rissrnond Dispatch o. the subject In the
sfane Chat neither is living the sword Is
70 DO presented to Stanley Post for ~
rsfn case. so many have desired to see
the sword that for three days It may be
raen IN one Of the windows Of Burrltts
seveIry store. In the Russwin building.