The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-01-26
Civil War story.

II was up In the northern part OIL
Maine theother day and heard story
(which was a. little out Of the ordinary
line of civil war stories | have read
about said New York drummer
whose territory is New England. y
had noticed funeral in the town, the
turnout of which indicated that the
! deceased must have been 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.
Il then heard the story GIN
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 New Highlander from a
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 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 I.incoln's procla-
nation.
He mot only refused to go out, but
he boldly contended that 1t 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 LETT 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
1t 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 benefciaries 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 republican ticket. The
nomination came to him unsought.
Up to that time he had never affiliat-
ed with the party that elected him.
"He served his term of Office, but
whenever there was 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 man
from the south who had been the col
onel of the Confederate regiment of
which he was 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 few years
ago it became known to a few people
in the vicinity that the Maine man
helped his old commander to recoup
his fortune. That man until 1901 was
a successful broker and banker in
this city, and his silent party for near
ly fifteen years was the Maine Yam
kee who as a democrat held re-
publican Office.
81 have travelled all over the United
States, and met all sorts of people,
but I have never heard civil war
story that was anything like this. My
informant is at the head of big
Industry in Maine; he told me that
only few persons knew the facts as
| have stated them. New York Sun.