Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-27
Honnr IN the Brave,

name and fame of Havelock, the brave
warrior and successful deliverer Of the in
periled and the defencelcss; while the world
is showering chaplets on his grave, let US
INQUIRE whether there have been none Of
like spirit and temper, among ourselves. a
camp is not, indeed, ordinarily, the place to-
wards which we would look for brilliant
Developments of piety, but as the living fire
Of Christianity is made and intended to burn
anywhere in this wicked world; as, in point
Of fact, it has shed its light and warmth in
The darkest, coolest and most polluted
places, so should We mark it, rejoice over 1t,
record it, and honor God for 1t. Among
the bright features Of our Revolution was
the ardent piety Of not q few OF its heroic
defenders. Well did | know a venerable
minister Of Observation-Disclosures white locks
and earnest face are still delineated in the
"reminiscences Of my childhood, for he was
nv pastor--who summoned his people to
one of the battle fields of the revolution,
and distinguished himself for courage and
conduct in the action; then gave thanks to
God for the victory. A brother of the same,
in the flesh aud in the ministry, died IN the
service of his country, after having been
immured in a British prison-ship. Just
now, also, the biography Of HeadIy Wears,
the Christian soldier, is deIightlng the
public. We, too, have pious and excellent
men in our Army and Navy. With some OF
them | have the pleasure OF an acqusint-
ance, and there is q decision end frsnkness
in their pietY, which seem almost peculiar
to their profession. With the late General
Childs, once Colonel Of Artillery, | was ia
miliar from his bOyhood. lie was of a
revolutionary stock, the youngest son of the
late eminent DR.. Timothy Childs, of Pitts
field, and of u venerated mother in Israel
who transcribed ninety years, before her
evening sunset--years Of faith and prayer
IN srged at length with JOY in the endless
life of heaven. Thomas the future soldier,
the playmate Of Larned, the future soldier
of the Cross, so mighty, and alas so brief
in the pulpit-poasessed the natural elements
of character which fit a man for the hardest
sort of work in The strife Of life. Difficult
ties were to him motires, the energy of which
was in proportion to tho fcrmidableness OF
the difficulties. lie had no speaking elo.
auence, like Larned. lie relied upon the
strength Of q quiet, determined action -
Each presented q striking ezemplifcation Of
a certain phase Of Young American life. The
ore would ravish bis auditors with strains Of
matchless eloqucnce. The other could set
a squadron in the field with Irresistible skill
and force. It is remarkable that they both
died of yellow fever, Northern men laying
down their lives in the service of the South.
The teuderest relations of their lives, too,
were formed at the South. May there be
many such happy unions among this newly
risen generation. In youth, Childs was
graduated at West Point Academy. Thence
he was transferred to the army, in which he
distinguished himself during the war Of
1875. Vigilance and cool bravery were
marked traits, habitually developed. 1t was
at one Of the forts he was converted, while
Major commanding, for he rose steadily
through the gradations, adorning each with
inhexibile duty. That, not glory, was his
guiding star" lie did net hunt alter
donors, but they met him in the path CT
duty. lie sought the good Of his soldiers,
not treating them as military machines, but
as men having rational and immortal souls.
lie preached to them, prayed with them, dis
tribuied tracts among them, visited and con
soled the sick. At Puebla in Mexico, OF
which he was military governor, he had $500
sick in the hospital. pinirg, hons sick, and
heart.sick, dying patients, the victims OF war.
Santa Anna was laundering at the gates of
his camp, demanding a surrender, while the
bullets of the enemy were whistling around
his person. For forty days and nights he did
not take off his clothes. Now, an open and
bloody fight with all its high-strung excite
ment, was nothing to this. lie pronounced
the depression Of the scene indesc-ibabie.-
No martial music could relieve such horrors.
There could be ZONE but the dirge of the
muficd drum. Yet he drove away the
besieger in despair, and delivered his army.
Faith accomplished all. At Cerro Gordo a
bullet circled around his waist, tearing his
clothes, but not touching his flesh. lie had
prayed for protection. One Saturday at
Alexandria he looked depressed, as | was
conversing with him. | asked the cause. lie
replied II an ordered to leave for Mexico
tomorrow. | wish you would pray for my
deliyerauce from the obligation OF starting
Tomorrow" We agreed to pray. On going
to Washington, the first person he met on
the avenue was the Adjutant General of the
Army, who offered him the privilege OF de-
ferring his departure until Monday, if he
preferred it. On Sabbath he went to church,
he wrote me, and heard a sermon on qnench-
ina the Spirit. 1t is but the other day |
heard the highest encomiums pronounced
upon him by the General.in-Chlef Of the
Army, who in general orders, had spoken OF
him az the "often distinguished Gen. Childs."
After encountering numberless dangers with
Scott, Taylor, and other chiefs after a
tedious campaign in the swaUps o! Florida,
where no ~laurels were to be gathered, no fell
at length by the pestilent fever OF the South,
contracted at Tampa Bay. Besides his lovely,
mourning family, many bereaved friends
lament the brave and the good. They reflect
with pleasure. that duty, not glory, was the
polar star of his life's voyage, and that Its
end was peace. A beautiful monument rises
over his remains in the cemetery near Alex
andria, while a grateful country guards his
fame. This voluntary wreath | would cast
unon his tomb.-Nep York Observer.
yETARRENTON HOUSE.-The undersign-
w ed takes great pleasure III informing his
many friends and acquaintance both Tar and
near that he has taken sole charge OF this well