The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-05-01
ORY'S |
MYST ERIES
What Became of Harvey
Wentworth?
uaselssd Riddles That $ti1 Pux1ie
Aathssitiss Mere and Abroad D

THE Civil war brought about many
1 very mysterious disappearances,
but one of the most remarkable of
them all was that of Harvey B. Went
worth, New Hampshire farmer lad
who went away on furlough one
day In July, 1862, and was never
heard from thereafter. Naturally,
there were a number of towards who
deserted the colors either because Of
fear of dissatisfaction with the way
In which they were treated, but ev-
erything pointed to the fact that this
was not thes case with young Went
worth and, as a result, all possible
efforts were made to discover what
had become of him. But in vain. He
had apparently vanished as complete
ly as If the earth had opened and
swallowed him.
Early In July, 1862, a new regiment
of volunteers was mustered into serv-
Ice in the vicinity Of Suncook, N. a..
regiment known as the Nineteenth
New Hampshire volunteers. One of
the most enthusiastic members of this
regiment was young Wentworth, pri-
vate in Company D. He was farmer
boy Of exceptionally good habits, In
telligent and inquisitive. Therefore,
when the regiment encamped on the
Virginia side Of the Potomac, near
Acqueduct bridge, and Wentworth re-
Quested a furlough to see the sights
Of the Capital, it was granted with
out moments hesitation. In COM
pany with a number Of others he left
camp-and was never heard from
again. At the next roll call he was
marked mot present" and some days
later, was entered as having "myste-
riously disappeared
No one ever believed that Went
worth had deserted. He was not built
that way, and every circumstance in
the case pointed away from such prob
ability. A special court of inquiry
was called and, after considering the
meager evidence In the case, reported
that Wentworth had disappeared
from mortal ken but, in view of his
character and antecedents, we clear
him from the charge Of desertion and
recommend that his military record
be regarded as without stain.''
This opinion was principally based
upon the fact that Wentworth had
never been heard to complain of the
hardships of army life even during the
forced march southwark from New
Hampshire. In fact, he had been too
short a time in the service to tire Of
| 1t and had been treated with the ut
most consideration, his cousin being
captain Of the company of which he
was q member. Moreover, there was
| plenty of evidence that the New
Hampshire boy had been extremely
anxious to reach the front and see
something of real war.
When he left camp he was full of
youthful enthusiasm over the pros
pect Of seeing the sights of Wash
ington and apparently, had never left
the city. Sentries had been posted
at every road that led out of the Cap
ital, as well as along its leading
| thoroughfares, and no one could get
|
corded. The records Of these guards
showed that the missing youth had
| presented his pass on entering the
western limits of the city, and they in
| dicated his progress along Pennsyl-
vania avenue to the Capitol. But, after
| that, all trace of him was lost
The thorough investigation which
followed his unaccountable disappear
ance showed that he had last been
seen on the brow of Capitol hill, look
ing over the city spread out before
him. All about him were masons and
stone cutters, working on an extension
| to the Capitol Below him was a
labyrinth Of partly covered excava-
! tions for the subbasement of the new
extension.
What could have become of him?
| Did he meet with foul play, and if
| so, how was his body concealed? Did
he fall prey to the bullet Of some
| Confederate spy? Was it possible
that, while exploring the labyrinthine
mazes Of the new portion of the Cap
itol he was overcome by the heat and
fell into some dark abyss, where his
remains were later walled up and
entombed?
Had he deserted, Wentworth would
have eventually returned to New
Hampshire, If only for the purpose of
keeping In touch with conditions
there. But nothing was ever heard
OF him in any section of the country,
and the only mark to his memory is
the monument In the little church
yard in Suncook, New Hampshire,
which bears the lettering:
Harry b. Wentworth-Myster
ly disappeared from the knowledge
of Washington, ID. c., July. 1862"
&c by the Wtssler syndcate.)
Smallest War Memorial