Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-17

facts connected with his capture but he
received no information III reference to
his sword until early In July letter app
peared In the Statesville landmark. This
ten by w. A. Poole, asbrother OF Capt NJ
A. Pool. of Co. X, 7th North Carolina
troops. Capt. Pool, on account OF rheu-
matism was unable to write. Referring
to the capture OF Major Burragc, Capt.
Pool said: During the day a Federal Of
flcer 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
obedience to orders. Lieut.. league deliv-
cred the officer with his sword to Capt.
Summers, which was his duty. Capt.
Summers sent the prisoner to the supe-
riOr officers. but kept his sword. When
Lieut.. league learned that Capt. Sum-
mers had the sword, he claimed that IL
1t did not follow the prisoner he was en-
titled to 1t and petitioned Gen. Lane for
an order giving him the sword. Gen.
Lane thereupOn 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 1t home with
him. After the war closed and Just be-
fore my brother left Alexander county.
he and Lieut.. league had business
transaction and 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 1t was the one he cap
tured with the Federal officer. Brother
souri, While living in Missouri they or
ganiZed Masonic 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 of
ficers OF the Bolton lodge, and Hon. Jo-
siah II! 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 1t awaited his order. He d.
rected that II should be sent to him by
express, and yesterday II came safely in
TO MS hands after years of wandering
ana many vicissitudes. 1t Is In excellent
condition and the sight of it awakened
many wartime memories.
letter which Major Burrage recently
received from Gen. Harry Heth. who was
one OF Gen, a. p. Hills division COM
manders at Petersburg, gives some added
facts concerning the majors capture
He says: THE man you exchanged pa
pcrs with was not n commissioned officer
as represented to you. but was courier
at Gen. Joseph Davis's Headquarters
Why he did not return and meet you as
he promised l do not know. The party
by whom you were captured was prob
ably the officer of the day inspecting the
picket lines. The courier YOU exchanged
papers with falsely represented himself
as n major In the Second Mississippi He
was shot through the head when behind
our breaatworks near Hatcher's Run.
The trouble was. you were deceived by
the courier. private in the Second Mis-
sissippi. who represented himself as a
major of that regiment. On investiga-
ton ii was discovered that this major had
been absent from his regiment for sew
eral months; hence. l presume. Generals
Lee and I'M thought your story n fabri-
cation. and thought you had other designs
than an exchange of papers in approach
ing our lines."-Portland Press