Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-03

same regiment-Perham s. Head .
| Waterville Mr.. Head was the yer!
fortunate possessor of a little money
which he had made in various ways
while a prisoner, and he traded-yes
bribed, if you villa Rebel guard u
pass himself, Mr.. Poor and two other'
along with the men to be exchanged
paying $25 of his precious casn.
Mr.. Poor was in such weak condl-
ton that he had to be assisted 10 tne
depot less than half a mile. Had ne
staid in prison it meant death. His
freedom meant home and health
which he confidently believes he owes
to his generous comrade.
So while on this recent trip, he Sc
cured a piece Of the old wooden stock
AIDE had a cane made, handsomely
mounted and marked ''P. S. H. Pre-
scented by Levi M. Poor, 1903" and
personally handed it to Mr. Head as
memento of the old days when they
were prisoners together and longing fol
home.
Now, for another souvenir. You all
know that Levi is an enthusiastic Odd
Fellow. Well, he remembered his lodge
and has presented it with big piece
of stockade, % inches long, 6x7 inches
just as it was sawed off. That the
lodge prizes it highly can be under
stood. A handsome silver plate has
been added, saying:
Part of original stockade at Ander-
sonville, Ga. Presented by Levi NJ
Poor, Past Grand. Prisoner at Ander-
cnnUi11a from, n
March 25, '65.'
And the relic occupies a prominent
place in the lodge room of Asylum
Lodge, No. 20, Augusta, Me.
1t is a piece from the top of one of
the stockade posts, weatherbeaten and
rough on the outside, but bright and
fresh within as Southern pine always is.
Mr.. Poor found it as part of a shed
built and owned by Royal c. Kennedy
at Andersonville. whose father bought
the old stockade years after the war
and utilized it in firewood, fences and
this shed. Mr.. Kennedy was very will
ing to accommodate Mr.. Poor in secur-
ing the relic, a fact which the latter
appreciates, especially as some others
We're none too anxious to part with
anything except for good price.
Both these relics will doubtless be
treasured by their owners and the
owners children for ages.
To tell the story of the visit in detail
would take page of the Journal, but
we cannot help mentioning the first
point visited by Mr.. Poor-Providence
spring-even though the arrival was in
the night.
Providence spring burst out of the
ground during or just after a tremen-
dous storm. 1t appeared between the
famous or infamous headline" over
and the stockade. Water was price
less-the former supply being small and
none too good, while this spring was
delicious. The spring was out of the
reach of the men, but they soon impro-
vised buckets of cans, clippers, any
thing, suspended from a pole by a string
and would fish out a drink, while for
amusement every little while a Rebel
guard would PUNK few bullets at the
thirsty crowd
Finally the officials did make a little
gutter of boards and direct the stream
within the deadline, where day after
day the prisoners would file along, each
patiently awaiting his turn for a drink
or q bucket of water.
That is the place Mr.. Poor first visit
ed and his drink of the pure, cold water
tasted as good as away back in the
days of '64-'65.