Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-01-27
Civil War Story.

Civil War Story.
Il was up in the northern part of
Maine the other day and heard a story
which was little out of the ordinary
line of civil war stories l have read
about" said a New York drummer
whose territory is New England. Il
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
curry that the man had retired from
business several years before his
death The citizen added: His funer-
al to-day is much larger than it would
have been some years ago.
81 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 Englander from
Colonial family whose history goes
back to the colonial wars, this man
was, at the call for troops, what was
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 vol
unteered in answer to Lincoln's procla-
nation.
'He not only refused to go out, but
he boldly contended that it was an
outrage 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
seemed 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
to- do duty. This information did not
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 brok-
en- in health and some were penniless.
This man began contributing to the
relief of the needy. A majority of
the beneficiaries did not know the
source of their help
After the war was over it leaked
out, little by little. that the bene-
factor was the man who had been
ostracized. To the credit of many he
was again admitted to fellowship, and
his business began to thrive. He be-
came independent.
"a few years later he was elected
to office on a republican ticket. The
nomination came to him unsought.
Up to that time he had never afiliat-
ed with the party that elected him.
"He served his term of office, but
whenever there was a township or
county election he voted the demo-
cratic ticket. This was understood to
b. 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 a member. The ex-Con-
federate was down at the heel in every
way.
mo one knew what happened dur
ing his visit in Maine, but a few years
asssit became known to a few people
fpl be vicinity that the Maine man
hsfpas his old commander to recoup
his fortune. That man until 1901 was
successful broker and banker in
this city, and his silent party for near
Iy fifteen years was the Maine Yam
kee who as a democrat held a re-
publican office.
81 have travelled all over the United
States, and met all sorts of people,
hut / have never heard a civil war
story that was anything like this. My
informant is at the head of a big
industry in Maine; he told me that
only a few persons knew the facts as
have stated them.''-New York SUM-