The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-09-19
The Death of Major Brown.

! Editors of the NJ o. Picayune: do not
rccollect having seen any detailed account of
the wounding of Major Brown, at the bom-
bardmcnt Of the fort which now bears his
name. was very much interested, the other
evening. while listening TO description Of
the sad scene, given by gentleman who was
an eve witness, and whose statement can he
relied on rs perfectly correct.
/ On thc morning of the 9Th of May, the
| fourth day of the hombardment, about day
break, the gallant commander ofthe fort took
advantage of n short cessation of'the enemy'S
/ fire To ret Il little rest, having been constantly
OH the watch the night before. He remained
in his tent about an hour, when he left it, and
visited the hasiou commanded by Capt.
Miles. Here he found several young officers
collected, who were cunversiug. and jOcular-
; " rcmarking on the novelty of their position,
having never before heard an encmy's cannon.
The Major joined in the conversation, hut. in
II short time, let them, snying, rs he turned
away: "Young gentlemen, ! hope you may
live To fight many battles; and rs kt,o,c you
all, hope YOU may have an opportunity 10
do yourselves Justice" He left this bastion
10 visit Capt. Lowd, and gave that officer or
ders TO fire certain number Of guns AT GER
tain intervals, and TO produce MS great an eff
feet ms possible. This was done for pur-
pose then only known 10 himself A few
hours afterwards, us the Major was again GO
ing around the fort, accompanied hy his ndju-
taut, Lieut.. Page, n gallant aud very efficient
Young officer, now udiutant of the 9TH intan-
try, he informed him that tho guns which he
bad ordered Capt. Lowi 10 fire was the sig
nal agreed upon, between Gen Taylor and
himself to inform the General that he was
closely besieged. He had scarcely finished
the sentence when they heard the report ola
mortar. At this instant they were passing
between the traverse which runs across the
fort and the magazine. They knew not from
what direction the shell was coming, bur
both of Them fell down TO avoid it. Major
Brown recIined against the traverse, and Adj
utant Page against the magazine. They
were within about eight feet of each other
AS the Major was in the act of lying down,
his leg was for an instant brought in the same
position as if he had been sitting in char
or bent nearly TO right angle, the foot rest
ing on the ground. Page was looking AZ him
at that instant, aud saw the shell strike him in
It's decent. 1t Hit him on the knee and crush
ed the whole leg downward to the foot, teaI
ing his boot to pieces. The blow threw him
partly over, and resting on hisllands and one
foot, and turning pale from, the intensity Of
the pain, he exclaimed ''Nly Cod" which, as
far as have heard, was the only exclamation
of tina, nature which the brave man made from.
his fall until his death. The instant young
Page saw that his, commanding officer was
wounded, no sprang to his feet, and looked
for men TO assist in taking him to the hosPi-
tai. Quartermaster Sergeant Henry was
close by, and was mt the Adjutant's side in an
instant, andalmost everymun in sight, some
ten or twelve in number, rushedup imnedi-
ately. The Surgeon was Immediately sent
for, and the Major was Instantly conveyed to
the hospital tent. AS soon as raised from the
ground, he grasped his leg just above the knee
with both hands, and held it firmly compress
ed until the tourniquettes were pnt on. By
this time he was very faint. Numbers of his
men were gathered around to learn the fate
nftheir beloved commander, aud seeing them, |
he said: $50 TO your, work, men, am but
one among you" |
The officers and men under Maj. Brown
were warmly attached TO him, and they new
er alude to his name without an expression !