The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-02-13
The Late Col. Lowe, OF tue nth
Ohio Letter OF (aencfal Cor.


The following is an extract from letter
from Gen. Cox, commander Of the Kanawha
division Of the army in Western Virginia.
on the military character and services Of the
lamented Colonel John W. Lowe, of tho 18th
Ohio Regiment, whS fell, shot through the
head, at tht head Of his regiment, at the
battl: Of Carnifak Ferry;
GAuLrY BRIDGE, Nov. 10. 1861.
s@s; frat saw Col. John w. Lowe,
at Columbus, during the early days of tho
war when the first regiments were gather
ing in Ohio. He came az Captain OF com
lpNny, and was quartered for the night III
the Senate Chamber. | well remember be-
ing struck with his clear, decisive manner,
a. he arranged his men in the aisle aud lob
bics of the Hall, and gave them his orders
~ to their behavior for the night. The
| Capitol was rcsounding with the din of
drums a,id fifes, and amid tho fcverish ex-
citemcnt Of tho crowds, who seemed to feel
that they were passing through a terrible
dream, rather than the opening scenes of a
civil war, Capt. loves cool, determined and
practical manner was conspicuous.
was not surprised when learned ho had
been elected Colonel of the 18th Ohio, upon
it's organization. The personal chnracteris-
tics have mentioned were so marked that
thS companies of the regiment seemed to
look naturally to him az man to lead them
Ny acquaintance with him at Camp Don
nison was elight, but ] saw enough Of hun
to make me admire the conscientious pro-
hity aud uprightncss of the man. fully he
licvc that military glory had little to do with
his motive in entering the army, that he ac-
ted from profound conviction that it was
his duty 10 devote his labor, and his life, if
need be, to the defense of the Constitution
and the Federal Union.
Early in July when the Kanawha oxpcdi-
ton was organized, his regiment was at
tached to my command, and my acquaintance
with him necessarily become moro intimate.
My respect for his character as a man. and
my confidence in his courage as "A soldier
were not diminished by the intimacy.
found that caution was an element of
his mind which modified his courageous de-
afro for brillianCy of action. and that with a
full appreciation Of the disadvantages under
which new and undisciplined troops must
act, he preferred and indeed regarded it a
conscientious duty, to act with a deliberate
prudence which would risk as little AZ pos.
siblc, for mere show or dash. Some who
could not understand how his quality was
lcOnsistant with personal bravery, were in
clinod at one time, to call his courage as an
officer in question, and he suffered an a
mount of detracton and unjust abuse in con-
sequence, which cmbittered the latter part
of hiR life. Those who had the best oppor-
tunities of Judging. and who were with him
under fire, are unanimous in testiiying that
he seemed wholly unconscious Of personal
danger, and careful only for the lives Of the
men undcr his command Time would have
corrected the slahder, had he lived, but the
manner of his death, leading his troops up
to the cannon's mouth gave speedy and
most conclusive answer to all such mputa-
tons.
! When the time comcs for calm review
Of the events of this war, Colonel Lowe will
he remembered, and truly estimated, az the
pure citizen, patriot and brave soldier, who
was among the first to sacrifice homo and
family, and life itself, for the Hako of his
country and its laws.
j. d. cox.