Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-08-27
CAMP BEE, Aug. Cd, 1861.
OAMT Ohn, 1AuS' -HN13 1o0@'
Mrs. GRAVES My dear madam, would have

MRS. ORAVES: My uedr Inauitlil, l Woulu uo'o
written to you the day your dear boys remains
were sent to Staunton, but as Leut. Harman
said he would see you on his arrival at .aDnton,
preferred waiting till tie first pangs of your
grief had some what abated Tie suddenness
and cause Of poor Mags death have been ex-
planned to yoa, no doubt, by Lieut.. HarmaD.
Five inmates before he was discovered to be
dead he was playing sportively with some of
his companions near our tents. He ran away
from them and dropped down suddenly in the
shade of q large tree near by ia such a manner
as to attract no especial notice--those who saw
him supposiDg he had simply thrown himself
upon the ground to rest, or to indulge in some
| playful prank on his com aniOns. a few mo-
nents afterwards one Of the men in passing dis
covered that be was motiopless, and called to
me several others to come to him. | imme.
diately went over to where he was and found
that lie was de d. We were all astoBished at
the discovery, and sent for physician to ascer-
tain the cause of his DEATH who, on examination,
expressed the opinion tha. death was caused by
the rupture of blood vessel in the brain, and
was instaD DtaneOuS.
Mag. was good and noble 10y. The whole
company were deeply attached to him. He was
so kind in his disposition that he never had 6
difficulty with any one. He performed his duty
like man, and always cheerfully. He was {
brave boy, tor the day of thst terrible battle hs
never taltered for 3 moment. My attention wa.
frequently attracted by his activity when olde
and much stouter men were giving out, and lyine
down from exhaustion by their guns. That day
when cannon balls and bursting bombs flew
) aronnd our heads as thick as hail, Mag. was al
ways at his post
lnever met him, if it was twenty times day
that he did not have something pleasant to sa1
I to me. He was always gay and lively, and font
9 Of innocent tnn. Frequently he would arnus
0 himself by "quizzng' me with some remark a
: we met. Poor fellow, we miss his cheerful fac
so much Just the day before he died he aske,
me when ] could let him go home on a visit II
i you. told him he might go early in Septem
0 Der, that by that time all the married men vii
n have been at home to see their wives. He re.
:, piled, "Plague take these married men--I lo9
: my mother as much as they do their wives, ant
ought to go home as well as they" Then paus
4: ing moment, he continued, II reckon it's al
q right, for may be will have wife too one Q
+ these days. and | expect would like to go ant
a see her" laughed at his remark, ard that i
. the last conversation | remember have at
. with bin. He often spoke in this playful man
j ner to me, and frequently mentioned your nam
with the deepest affection. We all sympathiz
!. with you in your sorrow The enclosed reso u
n tons of the company express truly our feelings
: Mag. is lie only member of this company VIII
has died since its organic alton in Nov, 1859, an
we mourn his loss not only as companion il
! arms, bat as younger brother
Sincerely your friend,
Il JOHN D. IMBODEN