Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-10-09
A WAR TIME MEMORY.
Augusta Man Figures in Bridgton
Editors Story.

Major Shorey of Bridgton. editor of
the BridgtOn News and secretary of
the 18th Maine Regiment association
indulges iE war time reminiscence as
a result of the recent reunion Of his
old regiment at Bridgton and tells this
little story of which well known
Augusta citizen is the central figure.
In the published STORY of the Maine
Fifteenth" in the chapter covering the
period of the first occupation by fed
eral troops of the Lower Mississippi,
New Orleans, La, and the adjacent
country OCCURS this paragraph:
"And speaking of the negroes, it
was during this first summer 1S62) on
the Mississippi that the members of
the Fifteenth received their initial in
reduction to that ever-present accom-
panimenN of camp life in the South.
The "contraband''-"in Intelligent and
otherwise--swocped down upon us from
all directions, singly, in pairs, in gangs,
hundreds, thousands, evelO. The
camp was literally thronged with dus
Ky refugees. And they were by no
means unwelcome guests; indeed they
and the federal soldiers soon became
devoted friends The negro gratefully
accepted favors bestowed Gn the way
of food and .clothing) and in return
diligently labored about the camp, re-
lieving the soldier of much of the druid
gerry which otherwise might have de-
volved upon him. AS an auxiliary of
every company and headquarters mess
tent, the negro proved to be wcll-nigh
Indispensable, and he rarely betrayed
the confidence of a Union soldier
Whatever became Of the masses Of
these "dusky refugees we have never
learned, hut the representative speci-
men who came to Bridgton this year
with the Fifteenth boys is certainly
worthy of special mention. A boy of IL
in 1862 when he came to the federal
canp-"a fugitive slave" emancipated
by the Butler ruling that all such We're
"contraband of war''-he is today g.
ana as fine specimen of his race as
is often seen. He remained with the
officers of Co. 3. to the middle Of 1864
rendering faithful service; when She
regiment came to Maine on it's veteran
furlougn'' he came with it. and when
it returned to Virginia he concluded to
remain at Augusta. having numerous
opportunities for lucrative employment
An expert in tie care of horses and as
coachman. he very soon found his way
to the Blaine stables and for many years
was the family coaChman. Mr.. Blaine
the writer happens to know, became
greatly attached to Fred Soon after
Rlainc'S death Brown was made night
watchman at the State House, where
he is now employed and where he has
faithfully served for many years Soon
after coming to Maine he married a
colored woman brought home by Gen
G. .. Howard. She is now dead; a
family of three grOwn-up daughters
manage the household and make hap
py home for their worthy father, who
is respected citizen of Augusta.
Erred" was in the employ of the
writer for Two and a half years and
never failed to do faithful service II
was certainly a rare pleasure to be able
to entertain him at the editorial home
on the occa sion referred to, he being a
guest of honor everywhere, and the
color of the skin never being taken
into the account. This is his first visit
to Bridgton. May it not be the last.