The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-10-25
Rl7ohfANCE OF TWO ARMIE B
a ''l. Sword Returned s';' g to It's Owner AT.
tor Many Years, s

~ I" oNN'aehoAu AeHf fAlEStOn,tgTNs VI.
in 1865 Yankee captain becaino the
prisoner Of a youth who commanded a
company Of tho 9th North Osrolina.
Tho union aoldior begged to koep his
sword. The request was courte ously
refused as ho was a prisoner Of war aud
could not keep arms or Weapons upon
his person. Tho Confederate oifioer
pledged himsolf to roiurn tho sword il
both survived the war. That pledge
wsa kept Friday. 10 speaking OF the
matter The State says:
| Capt. j. X. p. Neatherry tf This citv
was the Oonft derato officer who pavo
tho pledge and after &c years he has
found tho man TO whom tho blade be-.
lopRed, Capt. Reuben Waterman Of
aie1idep, Conn.
After the wsr Capt. Noatherry nado
'Dqalry OF ovory man from Connecticut
whom no mot, but no could hear moth
ing Of Capt. Waterman. Last wintor
Mr. Amos II. 0 borne Of Watorberry.
Oonn a watch manufactures, stopped
in Columbia on his way to Floridis.
Rsing prominent Odd Follow ho was
at tho moeting OF tho Palmetto Lodge.
Uapt. Neatherrs who ID tho grand mas,
ter for South Carolipa, told Mr. o..
bcrne Of tho incident OF tho battlefield
and Mr.. Osborne promised 20 try 10 find
Capt. Waterman or hisrelatives.
| Yesterday Capt. Neatherry received
o latter from Mr.. Osborne stating TINT
Capt. Waterman is alivo and vol, and
oyeTioyed at tho prospect OF tho return
| of his battle blade.
Capt. Waterman is member oe Mer.
riam post No. 8 Of tho G., A. r. at
Moriden, Conn. Abort A. May. tho
commander Of that post, in writing IA
Mr. O,borne said: 1T has boon
thought advisable by como Of tho me N
hers Of the post. if osre oablo to you, to
havo Capt. Waterman receive tho
sword in G public manner. Perhaps We
oan arrar 60 a mcotirg in our hall
where, surrounded by his friends, ho
can again receive that which was given
to him early in tho War Of the Robel.
lion. !" (Capt. Neatherry WINGED al
thatWord) "Tho osptain as been in.
formed OF the finding Of tho sword
aid 10 moro than delighted to think
that he oan again have it. Trusting
that very ploasnt oooauion may be
hsd Of this matter, | am" oto. This
letter is atteated by CHARLES Brewer,
tho adjutsnt Of tho camp.
In hia letter transmitting this. Mr..
Osborno writes Capt, Neathorry &c
como up and join in the festivities,
However, if Capt Ncstbcrry could moi
80, Mr.. Osborne would attend Tor HIM.
Tho G. A, II. post wanted photograp ID
Of Capt Neatherry. In looking for one
Of his best looking likencsscs, Capt.
Noathorry camo across one in the uni,
| fern of q Confederate soldier. Tna,
round, merry face of q youth Of 3I6 bore
littlo resemblance to the tall, board cd
man Of 66 m or thereabou,s, (the captain
10 too nice q man to take advantage oil
by telling his exact age.) II would
like to send that, oaid Oapt Noather.
ry, but | an afraid Capt. Waterman
might feel badly to think that he had
surrendered 10 such YOUTH
apt. j. *. L. Neatbery is tho last
Of his namo, and 80 far 40 he knows
the last Of his race. Ho il native al
eastern North Carolina. When child
no vas impressed because Of tho John
Brown raids and othor outragos
against th south. At the outbreak oi
hostill,ies he was at the Univoraisy Of
North Carolina as n companion TO an
elder hrother, afterwafdsa ms ior il
tho Confederate army. Lacking sevor
months of being Is years old, scarcely
ablo 10 lift q Sharpe's ril., tie lac
joins tho Eighth North Carolina. com
manded by Col. Shaw, and part O
tho brigade Of tho immortal Gen
'homas L. Clingman. In 1868 Meath
Try was transforrcd to an i. d ,pt nucn
battslion, which subsequently, became
the Sky ev NH North Carolina. Hor,
no wau lieutenant and was
assigned to tho command of Compan,
d. Though nevor commissioned Gao
tain ho commanded tho company until
tho olo,e Of the war. 3
At the bloody battle Of Wise's Forl
ocar Kinston, in March, 1866, tho Six
ty Seventh North Carolina was pittct
against the Fifteenth Connecticut, ant
Cspt. Waterman became the priaono,
ui Lieut.. Noatherry. Waterman begged
10 keep his sword. Noathorry rcplice
that he would be ploaHod to lot hin
keep the sword, but as prisoner Wat
s1man would be boreft Of it soonor Of
iator, and it would bo botter for Meath
cry to keep it and return it, az no thor
pledged himself to do. Ihoy wero boy
.hon, far past tho primo of life now
and the return Of tho blade aftor man,
years is u remarkable incident. Bu'
Capt. Neathelry 10 such an ard lent <
Confederate that ho could not lot hiu,
selt be carried away by oven suoh
romantic aft il and ho surronders til,
swoId without becoming c,ptive t,
Tho new ssn,imont which is iorgottib,
the traditions Of the Old south in tb,
gush over tho reunited country. In hi
iet.or transmitting tho sword there j
10 tulsomo speech, but sinoore ex
prossion OF personal regard. He says
Calt. Reuben Waterman, Meridon
Conn.
Sit: / tako great pleasure ia fulfill
Ing pr oniso msdey you on tho battle
hc q Ill 1865 that ii | survived tho wa
aua cou d find you | would return tn,
sword captured with you.
4 Tho blade b. 9 ntvor been dishonors,
~ CD Thought you WoT5 ligiIv, Il knor
vas. SO uudor other flag it did hon
orsblo service. | now eplrust it 10 70,
as tho first owner, trusting you vii
mover havo occasion to deem it a dus,
70 again drawn il against tho south
but / at suro you that should ouch be III
case will meet you with ono as good
With best wishes for long ant