The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-22
COMRADE TELLS
OF WAR RECORD
OF VETERAN DEWITT BRUYN.
II. G. WELLS MAKES AFFIDAVIT IN
COURT OF ORDINARY.

Enlisted and Served with Mr.. Bruyn
Until 1S64-Sickness Prevented
Mr.. Bruyn, Then n Lieutenant,
from Going With Comrades Into
New COmpany-Few Weeks Later
He Was Transferred-Seen in Serv-
ice in South Carolina in 1865.
At last a witness has been found
that practically establishes the accu-
racy of the statement of Veteran De-
witt Bruyn as to his war record.
This is. Veteran H. c. Wells, one of
the best known ex-Confederate soldiers
in the city. Mr.. Wells filed his aff1-
davit in the Court of Ordinary yester-
day and it now looks as though the
grant of pension will be secured.
Mr.. Wells corroborates the story of
Veteran Bruyn in almost every detail.
In his sworn affidavit he states that in
Rifles and was stationed with them at
Fort Pulaski. About one year later,
or possibly more than a year, Mr.
Wells and Mr.. Bruyn enlisted in an
and went to the front.
They served together in various d.
visions of the Confederate army I'M
til 1864, when their company was con-
solidated with another. both compa-
MES having been so depleted by the
havoc of war that together they
scarcely formed an entire company.
Saw Him in 1868.
At the time of the consolidation Mr..
Bruyn, who had risen to the rank of
lieutenant, was sick and unable to
leave his bed. He bade farewell to his
brother officers and the men with
whom he had served. promising to
JOIN them as soon as his health per-
mitted. This promise he kept to the
letter.
A few weeks later Mr.. Bruyn Joined
his old company, in the new regiment,
but there was no officers position open.
he was then transferred to another
regiment, in order that his rank might
not be lost. With this regiment he
served until the end of the war.
To make the record all the more
complete, Mr.. Wells makes affidavit
that in March of 1865 he was march
ing through South Carolina In the
interior of the state he met Mr.. Bruyn,
with a detachment of men. The two
old comrades recognized each other
and held short conversation. Then
they separated, each to look after the
duty to which he was assigned.
This statement corresponds almost
exactly with the statements made by
Mr.. Bruyn himself. He stated in his
application for pension that he was
mustered out of service at Chester, S.
c., in April 1865, few weeks after
the surrender of Lee at Appomattox.
The testimony of Mr.. Wells to the eff
feet that he was on a tour of duty in
March of 1865 seems to bear out the
statement Of the applicant himself.
Letter to COmmissiOner.
This morning Mr.. Joseph Molina,
clerk Of the Court of Ordinary, will for
ward to Pension Commissioner Lind
sey the second application of Mr.
Bruyn, together with the affidavit of
Veterans Wells and Mr.. George N
Nichols. With it will go the sworn
AFFIDAVIT of the late Veteran T. N.
Theus, as found on Mr.. Bruyn's appli-
cation for a Cross of Honor. The af-
fidavit of Mrs. L. w. Dupont, to the
effect that Veteran Theus personally
stated to her he knew the record of
Mr. Bruyn will also be fnclosed in the
letter.
With the application will go clippings
from the Morning News, showing that
the prevailing sentiment in Savannah is
in favor of granting the pension. A re-
quest will also be made on the pension
commissioner for a suspension of the
law regarding the time in which pen
sion applications must be filed. This
will be signed by Savannah veterans of
the highest standing, the officers of the
Savannah Chapter U. D. c. and prob
ably by the officers of the Barlow Camp
Sons of Veterans. A number of the
leading business men will also attach
their signatures to the letter.
Several business men of high stand
ing have notified the proper officers of
the Savannah Confederate societies
that they will contribute to the old
mans support in case the pension is
not granted. This will insure him
against want until Mr.. P. A. Stovall
can bring the matter to the attention
of the Legislature and ask for the
granting of special pension, If the
application is again turned down.