The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-02
zOLuCOFFER'S
TRUNK FOUND
Returned to His Daughter After
Being Lost for Forty-Two
Years.
CONFEDERATE MUSEUM
Story of the War That Will
Awaken Memories Of Long
Ago.

The following interesting story Is
taken from Knoxville paper OF May,
1904. and tells of q war incident con-
nccted with tho death OF ono OF the
bravest mon who ever wore tho uni
form OF q soldier:
The trunk belonging to General Felix
X. Zolltcoffer and captured from him
tho day he was Killed ut the battle
OF Mill Springs. KY, has been re-
turned to his daughter In this city
Mrs. II. II. Sansom-through tho agcn-
cy of several friends who learned of
Its existence through chance news
paper clipping.
From newspaper. from his former
hcme. Chatheld, Mimi. Mr.. John B..
Hendricks, now q resident of this city,
cut clipping, as follows:
"Chatheld. February 5.-Among
the war relics brought back home
by our boys from the battles in the
South. Is General Zollicoffcrs
trunk, captured at tho engagement
where tho general was killed It
Is now in the possession OF "Heem"
Case Gas he is Familiarity called by
MS comrades and townsmen), and
was taken by Mr.. Cases brother
ana delivered to "Heem," who was
tne driver OF an army wagon at
the time. The trunk is OF solo
leether, strongly made, having tho
corners bound with zinc. 1t con-
tanned ordinary clothing. Including
Undertaking. besides fine dress
suit, which was given one of the
boys. whom 1t fitted as we'll as 1t
could the general himself Tho
trunk was delivered to Mr.. Case on
the battlefield and has been In his
possession ever since"
Mr.. Hendricks showed this clipping
to Mr. A. J. Miller. Alderman OF the
Tenth Ward. and inquired OF Mr.. Miller
ll ne knew any OF the relatives of
the deceased general. Mr.. Miller told
MIN that he did; that one OF General
zollicoffer's daughters was the wife OF
MIR. X. II. Sansom. lawyer OF this
city. Thercupon, Mr. Hendricks turned
over TO him the clipping In question,
with tho statement that he had no
doubt Mr.. Case would be very willing
to surrender the trunk II he was ask
ed to do so. Mr.. Miller brought the
matter to the attention OF Mr.. James
II. Welcker. the business partner of
Mr.. sanson,. who, getting the address
OF MIR. Case, wrote him In regard to
the matter. AT this time. Mr.. and
Mrs. SAMSON were on a visit to reIa-
t'ves In Texas. and knew nothing at
all in regard to what was being done.
Mr. Case. on receiving the letter.
asking for the trunk to be shipped TO
Mr.. Welcker. that he might have it as
surprise for Mrs. Sansom upon her
return from Texas. promptly forwarded
the trunk by express, but wrote Moth
| ing In regard to 1t, as he had been
requested to do in the letter written
him. But. instead of writing a letter,
giving a history OF the capture OF the
trunk. and where 1t had been, and In
whose custody since It was captured,
forwarded the Chatheld News Demo-
crat OF date April II. 1904, In which
there appears the following statement
IN regard to the matter:
General Zollicoffcr was killed in the
battle of Mill Springs, KY, January
10. 1862. and at that time his trunk.
containing his personal effects. was
captured. and has been in the posses
sion OF Fl. G. Case ever since the war.
until last week. whe nit was sent to
Knoxville. Tenn. Mr. Case has the fol-
lowing to say of the history of the
trunk:
General Zollicoffer's trunk was cap
tured at Mill Springs. Ky. January 20.
1862. about 10 o'clock A. NJ. by Nor
'man Il. Case, Company A. Second Min
nesota Infantry. Tho regiment stacked
arms Just in front OF General Zolicof-
gfeHs headquarters. Case being the
hrst In the quarters. saw the trunk
and pulled It out to where /. II. G..
case. was with the regimental head
quarters team. asking me II could
carry 1t. told him could. so l did
I'LL we arrived at Louisville, KY,
where the contents were taken out and
mi In
used what they could and the rest was
sent to Milo Whites care, Chatfield,
Mimi, for distribution, as there were
quite a number syho sent home things
IN the trunk. The trunk and few
things. cannot tell now what they
were, were turned over to father.
AT the battle OF ChIckamnuga, Sop.
tomber 20. 1853, Norman was killed
and in December I re-enlisted and
came homo on furlough, and fathc,
aud mother gave me the trunk. and i,
has been In my possession ever since
until Thursday. April Z. 1904 when l
sent 1t to the youngest daughter OF
General Zollicoffer, by the name OF
SAMSON, who lives at Knoxville, Tenn.
who. by the way of John b. Hendricks
who lives in Knoxville. had learned
that I had the relic. They wrote me
that II would let them have the trunk
they would be willing to pay reason
able price for the same. AS the trunk
Is made OF sole leather and was forty
two years old that l know OF. as c
relic, concluded 1t was worth more
to them than to me. so I expressed 1t
lC O. D., to the business partner of r
/ H. SAMSON, who Is away from home or
a visit. His partner wanted the trunk
as a surprise for Mrs. Sansom on hel
return home.
, On her return from Texas recently
Mrs. Samoan found this old trunk II
her home. and In her room, It having
been thus placed by reason of n little
conspiracy entered into between the
| servant girl, caring for the house II
the absence of Mr.. and Mrs. SAMSON
and Mr.. Welcker. to whom Mr.. Case
had shipped the trunk. Mrs. Samson
!: was very much surprised to find i
there. and more surprised to find tina
| it was the trunk OF her father, which
; had been returned after these LONG
years, and when It had been carried
| so far away from the scene where !
was captured. or course she and he1
friends appreciate it's return very
P,vl fr