Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-04-19
BELLOWS FALLS.
Incident In Life Of A. N. Swain.

Incident In Life OF A. N. Swain.
The death of Hon. A. N. Swain has
recalled many incidents in connection
with his life, and his many good deeds.
Among the interesting ones is that of
Andrew j. Mccarthy of North Walpole,
who, when the Civil war broke out. was
a boy of Is in the office of the Bellows
Falls Times and boarded in the family
Of Mr. and Mrs Swain. Mr.. Mccarthy
was among the 13 who enlisted at about
the same time in September, 1862, these
enlistments completing the quota of 10
men then due from Rockingham, thus
avoiding a threatened draft in the town.
When Mr.. Mccarthy enlisted, Mr.. Swain
at once secured the removal of his name
from the rolls, because he felt that
Andrew was too young and not strong
enough to stand the hard work of the
coming campaigns, but the young man
persisted and enlisted a second time.
The enlistment was in the company
known as the Saxtons River Light In
fantry company which had as it's cap
tain, L. c. Roundy of this town, and the
majority of the members of the company
were from this immediate locality. The
company was mustered at Brattleboro
and became a part of the 18th Vermont
regiment. 1t passed in review before
Governor Holbrook on the eve of de-
parture. During the month or more that
the company was drilling at Saxtons
River Mr.. Mccarthy would go each day
and answer to his name, drill and return
to Bellows Falls to work in Mr.. SWANS
office all the hours possible until the
company left.
When Thanksgiving came that year,
the 18th Vermont with it's Saxtons River
company were in camp at Wolf Run
Shoals in Virginia. Most of the mem
bers of the company and regiment early
rppaiVed hnXaS of n nj cpix- LOT nti
Mr.. Mccarthy had no relatives in this
country, having come from Ireland as a
mere boy, leaving all behind him. For
this reason he looked somewhat with
envy at the other soldiers as they re-
ceived their boxes, not expecting any
himself. What was his surprise, the day
before Thanksgiving, to be informed that
there was box bearing his name among
the other boxes brought over from the
Fairfax railroad station. 1t was larger
than any other box he saw and when
he opened it he found a pig, weighing
perhaps so pounds, stuffed and roasted
by Mrs Swain, and the box entirely
filled with other good things Among
them was about peck of cooked and
mashed potatoes two or three squares
of biscuits, a whole sage cheese and a
variety of other provisions. On Thanks
giving day the boys of this company
built at table at least rs feet long
it with the contents of the various
boxes which had come from Vermont
To this banquet the contribution of Mr.
and Mrs. Swain added so largely that
the boys were able to invite the officers
of the regiment and their friends
Mr.. Mccarthy was in the United States
service about 10 months, after which he
returned to his work in the Times office,
where he remained several months
During the time he was in the service,
at Mr.. SWANS request made at the time
of enlistment, he made a practice Of
writing weekly letters to Mr. Swain, de-
failing matters of interest to the friends
of the company and regiment, from
which Mr.. Swain made extracts, pub
fishing them in the Times during those
months over the nom de plume More
Anon"
Mr.. Mccarthy is still a resident of
North Walpole, and comes this side of
the river only occasionally. He did not