Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-08-01
MOrtester @aiIp Spp
THE DAILY spy.


In the brief notice Of the death of this es-
Unable young man, son Of Deacon John Nc
CleNan of Grafton, contained in the Spy of
the 18th inst, no mention is made of the cir
cumstances attending that sad event, for the
reason tia. they were not then known to his
friends. We have since ascertained from the
testimony of eye-witnesses that he came to
his end in the following manner
On the night Of July Z the 5lst regiment
was marching on the road leading along the
banks of the Chesapeake canal, to Mar, land
Heights. When opposite Harper's Ferry the
men were ordered to halt and rest They sat
down with their equipments all on near the
brink of the precipice overlooking the canal,
which at this point was a perpendicular bank
wall, twenty feet or more from the water, the
depth of water being about nine feet. After
pause of about an hour, during which our
lamented young friend, with many others, be-
ing overcome with fatigue, fell asleep. The
order was given to march. Getting up sud.
denly, and not being able, on account of the
darkness OF the night, to see how near he was
to the edge of the embankment, he made
misstep, fell over into the canal, and was
drowned. This occurred about one o'clock
seemed impossible. One or two were about
to make the attempt, but so dark and rainy
was the night, and SO high the embankment,
that twas thought by the officers that plunge
from II would prove fatal to any person at
tempting to rescue him. After daylight the
same morning small party returned to the
place, and after several hours search, sue
ceeded in finding his body, which was imme-
diately sent to his friends in Grafton. a'he
funeral services were attended on the follow
ing Sabbath, at the Baptist church, in the
presence of Il vast congregation of sympathz-
ing friends. His pastor, Rev. G. Robbins,
preached very solemn and impressive ser
mon, from the text, "Be still, and know that
| am God" psalms, 46, l0) The process
sion to the church and from thence to the
cemetery was escorted by the entire fire de-
partment of the town, and embraced besides
the large circle Of relatives, the present and
past members of the board of selectmen, the
clergy, and large body of citizens.
His death at the early age of % years adds
another to the long list Of brave, self-Sacriic-
ing, Christian young men who have fallen
victims to this terrible war. And it would be
difficult to mention one exhibiting lottier
patriotism, or a higher degree of moral and
religious excellence, than he did. Distin
guished from childhood by remarkable CON
scientiousness, guileless integrity, and great
energy Of character, by deep flial affection
and strong attachment to home and kindred,
no carried thpSe qualities will. him when he
entered the army; and from the day of his
enlistment till the hour of his death, he exhib
tied rare combination of soldierly, humane,
and Christian elements of character. As
son, as brother as a teacher in the dis
trct and Sabbath schools, as a church-mem-
Der, as personal friend, as an instructor Of
the poor contrabands Of North Carolina, and
as young man of great prospective useful
ness in the town, he adorned and blessed
every relation in which lie stood and secured
the respect, the confidence, the love of all
who knew him. Those who knew him best,
loved him most. Not only was he the light
and Joy of his fathers beautiful home, but he
was equally favoritc among his comrades in
arms. Lieut. Winslow, of Co. L, in writing
the particulars of his death to his friends,
says: " This is sad and painful duty to per-
form, to notify the friends of the death of one
SO young and full OF promise cut down, with
out moments warning, near the time.
too, when he anticipated going home and be-
ing released from his duties as a soldier. 1t
is sad indeed, and gloom is again spread
over our company. This is the seventh time
that have been called upon to notify
friends of the deaths of members of our com
pany since we entered into the service. And
this seems the most sad and painful of them
all. Though it seems blind and unaccounta-
BILE to us, yet it is the working of an all wise
providence. 1t is heavy blow upon us as Il
company, and still more dreadful calamity
and bereavement to his family and friends.
Corporal Mcclellan was a good soldier;
consistent christian, a true friend; always
ready to perform any duty which was put up
on him as soldier. As a christian, / never
heard him utter one word derogatOry to his
profession, never saw him in the least degree
angry, or knew him to utter an unkind word
to any person. l believe him to be the most
exemplary person, most true to his profession
that have ever known. 1t must be great
comfort to his friends in this bereavement to
know that he had always done his duty well,
and endeavored to do good to all about him.
He has gone and left us. We mourn his loss
sincerely as a company and n regiment" The
same testimony, substantially, has been given
by Col. Sprague, Capts. Wheeler and Wood
and other members of the regiment.
To be good, and to do good, was the high
est aim, the noblest ambition of our beloved
friend. His life was short, but crowded with
usefulness. His death was affective, but full
of hope. Farewell, dear friend, a short fare
well, till we shall meet again in heaven.
fife be not in length of days
In silvered locks and furrowed brow,
But living to the SaviOur's praise.
How few have lived so long as thou!"
The following touching lines were sent by
young Mcclellan to his friends at home in
his last letter, which reached them but day
or two before his death. They seem almost
prophetic of his own coming:
WAITING FOR OUR SOLDIERS.
BY the blue Potomac's waters,
By the Rappahannock's line,
By the sunny southern rivers,
Meath the holly and the pine,
Falling in the shock of battle
Wounded, in their blood they lie-
Pining with the dark malaria =
So our youthful patriots die.
In the city, in the village,
nthe hamlet far away,
Sit the mothers, watching, waiting
For their soldierb boys o day
They are coming; daily coming
One by one and score by score;
In their leaden castings folded,
Underneath the flag they bore.
Thinks the mother weeping, waiting,
And eXpeetant all the day
How his regiment summoned,
How her soldier went away:
With his bayonct cleaning,
With his knapsack on his back,
With his blanket strapped and folded,
- And his home-fled hayersack
Thinking of the courage swelling
In his eye and in his heart;
Though manly tear was yelling
When he kissed her to depart.
Thinking of his precious letters
Written by the camp-fre'S glow.
Rich in love of home and country,
And OF her who babe her 30.
Counting now the tagging moments