The Portland daily press., 1897-09-15
when our troops were on their return
home from Appomattox.

to the Governor OF North Carolina, ask
ing for information concerning Capt.
James A. Summers, SD North Carolina
Troops, the officer who received Major
Burrage's sword at the time of his cap
to be published, and Major Burrage was
soon in correspondence with officers of
the 18th North Carolina Troops, the regi-
ment from which the men came who
were on picket November /, 1864, at the
place where Major Burrage was captured.
From them he learned that Capt. Sum-
mers was not allowed to keep the sword
Another officer, Lieut.. league, who was
in command of the Confederate line
where the capture was made, claimed it,
and to settle the matter commission
was appointed and the sword, in accor-
dance with the award of the commission,
was given to Lieut.. league. Capt. Sum-
mers, however, was made acquainted
with Major Burrage's inquiry, and in q
letter to ]. F. Arnsfeld, ESQ.,, of States
Vile, N. c., he said that Major Burrage's
statement of the circumstances of his cap
ture, was correct. He "claimed it was
not fair said Capt. Summers. ST felt
in one sense that it was not quite and or
dered him sent under guard to BRIGADE
headquarters that the question might be
determined. !" Capt. Summers added
that the sword went finally to Lieut..
league, and he knew nothing of its pres
emit whereabouts.
From various Confederate officers Major
Burrage learned many interesting facts
connected with his capture, Tut he re-
ceived no information in reference to his
sword until early in July a letter ap-
peared in the Statesville Landmark. This
letter, dated Mansfield, Texas, was writ
ten by w. A. Poole, brother of Capt. N.
A. Pool, of Co. K, 18th North Carolina
Troops. Capt. Pool, on account of rheu-
matism, was unable to write. Referring
to the capture of Major Burrage, Capt
Pool said: "During the day a Federal
officer showed himself between the lines,
and in front of Lieut.. league, to ex-
change papers. He was no sooner seen
than league ordered him arrested in obe-
dience to orders. Lieut.. league delivered
the officer with his sword to Capt. Sum-
mers, which was his duty. Capt. Sum-
mers sent the prisoner to the superior Off
GERS, but kept his sword. When Lieut..
league learned that Capt. Summers
had the sword, he claimed that if it did
not follow the prisoner he was entitled to
it and petitioned Gen. Lane for an order
giving him the sword. Gen. Lane there
upon appointed some officers Of the
brigade to hear the evidence and decide
the matter. They gave the sword to Lieut.
league, and he carried 1T the rest of the
war and brought it home with him.
After the war closed and just before my
brother left Alexander county, he and
Lieut.. league had business transac-
tion, land league fell in his debt. league
said he did not have the money to pay
and asked my brother to take his sword,
and said it was the one he captured with
the Federal officer. Brother took it and
carried it with him to Missouri. While
living in Missouri they organized Ma
sonic lodge at Bolton, in Cass county, and
he let them have that sword for the tyler s
use. Brother left Missouri in 1874 and
came to Texas, where he has lived ever
since.''
Major Burrage wrote at once to the Off
GERS of the Bolton lodge, and Hon. Josiah
Fl. Drummond added helpful words. At
their next meeting the members of the
lodge voted unanimously to restore the
sword to Major Burrage, and he was in
formed that it awaited his order. He di.
rected that it should be sent to him by
express, and yesterday it came safely in
to his hands after years of wandering
and many vicissitudes. 1t is in excellent
condition and the sight Of it awakened
many ar-time memories.
A letter which Major Burrage recently
received from Gen. Harry Heth, who
was one of Gen. A. P. Hills division
commanders at Petersburg, gives some
added facts concerning the Majors cap.
ture. He says: "The man you exchanged
papers with was not commissioned off.
Ger as represented to you, but was
courier at Gen. Joseph Davis's headquar-
tiers. Why he did not return and meet
you as he promised do not know. The
party by whom you were captured was
probably the Officer of the day inspect
ing the picket lines. The courier you ex.
changed papers with falsely represented
himself as major in the Second Missis-
sippi. He was shot through the head
when behind our breastworks near
Hatcher's Run. The trouble was, you
were deceived by the courier, private in
the Second Mississippi, who represented
himself as major of that regiment. On
investigation it was discovered that this
major had been absent from his regiment
for several months; hence, I presume,
Generals Lee and Hill thought your story
a fabrication, and thought you had other
designs than an exchange of papers in
approaching our lines.
Major Burrage says his correspondence
in reference to this matter shows that the
war time feeling between the North and