The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-02-22
Funeral of Col. VIM. Erwin.

by his relatives to this city on thursday,
and on Friday buried with all the honors
Of war, under the auspices of Col Cush-
mans Regiment at the family burying
ground of the Goodell and Woodruff fami-
lies near Buffalo Rock, some three miles
west of this city. His body was brought
to this city from Cairo under the direction
of his brother-in-law, Hon. R E. GooDLLL
Of Joliet
The body arrived on Thursday after
noon by . special train from Joliet, accom-
panied by q large escort of leading citizens
of that place and military band ltwas
met at the depot at Ottawa by dstach-
ment of Col Cushman's regiment, and
conveyed to the Supreme Court room,
where it lay in state until 10 o'clock yes
serday morning, being visited by a con-
slant stream of citizens during the time.
At 10 o'clock the funeral ceremonies COM
menced at the First Congregational Chuch
Of which he was still a member, the servi-
ces being conducted by the Pastor, assist
ed by the Rev. Mr. KIDD, of Joliet.
From the Church the immense process
sion of citizens, led by the SD Regiment,
moved to the family cemetry as above
stated, where the body was inferred in
the usual military form.
Col E. was of Irish parentage, but born,
we believe, in the vicinity of Albany, New
York. When still young, he came With
his parents to Illinois; and in..lS46, when
the war with Mexico broke out, he joined
. volunteer company in Chicago, under
Capt Mower, Mr. Erwin having been
elected first Lieutenant The Company
was attached to Col. Hardin's regiment
In Texas Col. (then Lieut. E. was detach
ed from his company by Col Hardin and
appointed, first commissary and after
wards quartermaster of the regiment, in
which position he served with marked
ability and efficiency until the regiment
was mustered out of the service. At the
battle of Buena Vista, the Captain of his
company being indisposed or for some
other reason absent from his post, the
company called upon Col E., then over
head and ears in quartz, m .ster bus ness,
to leave his post and lead them into bat
t!e, which he did with cheerful aIacrity,
the writer of this, being Q. n. Ser. cant,
humbly attempting to Fl | his place in that
depart hent He pant eli ated in 10th
charges made by Col Hardin's regiment
In that battle, and in the last disastrous
charge, when all our men had fled in dis
may be.oie the Mexican lane. rs, was, with
Col Hard'n n, Col Wallace, Col Richard
son, and few other officers, the last to
leave the field in the wake of our retreat
ing soldiers.
After the return from Mexico in 1917,
Col T. settled at Ottawa, vile e he mar
riei the sist of the Hon. r. f. Goodell,
now of Joliet, and entered into business
In i>49 he went to California, returned in
1853, again resided several years at and
near Ottawa, and then moved to Joliet,
where he was employed in the Rail Road
Office. When the call was II ade for volun-
tiers in April last to defend the nations
honor and the capitol, his military ardour
was aroused, and soon as his business re-
lations pc mitted, proceeded to organize a
volunteer company, but got In day too
late TO be accepted among the months
men. A few weeks afteru ards, however,
when the ten regime nts were called for
his company Immediately joined the regi
ment for the Sd Congressional District
When the regiment was formed, we be
lieve the Co ore was 6rst of; red him:
but bein modest rs he was brave, he p e.
ferred the second position, to which he
W. ected without opposition. We have
neither the tine nor the means to trace
the movements of the regiment after it
left Joliet, but from its first entry into
Missouri it was in active service, and in
the way of scouting, &c, was ever ready
and efficient, enduring cheerfuly all ! 9
dangers and hardshps of such service
Finally, at the battle of Fredericktown,
the boys had a fair opportunity to show
their pl' c<. and whatver may be the
merit due to others, it has never been
denied that the heaviest part of that bat
tie was fought and won by the Goth ILL., |
nois, and more in mediateIy bv he right
wing. led on by Col Erwin. His GOODNESS
and judgment on that occasion was espe-
cially commended both by Col Marsll and
the commanding officer of the expedition,
the gallant Col Plummer. Of his bearing
on the bloody field at Fort Donelson, and
the manner of his death, we have no par
ticulars, but know from his antecedents |
that they were all that was heroic and
soldierly.
Sad and terrible are the ravages of war
The poet may sing, " 1t is swe to die for
ones countrs, nd
Happy the brave whs sink to rest,
With I'll their country's honors blest ~
But when it comes home to ones loved
and intimate friends-to ones very fami-
"; when devoted wife and loving chill
dren are bereft of an idolized husband
parent lofty sentimentality are but poor
consolation. To Him alone, "who tenn
pereth the wind to the shorn lamb" can
the stricken soul look for solace and sup
port in seasons such as this.
Coming to their Senses.
Yesterdays telegraph dispatches bring
frem Fort Donelson the extraordinary ru-
NOR that Gov. Harris, of Tennessee, has
called special session of the Legislature
to take action to bring the State back into