Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-04-26
General William j. Palmer
Colorado's Foremost Citizen

Het Nup'aiH iaiheT ~ autctah
when the battle was In progress. and
after complimenting him. as he well
deserved. for the great work he had
done. earnestly cautioned him against
attempting to repeat his experiments
II Lee should be driven into Virginia.
He was young man OF very few
words. and made no response to any
admonition beyond thanking me for
my kind expressions OF confidence.
When Lee rctreated across the Po-
tomac. Captain Palmer preceded him
the same night. entered his lines again
and brought important reports which.
AZ l believe. led to the battle Of Shep-
herdstown that was successfully fought
by General ritz John Porter. He then
passed beyond my Jurisdiction. and be-
came known TO some OF the leading
officers OF Mccleilan's army as the
scout or spy who had given Mcclellan
most reliable and important informa-
tion.
For several nights he entered Lees
lines and reported in the morning.
Finally. he was missed Mt the usual
time his report was expected. When
the second day passed without any
word frcm him. great anxiety was felt
!or his safety. and every effort was
made that could be made. without ex-
posing him to the discovery OF iden.
tIty. TO learn OF his whereabouts. but
without success.
When he had been missing week
I, was evident that he had been cap
turei. and. upon being advised OF II
from the headquarters OF Mcclcllan's
army fastened to Philadelphia to
confer with President ]. Edgar Thomp-
son Of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany. who's. secretary Captain Palmer
had been until he entered the service.
and who was greatly interested In him
personally.
a conference with President Thomp-
son aud Vice President Scott resulted
In the purpos. TO cndcayor To save
Palmer from being identified by his
capIorS. and II was finally decided that
I should go to the Offices OF the North
American. the Press. and the Inquirer.
the leading morning journals of tho
city. and write M for the publication
the next morning displayed dispatches
announcing the arrival In Washington
Of Captain W. J. Palmer. who had
been scouting in Virginia for some
Jays and who had brought mos, i'm.
por'an, Information OF the movements
and purposes of the enemy.
Some details OF his reported facts
were given TO make the story piaus.
lille. to which was added that state.
mcnt iha, he had brought momcn,ous
Information that could not be given
TO the piblic. hut that would doubtless
lead TO early military movements
against the enemy. The dispatches
We're all accepted by the publishers.
as all felt special interest In Cap.
tain Palmcr's fate. aud the publication
doubtless saved him from being Glib.
bc,cd as n spy. but he managed to
maintain doubt aH to his identity.
His execution was DELAYED from time
to time TO ascertain who he was. The
dispatches published in the Phiiadci.
phia papers. ali af which reached the
cncmy's lines within forty.cigh, hours.
II not sooner. entirely misicd the Con.
fcdcfatcs a. to Captain Palmer and the
failure to identify him saved him. un.
III he finally effected his own exchange
by quietly taking the place of dead
prisoner in the ranks and responding
to his name whes the roll was called
for the men who were TO be sent to
the north.
lie is better known TO the world to-
day rs President Palmer. of Colorado
Springs. lately of the Denver and Rio
Grandc railway. and one of the for,un.
ate and potential railroad maguatcs of
the land.