Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-07-18
w.;tten for the Lamoille Newsdealer.
heath Of Lieut.. Samuel Sumner, Jr.


1iautenant Samuel Sumner, who was killed in
~. late hattie before Richmond, at place called
S,yare's Station, ION Sunday evening, June 29th,
had in the course of a three years residence at
H., nlace, become so much endeared to the citi-
..Ds here that his loss will be most widely and
severely felt
twill be remembered by most of those who
.,od this article, that Lieut.. Sumner, when he
Unlisted, had partially completed his professional
.,rdies with his uncle, Mr.. Child, of this place,
and would doubtless before this, had he not been
called elsewhere, have been prepared to enter
rnou the practice of the law. But it was order
ID otherwise among the first to respond to the
rrgept appeal for men, he, of all those who have
cone from this vicinity, is among the the first if
he is not the first who has has been called to Of
fer himself up on the altar of his country.
At the time he was killed he was in command
Of the company in which he was Lieutenant
Capt. Benton being in command of the left wing
of the regiment.
The enemy were pressing heavily ON our rear
at this point, and Smiths division to which the
Vermont Brigade is attached, was sent to drive
them back, which they did most handsomely
though with considerable loss. 1t was in this at
tack that Lieut.. Sumner was killed.
Thus in the morning of life, while yet looking
forward with earnest and hopeful expectation to
the future, far out on the field of battle, away
from the kind care of friends, passed from time
to eternity, the dutiful SON the affectonate broth
er. the true and faithful friend. 1t were vain to
speak of his many virtues, for they were too well
known to need mention. Yet it would be paying
too little respect to the remembrance of the
dead, as well as too little Difference to the feel.
ngs of the living who monrn his loss, not to al
ude to the generous impulses of his nature
which, while they won the confidence and afiec-
ton of all with whom he associated, prompted
him to offer his services in behalf of that cause
for which he so nobly and heroically laid down
his life.
To all who knew him, his sudden death will be
the occasion of sad and aflectionate remem-
brance while to his more intimate friends,-to
his aged parents, his brothers and sisters, whose
immediate pride and joy he was,-his loss will,
indeed be irreparabe. But the poignancy Of the
griefwhich pervades not only the afflicted family,
but the entire community, is mellowed by the re-
Election that he died standing up manfully in de-
fence of the cause which he, in common with us
all, held so sacred and dear We are taught by
Him who spake as never man spake, that greater
love hath no man than this, that he lay down his
life for his friends but what shall say CT that
love which prompts man to offer himself a viii.
ling sacrifice not only for his friends, but also for
the stranger not only to relieve the distress OF
particular objects of affection, but to succOr the
wants and better the condition Of all his COun
tymen and as the imagination goes back to
that holy Sabbath evening, and fingers for a mo-
ment FER that field, which, despite the sancty Of
the day, was being crimsoncd with the blood Of
slaughtered men, in the midst of the dreadful car
mage, we see this gallant youth at the head of his
command, marching steadily and triumphantly
on to the glorious death, which was to place hi.
name high above the reach of malice or detrac
ton.
In letter to the sorrowing parents of the de
ceased, Capt. Benton thus speaks of him: Sam
ucl was in command of the company, and led il
to the charge nobly. He fell early in tbs fight
pierced through the heart. He died with but {
single groan, at the head of the company, his
last words being of cheer and encouragement tC
his men, o