The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-04-11
After Many Years.

sword of Capt. Charles t.. Chichester
was presented by the widow TO the
City Council Of Charleston the state
mcnt was made that there was anoth-
cr sword which would be placed in the
same honorcd keeping, if it should
prove impossible to find its original
owner This was a sword surrendered
by the captain Of a Connecticut regi-
mcnt to Capt. Chichester at the night
assault on Battery Wagner, July Ii,
1869. Since then clergyman Of this
city has been zcalously occupied in
asccrtaining the name Of the Conncc
ticut captain. After long corrcSpon
dcncc, and many consultations with
persons from the North who we're tenn
porarily in Charleston, lie has sue
ccedcd beyond the least doubt in 'lcn-
tifying the officer by whom the sword
was given up, as Capt. Valentine Il.
Chamberlain, Of Hartford Connect
cut company. In this quest certainty
has been reached through the unwca-
rying efforts and interest of MIR. Her
bert NJ. Knapp, Of Bridgeport, Conn,
to whom the sword has been forward
cd for delivery to the widow Of Capt.
Chamberlain, and his son, Mr.. Fred
:. Chamberlain, Of New Britain
Conn.
There has been pleasant display Of
generous magnanimity between posi-
bic claima~ is for the sword. There
were two nncctcut officers who sur
rendered their swords inthat Bloody
Angle" They were Capt. Jerome
Tourtclotte and Capt. Chamberlain.
The former writes that he would be
mighty glad to get the sword if it be-
longed to him, but that he surrender
cd to Georgia officer, who was after
ward killed near Charleston, whilst
Capt. Tourtelotte was prisoner. Capt.
Tourtelottc says:
The circumstances leading up to our
capture were like this: -Four compa-
MES, A, B, and X, az q battalion Of
the 7th Connecticut, under the com
mand Of Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rod
man. led the boat attack upon Morris
Island, S. G., July 10, 1863. And on
the morning Of July IL, 1863, this
same battalion led the assault, just
before daybrcak, upon Fort Wagner,
Norris Island, being supported by the
9th Maine and the 10Th Pennsylvania
regiments. The supports gave way
under the terrible fire, after We had
got on the fort, and left u, in pickle.
Capt. Chamberlain, Company \, was
captured uninjurcd; Capt. Burdick,
Company B, was killed; Capt. Gray,
Company /, got back to our lines un-
injured; myself, captain Company *,
was shot in the side and through the
left leg just below the knee and cap
turcd.
was not in the vicinity Of Capt.
Chambcrlain when he surrendered,
duu, lllC WdS uuhUlC " Stduu VI
walk, sat on the ground and stood
off the Confcdcratcs until they
brought'an officer for me to snrre ender
to, who was the Georgia captain above
mentioned, and allowed my own unin-
jured men to take me to place Of
safety. as the artillery duel between
the contending. forces was still going
on and ourselves the centre Of activi-
ty. | asked the Georgia officer to ac-
cept my equipments as present. My
revolver was 44tSmith & Wesson,
my sword such as was used by the in
fantry officers at that date, lcatte or
scabard and well worn, having used
it for nearly two years, but without
inscription or other distinguishing
marks, SO far as can remember. l
think should recognize my sword if
l should see it. but feel inclined
to believe that this'fparticuiar sword
must have belonged TO Capt. Chamber
lain, whose family now live in New
Britain.
To the best Of my remembrance the
swords Of all the line officers Of the
7th Connecticut, captains and lieu ten
nts, were alike, without hardly an cx-
ception.
In letter just at hand the state
ment is made that "thc family Of Capt.
Chamberlain arc expecting to have
quite season Of rejoicing when the
sword is received" 1t is safe TO say
that that rejoicing will be shared hy
those here who have had the privilege
Of making it possible Ncws and Tou-
ricr.
Does Lots of Good--You will Find it so
If you Try It.
Mrs " J Mcodor has kind words