Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-22
AN OLD "hEB"
Wants to Hear From the Maine SOL
der Who Shot Him.
Interesting Story Revealed by a Letter From
South Carolina.

Here is 4 letter received yesterday, by
the Journal which is explanatory
and will be of special interest to the vet
Grams among our readers We hope its
publication may again put the brave
Confederate in communication with the
Northern soldier whom he once met ana
lost sight of again.
Editors OF the Kennrbec Journal:
\ touch Of romance. though truthful.
will probably interest your readers
On the last day Of October 1871. ! was
travelling westward from South Carolina.
No particular destination claimed my at
Georgia ana entered Alabama. my atten-
tiun was turned To Il gentlemanly pas
senger seated near me in the railway
coach. We gradually fell into converSa-
ton about the weather ana current top
He told me he was drummer" for a
Northern house ana hailed from Maine.
We exhausted small talk and got on
the Civil War. lie asked me if | was in
the army. told him | had belonged to
Cen BIS brigade. Well; said he,
longed 10 Clusters brigade /, Thereupon
| remarked that we probably had met.
but did not wait for introductirns."
Just here permit me TO remark that
Clusters brigade fought US harder than
any other: and We had a great respect
for them; especially for their gallant
commander. who fought fair and consid-
cred the contest one of honor. never al
lowing his men 10 maltreat a prisoner
We called him Miss Fanny on account
Of his wearing long hair; and many Of
us tN-COnfcderateS sincerely regretted
his massacre by Sitting Bulls" savage
followers.
My new acquaintance said that he had
been long anxious to know what had be-
come of certain youth at -- station;
then he described the part Of the battle
field, what that youth had said and done
ana surrounding circumstances.
| told him Il am happy to inform you
that youth is now talking to YOU.
His eyes frightened as with JOY; and he
exclaimed: " lam very glad to see YOU
living. but | tried my best TO kill you
| meekly acknowledged my thankful
ness for being alive; and he prOfessed a
like pleasure. We talked about the fight;
he petted my hand crippled by his shot:
his sorrow was sincere; and he asked me
not to bear malice.
| told him the war was over vita me
when we surrendered under that bravesI
of braves CHampton in North Carolina;
ana that | wanted all malice out Of the
question; ana, besides. if | had got the
same chance at him | would have used
and | did not see the Federals on ac-
count of thick bushes Though in twelty
steps,; but they saw Us as evidenced Y
eleven Of our company on that ground
in less than two minutes: hence | did not
see who shot me until over seven years
afterwards.
After we mad prOfeSSed 1ilendSHlp anu
50 forth my acquaintance prepared 70
leave the train: ana, We padn good
bye he gave me his card. requesting me
to write him when | got locate (which
| promised to do.
Putting the card in my uppe' vest
pocket ! began to scan the country
though late in the evening. luf n. ltia-
tives had spoken to me. of its fertllltE'
bet the growing crops disappointed me;
on arriving at Montgomery chdnSed
cars ana went to sleep on my seat
Next morning on waking. in the edge ot
Mississippi | felt for the card; hut Ii ana
A little money put in that pocket We're
both gone Thus | lost my friends 1d-
dress and was unable to writ" MIN. re
NAV have thought | was false III my
promise: ana | ought to have inquired
after him sooner: but, in the hurlN-buflH
81 life We neglect things that are dear
to us. ,;; 7
If nv railroad acquaintance is living:
want him to write me; and ! want MN
II feel assured that ! feel no animosltE
m him for Gripping me; for. as / said
before. | would have improved IKE op-
portunity. u.. ~ IN
not ask each other names thouSh ~
this distant date | am not sure. ,
If he will write me-. | shall be Slad ne
will remember why | was going NtSl
and his recalling of the cause VIII serve
" ''> Yours truly.
SAM +. MASSEY,
Fort Mill, 5. G.
March lG, 1900.