DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am a volunteer instructor for the University of Southern Maine’s Senior College, focusing on Maine in the Civil War. I am interested in putting together a class on Lewiston-Auburn’s role, both at home and in the war zone. Previously, I’ve found resources are scarce, and a few who might have information reluctant to offer their time for an amateur historian.

I see Sun Spots often turns to Professor Doug Hodgkin for questions relating to local history. Perhaps he or other readers might have information they’d be willing to share. Thanks for your help. — Andrew Hall, Sgtatoier@yahoo.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots did ask Doug Hodgkin of the Androscoggin Historical Society and Bates College professor emeritus, and he recommended some written materials that might help with your class:

“There are a few publications to which one might refer for local participation in the Civil War. First, the Androscoggin Historical Society has just published a 32-page booklet available from the society, ‘Faces of the Civil War,’ by Russ Burbank, about selected individuals from our county.

“Second, I can refer my own book about Lewiston, ‘Frontier to Industrial City,’ pages 162-172, and the endnotes that provided my sources.

“Third, Jonathan Howard wrote his senior thesis at Bates College, ‘National War and Community Change: Lewiston, Maine, 1861-1865.’ This is available in the Muskie Archives.

“Fourth, for the Lewiston regiment in the field, see John Mead Gould, ‘History of the First – Tenth – Twenty-ninth Maine Regiment.’

“Fifth, newspapers on microfilm at public libraries provide a flavor of the time, with both local news and news from the front.”

Sun Spots notes that the Lewiston Evening Journal, which was published at that time, is also available at the Google archives online, although printing from them it requires some time and computer skills (http://tinyurl.com/3ufnme3). See http://tinyurl.com/2v2uu7x for the Evening Journal.

And, finally, perhaps other amateur historians will offer their expertise. 

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Many years ago in the Daily Sun or the Evening Journal (near Memorial Day) there was a story about a fallen soldier during the Civil War being sent home by train. When the family opened the casket, there was the body of a stranger in a Confederate uniform.

If memory serves, they gave him a proper burial, and every year at memorial time the town puts a Confederate flag on that grave along with the American flag on other veterans’ graves. Again, if memory serves, I think this is in the town of Gray.

If you find it interesting, perhaps you could run it again. Thanks. — Rich Gallop, rgallop@fairpoint.net

ANSWER: Sun Spots found a more recent (and easier to find) reference to that event. On Jan. 22, 2012, a Road Trip to Gray in the Sunday b section reminded readers about the soldier mix-up. H. Joie Crockett wrote:

“As for Gray’s unknown soldier, Lt. Charles Colley of Gray was killed in a Civil War battle. In those days, when someone died in the war, a family had to send money to have the body shipped back home. When Colley’s casket arrived in Gray and was opened, it did not contain the body of Colley but instead an unknown Confederate soldier.

“Colley’s body eventually was returned home, but the soldier with the Confederate uniform was never identified. He was buried in the Gray Cemetery, and Colley was later buried not far from him. His gravestone is marked ‘Stranger,’ and residents later dedicated a statue to him in the town center, which many travelers today drive by without knowing the story behind it.

“Every Memorial Day his grave is marked with a Confederate flag, and he is honored along with the more than 178 soldiers from Gray who died in the war, proportionately more than any other town in Maine.”

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

Copy the Story Link