Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-09-29
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Ccphutc 10 inc truc-hearteu " lngs than here IN |
Manse, Isolated as we arc on this Island Of the
Sea.
Mansel is a now town, incorporated by the
Legislature of this State juno 8, 1913, and or.
ganizcd by the choice Of town officers August 0,
lsi8-it being that part of the Island Of Mount
Desert which lies stretched out to the South and |
West Of a chain Of Mountains running East and |
West, separating it from the town of Mount
Desert. Bat here Gen. Taylor is known and
loved for bis humanity towards family residing |
in Mount Desert.
Ezra d. Colt, young man Of that town, be-
ing several years since accidentally ia New Or I
leans, out OF employment, was induced by love |
Of military show to Join the American army as
dragon, then quartcred at Natchtoches, under
General TAYLOR. Ills father, sickly and infrm |
man, and his mother, woman Of strong alice |
tons, though far from being wealthy, were pious
people. They looked upon a soldiers life as
one, not only Of exposure TO harlships, sickness
and death, but ono accompanied by temptation,
sin, and crime Of all descriptions. When they
learned that their only son had become soldier
in Southern cline, their grief was irrcconcila-
bic Numerous petitions and letters were sent
from the most respectable sources in this vicini.
~, stating to the War Department the sickness
Of the father, and the grief Of the mother, and
praying for the release Of her son. But all in
vain IN vain did the Hon. John Fairfield and
Shepherd Carey use their influence to have
young Colt discharged aud sent homo TO his az
fiicted parents. The mother ceased not her Of
forts for the restoration Of her beloved son; aud
in the winter season LEFT her family in the care
of her friends and started for Washington. On
her arrival there She waited on the President
and Secretary of War, and with the affection
and grief which only mother eau feel, pleaded
for an only sons release. But here again disap
pointment was her fate She was compelled to
return home without obtaining any encourage
ment, and on landing at home she found her
ncighbors Just conveying to the grave a beloved
daughter, at which augmentation Of her grief,
the afflicted woman sunk almost into despair
After the battles of the sth and 9th &c May,
1916, Mrs Colt heard that Gen. Taylor was as
remarkable for his humanity as he was for his
bravery, and therefore yeLtured 10 write the fol-
lowing letter;
Mourn DESERT, juno IL. 1916.
GENERAL TAYLoR-Dear Sr-PeImit a
distressed female to address YOU on a subject
which lies near her heart and that is to plead
with you for my son, my only son, Ezra u. Colt.
Company C., 2d dragons. Ills fathers health
is 10 poor that ! am afraid hc cannot stand il
long, aud his desire is to see our son once more.
We have tried every method to get him clear,
bur in vain.
November 9th, 1874, | went on board small
schooner bound TO Washington, distance Of
eight hundred miles leaving a beloved daughter
on the point Of death. My feelings at this tine
can be better imagined than described without
even a female to accompany me under such try
ing circumstances. We had a rough passage Of
twenty-five days. The first week out we en-.
countered a tremendous gale on Nantucket
shoals and we all expected TO he lost /; a YES. el
near US went on shore, and every man on boa,d
persisted on the next day we experienced an.
other gale and really thought that the waves
would swallow US up. The distressed situation
Of my family rushed into my mind, but still God
supported me, and saved Us from a watery grave.
On arriving at Washington called on President
Tyler He appeared very kind, and thought
that the Secretary would discharge him (my
SOM. But the Secretary refused. aud appeared
unconcerned about the matter. then felt as If
/ should never sec home again, nc i was starting
by land without friend 10 accompany me- and
under the disappointment had then met with.
When ! go, within four miles Of my home I re-
ceived the melancholy intelligence Of my dangl-
ter's death. | then felt that my last hopes were
bligtted. settled down almost into despair
My pillow witness to tears Of heartfelt grief.
But on the present Secretary's taking the place
he now fills, hope again revived; and hearing
that on the 9Th of January, the Secretary had
left it with you 10 decide. and had authorized
you to discharge him, ard hearing Of your brave
acts in defending our country, will venture on
your kndness to plead with you for IN honora-
bic discharge of our son, knowing tina, the brave
have the most sympathy. In so doing YOU will
confer the greatest earthly blessing on beNav.
cd family.
So | wait between hope and despair TO hear
the result. am. very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JANE II. GOTT.
The contents of this letter touched the old
Generals heart. He dill not cnquirc to know
whether Mrs Colt was rich lady, or Mr. Colt n
gentleman Of influence. II was enough for him
to know that il was in his power to relieve the
distressed and although he was preparing to
march against Monterey, and needed all his well
drilled soldiers, yet he immediately directed the
following reply:
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION,
Alaiamoros, July 81, 1916.
MADAM Your letter to General Taylor Of
June IL, in which you request the discharge Of
your son, private Ezra ID. Colt, Company c, 81
| dragons, was this day received. This cnse mas
brought to the Generals attention in January
last, but owing 10 the great want OF enlisted
men, il was not deemed practicable at that time
| to grant his discharge. Now, however, have
the pleasure to inform YOU that orders for hi.
discharge have been issued and will take cifcc
| Immediately. 1t mny be a satisfaction to hi,
iHthily anu iflcnuS 10 De informed that private
Colt has participated creditably in the rcccn
active service Of the army on the frontier
am, Madam, very respectfully,
Your obcdient servant,
w. W. II. BLISS,
i Asst, Ad1t. General
Mrs Jane r. Colt, Mt. Desert, Me.
On receiving this letter Mrs Colt was Sc
much overcome on reading it that she fell on III,
floor But by the application of proper resto
ratives was restored. Young Colt was in Capt
Ihompson's scouting party, who was sent b,
General Taylor up the Rio Grande was amonl
the first who encountered the enemy, but were
surrounded by more than forty times their owl
numbers, and losing one fourth of their number
in killed and wounded, the remainder were tax
en- and imprisoned at Matamoros, and subse
qneniy exchanged and soon returned home
The young man, although democrat, declares
General TAYLOR to be man ms remark able IA,