Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-03-16

boys asked Charley, did you tell him
to his face:' Charley, faint and weary,
answered. You bet I did And 1 told
him that he was a trump. Chicago
Inter-Ocean.
Confederate Yankee.
81 was up in the northern part Of
Maine the other day and heard story
which was a little out of the ordinary
line of Civil War stories I have read
about" said New York drummer
whose territory is New England. II
had noticed a funeral in the town, the
turnout of which indicated that the
deceased must have been a prominent
man in his lifetime.
"a citizen said in answer to my in
uuiry that the man had retired from
business several years before his
death. The citizen said: His funeral
to-day is much larger than it would
have been some years ago.
Il then heard the story
"When Lincoln called for troops
there were few men in the State Of
Maine who opposed coercion Of the
South. This man was an exception.
although a New Highlander from a
Colonial family whose history goes
back to the Colonial wars, this man
known in the North AS a cOpperhead
He was an officer in the militia at the
time of Lincoln's election. Every man
in his command except him volun-
teered in answer to Lincoln's procla
nation.
He not only refused to go out, but
he boldly contended that it was an out
rage to oppose the secession of the
Southern States. He was ostracized
socially and commercially. His bust
ness dwindled away.
During the second year of the war
he left the community. Nobody seem
ed to care where he went.
1.-TWO years later he returned. He
was a physical wreck. The feeling in
the community was not quite so bit
ter as in the beginning of the war.
However, the man was not cordially
received.
HE had not been back long when
it was learned that he had been in
the Confederate army and was dis
charged on account of his inability
tend to increase his popularity.
He came into possession of con-
siderable money soon after his return.
Meanwhile some Of the shattered rem
nants of Maine companies began to
drift home Most Of them were broken
in health and some were penniless.
This man began contributing to
the relief of the needy. A majority Of
the benefciaries did not know the
source of their help.
after the war was over it leaked
out, little by little. that the benefac-
tor was the man who had been ostra-
cized To the credit of many he was
again admitted to fellowship, and his
business began to thrive. He became
independent.
"A few years later he was elected to
office on a Republican ticket. The
NOMINATION. came 10 IHll uISOuSHt pp
to that time he had never affiliated
with the party that elected him.
He served his term of Office, but
whenever there was township OF
county election he voted the Democra-
tic ticket. This was understood to be
his right 1t was never questioned.
Before he retired from business he
was on one occasion visited by a man
from the South who had been the col
onel of the Confederate regiment Of
which he was member. The ex-
Confederate was down at the heel in
every way.
No one knew what happened dur
ing his visit in Maine. but a few years
ago it became known to a few people
in the vicinity that the Maine man
helped his old commander to rccoup
his fortune. That man until 1901 was
a successful broker and banker in
this city. and his silent partner for
nearly fifteen years was the Maine
Yankee who as Democrat held Re
publican Office.
L nave lIdNelet ONcI Tie u ullSu
States, and met all sorts of people, but
I have never heard a Civil War story
that was anything like this. My in
formant is at the head of big in
dustry in Maine: he told me that only
few persons knew the facts as
have stated them New York Sun.
An Acting Corporal.
Col J. w Phelps (afterward Briga-
der General) at the commencement of
the civil war, commanded the First
Vermont Regiment. He was a West
Point graduate. an excellent soldier
but very eccentric. About May 20.
1861. he was sent with his own regi-
ment and the Fourth Massachusetts to
occupy Newport News.
The new volunteers were very
fresh and annoyed him by their ig-