The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-08-30
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Major Fred. w. Dlatteson.

Major Fred. w. Matteson.
The recent untimely death of this youth
full officer, in csmp near Corinth, is entitled
to something more than q bare newspaper
announcement
The Republican mourns the loss of many
of her brave sons and accomplished off.
! Gers, whose lives have been offered up lin
her service and will cherish their services
and sacrifices in the cause of their c. untry,
Ia honored and affectionate though sad
.dened remembrance, long after the sounds
of war have died awaw and happy peace
freigns again. Among them Major Matte
son will be remembered a. one of the
choice, patriotic and ardent spirits who
constitute the Jewels and the riches of the
Republic. whom the call Of his country
reached in the midst of academic and
literary pursuits, meeting prompt and
cheerful response and an immediate offer
Of his services to the Governor ofhis native
State, Richard Yates, Of Illinois. ASIDE
from his personal traits, he brought with
him the requirements of a military train
Ting, gained ut an institution which has
furnished many drill officers for volunteer
regiments which have attained distinction
during the war. ...-.
He passed three years between the ages
tary school. in New Haven, Connecticut,
where in addition TO laying an excellent
foundation for thorough intellectual cul-
ture and high attainment in maturer years,
he acquired the military knowledge and
discipline which fitted him for command,
and entitled him to commission at time
when actual war demanded accomplished
| leaders as we'll as brave men.
At the age of eighteen. in the year 1857,
we think, he went TO Europe for purposes
Of travel aud study. While there, engaged
| in making the tour Of the continent, he
wrote q series of letters, which appeared
in the columns Of one of the Chicago pa
.pers, and in this journal, embodying the
results Of his observations, and furnishing
in entertaining form much valuable infor-
| nation. Those letters ut the time attract
ed much attention, and were read with
interest by all who were SO fortunate As TO
meet with them IN the papers named
They were characterized by elegance of
rhetoric and raciness and piquancy Of
and philosophic thought and observation
very rare in one so youg While lively
| and entertaining. they were not the lucu-
brations Of a superficial gossip. and in no
instance, by indulgence in coarse leyity or
brainless frivolity. did they depart from
! the true dignity, or sink below the level
| of poliseed literary culture and manly
| thought.
After finishing his travels, Major MAT
TEsoS pursued his studies in Europe for
three years, dividing his time between
Geneva, iieidelburg and Rome; returning
TO the United States in the latter part Of
1860 enriched by the results of his obser
vations and familiarity with books, with
the enlarged experience and CO nprehen.
sive views, to complete his Education
where every Americas should complete
| it, on American soil. and amid the assoca-
lions and Influences Of American institu
tions He at once entered Yale College
at New Haven, being admitted. we think,
| te the Junior class He had commenced
his Senior year there, when the urgent
call for 50O,OOO men reused the entire
nation, and the colleges OF the land fur
nished proof that. upon the quiet and
secluded walks of universities no damps
were shed s,ihing patriotism and checking
military araor, bu, tha, among the d-vo-
tees of the Mu,es giowed rhe fires Of ar
dent devotion to country. aud that. with
ioyfu alacrity, the scholar could put of
his robes 10 put on the harness of the
soldier. Major MArrxsoS was one Of those
who promptly iorsook books, and class.
and class hOnors, and hastened to the
West where. as We have stated. he receiv-
ed his commission As an officer from the
Governor of Illinois. lie was appointed
Major OF the Yates Sharp Shooters, an indie.
pendent battalion of six companies -
Through Is indctatyabIe efforts the orca-
AVIATION was completed, and he WAS In
command almost constantly from the
time of their going Tito active service
I he ,<.I ~
] assigned TO Gen. Pope's command, at L.
land No. 10, and aherward at Coriath
Bitter Gen Popcs transfer TO Virginia,
Major Matteson was assigned to General
! ROsencrans division AT Corinth He won
from both Geserals the tribute of tact
and bravery. each discerning in HIM one
OF the most deserving and romising off,
GERS in the army Ills command was con-
tinuSlly in the advance AS skirmishers
The nature OF their services demanded
resolute aud unrsmitting activity, and
their work was arduous aud fatiuing-
Probably the SAW more hard work on
account Of the peculiar duties to which
they were assigned than any others. But
the Major and his men shrunk from no
d1ty, aud Stunned no exposure. At one
time they were located in a swamp: with
out tents or change Of clothes, for two
weeks. 1t Was there. il is supposed. that
Major Matteson contracted the disease
which terminated his life. He died at
Clear Creek. five miles south of Coiinth,
| August Sth. after an illness. with typhoid
fever, OF seventeen days. lamented by his
command and by the army when he died.
a. he had been esteemed and trusted
when alive, one of the costly victims vol
unfairly sacrificed on the altar Of country
in this deplorable war, which, with all its
Hnown and unknown, its told and untold
agonies aud woes, is justly chargable to the
account of the dark bano Of conspirators
who, causelessly and with unutterable
guilt, sought to rend the Republic in