The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-09

The Story of General Walkers Captures.
The death of General Francis A.
Walker recalls the story of his captures
during the war; The first one was at
the battle of Reams' Station, on the
tW enty sixth of August, 1864. His cap
tor, scout attached to Longstreet' S COM
mand, had been doing some sharpshoot-
ing to prevent Union battery from
shelling q Confederate brigade while
charging. The battery was presently
abandoned, and the scout disguised him
self as Union soldier and crossed the
lines to find out whether the Union
troops were making full retreat or were
preparing to make stand. ~ picked
up package Of papers," the scout said,
in describing the event some years after
ward, (Which / imagined might be of
importance to my officers, and moved
forward. / was going northeast toward
the enemy's main line, when an officer
came along from my left and passed me
to my right It was nearly dark, and
could not discover his rank. I ran after
him about hundred yards, which car
ried me out of ear-shot of any Federal
soldiers, and called out to him: you are
going the wrong way My object for
this was to delay him till could come
up to him. He replied: Il am looking
for General Curtis'-I think that was the
name. AS I was close to him by this
time he asked me what wanted. I told
HIM In very strong language that he
must surrender. This scanned to bewil
der him, and he exclaimed: Where am
Ip' l told him, "A prisoner and he
asked me to have more respect for him,
as he was an officer. answered that he
must respect my commands, as was
Confederate soldier, and added that 1T
would be death to one of US if he did
rot surrender and follow my directions.
without dismoupting him or demand
ing his arms, ] started in the direction
of Reams' Station. A bout the time we
crossed the road dropped the bundle of
papers had found. l had the muzzle Of
my gun directed at the officers head,
and, fearing to stoop and pick them up,
asked a soldier saw approaching to do
so for me. Whether he did or not | do
not know; lin the excitement of the
moment l moved ray prisoner on. Com
ing near our lines, / asked the prisoner
to surrender his arms. He handed me
Smith & Wesson pistol and very fine
sword. We then went OIL to the railroad,
tant Ninth Georgia Regiment. AS soon
as ne appeared asked the prisoner to
dismount and give his name and rank.
He replied as he dismounted: 81 am
Colonel Walker, adjutant general on
General Hancock g staff 1 saw he had
a watch, and told him If he would give
it and his money TO me / would keep
them for him and return them, but that
the guards would take them from him.
He replied that he would as soon trust
one rebel as another, but that the sword
he had given me was not his, and that
he would be greatly obliged if I would
have 1t sent back into the Federal lines,
where the owner might get 1t. l laugh
ingly answered that would take it TO
General Hancock's headquarters MYSELF
The sword here mentioned was after
ward given by General Walkers oaptor
to Brigadier General g. L. Anderson of
the Confederate Army. Anderson wore
it from that day till the end of the war.
Sixteen years later, Ehnppening to have
the owershlp of the sword brought to his
attention, he sent it back to General
Walker with his compliments, remarking
that if he ever should need again to wear
1t he hoped it would be lent to him and
received very cordial letter of thanks in
response.
Walkers quiokness of wit has given |
pointrrto many story told Of him here in |
At ons time he was travell- |
ing in railway train and was much an |
noysd by the chatter of two small politi- |
clans who were loudly gloating over u |
victory which their party had gained |
locally a few days before. One of them |
turned to General Walker and |
remarked in staggering manner:
'Straws show which way the wind blows |
,h?''
s'There is another old proverb about |
straws," suggested Walker.
"What's that?''
"Drow Ding men catch at them