Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-17
AFTER YEARS OF WAITING.
Sword Returned to Son of Man Who
Carried It During Civil War.

After search lasting period of nearly
thirty-eight years, Capt John w. Beacon
of Portsmouth, Va, has finally found and
delivered to the family of a one-time
enemy sword taken in battle The
weapon was the property of the late Capt
John Norris. who commanded company
of Pennsylvania volunteers and was cap
tured at the battle of the Crater, before
Petersburg, July 80, 1864 Shortly after
his capture Captain Norris was consigned
to one of the military prisons Of the south
and left his sword and horse in the possess
sion of Captain Beacon. Since that time
every effort has been made by Captain Bea-
con to ascertain the whereabouts Of the
owner of the sword.
Giving up in despair, he turned the mat
ter over to his son-in-law. Mr. Edwin F.
Roreback. who recently moved to this city.
The latter succeeded In learning. a short
time since, that Captain Norris had died
four years after the quaint meeting of the
two officers, but that Mr.. C.. J. Norris a
clerk in the Treasury Department and
son of the deceased, lived in this city, at
919 o street Upon learning this Captain
Beacon was promptly summonded from
Portsmouth. and Tuesday evening. at the
residence of Mr.. Roreback, 1850 Corcoran
street, In the presence of a large assem-
blage. he delivered the sword to Captain
Norris son.
The latter with his new-found friend
spent the following day in seeing the sights
of the capital, and Captain Beacon returned
home last evening well pleased at the final
success of his long search of over thirty
years.
The late Captain John Norris served in
Company G, I'd Regiment Artillery, 10TH
Pennsylvania Volunteers. at the time he
was taken prisoner at the battle of the
Crater. Petersburg mine, Virginia, on July
so. 1864. His sword was presented to him
by members of his company at the time he
was promoted to second lieutenant, and on
10 fcy Toll,
lily 1t bears the following inscription:
Presented to Lieutenant J. Norris by the
Members of Co. G. 112th p. ""
Captain Norris died in this city in 1865 in
the thirty second year of his age, and his
wife, Mrs. Emma R. l.. Norris, died in $780,
Three children now living. Calvin c.
j. Norris, the Oldest Is a clerk in the Treas
ury Department. The other two. John Will
lard Norris and Frank E. 8. Norris reside
in the state of Washington.
Nothing was known by Captain Norris or
any of his relatives of the whereabouts of
the sword since it's capture, until April 10.
when Mr.. Fred. b. Rhodes of the chief
clerks office, Treasury Department, sent in
formation to Mr.. Calvin C. ]. Norris that
he had received telephone message from
Major Frank A Butts to the effect that
the possessor of the sword was DESTROYS of
returning it to Captain Norris or his rela-
tives
At 2 o'clock I'm. of the Both of July, the
day of his capture. Captain Norris regi-
ment moved to the front, occupying po-
sition in rear of Union breastworks and
opposite to a fort which had been under
mined and which was blown up shortly af-
terward. After the mine had been fired an
advance was made and the enemy's trench
es were occupied for several hundred yards.
when the latter returned in force and re-
took the trenches. with considerable num-
Der of prisoners, among the latter being
Captain Norris and a number of his brother
officers and men. Captain Norris was sent
to the rear in the vicinity of Petersburg
A handsome gold-headed ebony cane.
suitably inscribed. was presented to Cap
tain Beacon by Mr.. c. ]. Norris as q
token Of friendship and of his appreciation
Of the return Of his fathers sword
Both Mr.. Roreback and Mr.. Norris are
employed at the Treasury Department, but
until recently neither knew Of the Others
presence there.