The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-06-25

| him an educated man; and those who have .
| right to judge, affirm that his official reports
and his correspondence were rarely excelIed
| In perspicuity and accuracy, by any of ony
public men. He never spent a day in mill
tary school, and yet he was thoroughly yersed
in the art of war. He knew his own strenath
and was confident In II. and knew how ~
use it. He quietly formed his own plans. and
depending upon himself, he entered upon their
performance, and men knew little of them tin
their completion announced them.
de was man OF untiring energy. During
the latter years OF his life. he maintained an al
most ceaseless struggle with disease, and yet
MS record Is what could be expected only of
man of iron frame and perfect health
While in the army he often issued his orders
from that sick bed to lead bis soldiers. When
ms friends and superior officers urged him to
suspend his active labors, be remained at his
post, performing the duties of camp and field.
when he seemed more properly subject for
the surgeons care. The siege of Yorktown.
the battles Of Williamsburg aud of Fair Oaks,
ana the twenty-five days. duty along that fatal
Mhite Oak Swamp, attest the energy of his
character. The world knows already how, at
Williamsburg, lie outstripped the ablest gem
erals OF the army, and with bis little brigade,
pressed on, through the binding storm and
sea oil mud, to the front, where weary troops
we're giving way, and how, atthe last, the only
moment TO save the nearly exhausted army, to
the music OF the glorious ain of the Union.
he hurled his brave band upon the foe, and
snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. The
world knows, for the highest military author
ities have told 1t, how, at Far Oaks he led
his small but firm band of twenty-five hum
dred men through the fiightened, flying crowd
OF defeated Federal troops, till he reached the
enemy, and then stood with that little band,
firm as rock, till ten thoussnd sent against
hlm, fed in total defeat. In these, as well as
lnsother engagements, he receFed the prompt
ly given compliments of Nc Cla!an, and Heint-
zelman, and kearney, and Hooker. His whole
military career attests the gret resources, the
strength of will. andthe power of execution,
which were never measuredby what other
men could do
General Berry was faithful y the trust COM
mitted to him by his county. He held the
performance of his duty a mos sacred obliga-
ton. He never refused to doall his duty de-
manded, even those details Miich are some
times felt to be irksome or rqulsivc. While
other officers sought the comt6ts and luxnries
of the metropolis, from the Day he left the
State with his regiment, till thu last battle was
fought, he shared the camp, he watch, the
painful march, the deadly struggle, with his
men. His life was a sacrifceto his fidelity.
10 those who knew him little,h his conduct in
the battle in which he lost bis lie may appear
like rashness. But he would MT commit to
another what he felt could be bone better by
himself His soldiers fought Immediately un-
der his eye aud by his side. b! his personal
presence he held his men to thef position. In
his last battle this practice wasnot changed.
lie had most important orda to be deliv-
cred, the execution of which miht decide the
fortunes of the day. He wouldhot commit il
to another, but would bear it hnself; and so,
true to his trust, he followed where he be-
lieved his duty led him, though he met death
in that path.
He was leader and favorite ID the political
party that opposed the Administration that
governed the country, at the beginning of the
war; but when he had girded on his sword in
his country's canse, he buried III party pref
udice and sectional ties, and plitical pref
erences, and knew his country, Ind only his
country. He never indulged .he caviling
spirit, which swayed smaller and weaker
minds. No man more heartily tan he, con-
demned that political bitterness yhich weak
ened the hands Of the friends oftk Union, and
seemed to have more sympathy With foes than
friends. He loved the flag Of lis country.
He followed, with all who loved il wherever it
led. He fought beneath it, and tlnugh it were
tattcred and rent by the storms of a hundred
battles, he clung to it still = clunf to it unto
death. We'll may ye wrap It's gkrious stars
and stripes around his lifeless form! He loved
1t In life, let it be his shroud in dath, and let
the precious memory OF his fidelitybe as i'm
mortal as the stars that are emblapned there
His brave gentle nature made him the OBJ
ject not only sof admiration, but ol the warm
affections OF his associates In arms His SOL
diers loved him and therefore followed unhes-
itatingly wherever he led, and st&od in their
position so long as his commandint form was
with them. They gave most toching evil
dence of their love when he fell General
Hooker, the commander of the amy. seeing
his dead body on the field, burst alto tears.
and kneeling by its side kissed the cold fore
head. exclaiming, 20 God! why WIS this to
happen to you, Berry! Why was tie man on
whom relied so much to be taken away in
this manner" While his body was on its sad
way from the battle field, 1t passed, portion
of the Fourth Maine Regiment, - General
Berry's first command. When his old soldiers
learned that the body of their loved ctnmand-
er was passing, they asked that it might be laid
down, and each of the brave and yar-worn
veterans came forward, kissed the brow of the
man they loved and had first followed into
battle, and then silently and tearhlly took
their places in the ranks.
Whatever impe rfections may havs marked
his life, whatever weakness may hare been In
bis nature, over which an enemy miaht boast,
OF this no man can deny him he died ,cithout
the stain of co,cdrdice upon him. Hi need of
praise here is hll, and without bresh OF re-
proach upau hik valor h;s ,yort, &. IL