The Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1861-1862, 1862-01-11
Death of n Soldier.

10 the Eltt0r OF the Portage Sentinel:
.. Perhaps it would be interesting to many Of
your readers to peruse a short sketch of the
death and funeral of Henry Laudenslager, a
young man, of Suffield township who enlisted
for the war, some five months ago. in the 5th
Virginia Regiment, under Capt. L. A. Phelps
He died at Parkersburg, Va, on the 9th Of
December 1861, after an illness of three
weeks-his disease being typhoid fever. His
remains were sent by Capt. Phelps to Atwat.
t,r Station in charge of Sergeant Wolfe, al
which place he arrived on the evening of the
31st of December, where some of his friends
took charge of the corpse and conveyed it tc
the residence of his father in Sufield. Or
January 1st, (New Years day,) the funera
took place, and an immense number of peo.
pie assembled at Mr. Laudenslager's house al
10 O'Clock, A. NJ. Prayer was offered by Rev
George Weaver, of the German Reformed
church, after which the corpse was removed
out of the house into the yard The coffir
was then opened. The Lake Rife Company
being present, took their position on the north
side of the coffin, and paraded some, com.
manded by Capt. Daugherty. The Rife
Company led off into the road next the
males followed in double file past the corpse
thon the females, SO that they all had fail
opportunity to see the corpse, which looked
as natural as when living. The procession
then started for the cemetery at the centre Of
Sufisld, in the following order: The military
company, under Capt. Daugherty, marched in
ranks four deep, with music suited to the oc-
.casion next Rev. Mr.. Weaver; next the
corpse, drawn by two horses, with military
squads on each side of the hearse next came
the teams numbering one hundred and one
next those who went on foot, marched OIL
each side Of the teams very irregular, from
one to ten deep. The procession was over
one mile long.
Arriving at the cemetery, the Lake Rifles
took their position on the south side of the
grave, the coffin was lowered, few verses
wore sung, and prayer offered by Rev. Mr..
Weaver. The grave being filled up, the Ri
ffe Company fired three times over it, after
which the people assembled at the east side
of the Meeting House, in the yard, Gas the
congregation was too large to assemble in the
house, and the weather being very pleasant
Rev. George Weaver took the stand, and
preached a very able sermon in the German
language, from the text recorded in Revela-
tions, 81 chapter, and the latter part of the
1O.h verse; which reads as follows "Be thou
faithful uuto death, and will give thee a
crown of life.'' 1st, he laid parable of the
christianity 2l, of the fathfulness and bra
worry of a soldier. The text was very ably
. handled Next Rev. Mr.. Decker took the
stand, and preached sermon in the English
language, from the text recorded in Revela-
tions, 81 chapter and goth verse, which is as
follows: "Behold | stand at the door and
knox; if any man hear my voice, and open
the door, l will come in to him, and sup with
him, and he with me-" After the preaching
WIS over, the procession returned to Mr..
'Laudenslager's residence, where they partook
of some refreshments. The congregation
numbered from 1900 to 1,5Oo-some thought
i 1000 but think from 1900 to ], 500 would
be correct estimate.
The friends in the first place tender their
thanks to Capt. Phelps for sending the body
of the deceased home. He stated in letter
which he sent with the corpse, that in the
death of Henry Laudenslager, he had lost q
good and faithful soldier. They also tender
their thanks to the Lake Rifle Company for
their attendance at the funeral, and partaking
in the exercises, and in assisting to bury the
deceased with the honors Of war.
I The deceased has left wife and ty6 chill
dren, and also father and mother, sister and
two brothers to meurn his loss have made
the above sketch at the solicitation Of the
friencs of tho deceased
Portage County Democrat and Stark Coun-
HgD.mocrat are requested to copy.
WILLIAM PAULUs.
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