, 1863-06-12
The History Of q Danish Officer

The History Of a Danish Officer
in our Army.
The Port Hudson correspondent Of the N.
+. Times gives the following interesting ac-
count ola Danish officer In Gen. Banks army,
who WAS killed by rebel pickcts during the
operations near Port Hudson:
On arriving at Gen. shcrnan's, was shock
ed beyond measure, on inquiring for my
friend, Major Haffkill, to learn that he had
died, only half an hour ago, from rife Slot.
Gen. Banks and staff went into the hospital
close hy, to take a last look at him, and as I
stood orer his fnanfmate form, I aaW him
life.
The very morning on which I saw him,
Major Hatfkili was coming from Springfield
Landing to join Gen. Banks headquarters;
but, unfortunately mistaking his road, passed,
between the headquarters, OF Gems. Augur
He was attended By nobody but his hithfu1
and nov disconsolate aid, Cory. Thomas Nj
gent, from whom I CLEAN the record Of the
Last few houre Of the gallant Major.
As soon rs he came upon the pickets, he
drew LIS sword, gal1oped up to tie rebel sol
throwing down his gun. Four others then
appeared among the bushes, and all deliba-
rale]y fired, one shot penetrating the Majors
lungs, and another hitting his horse In the
liz
four mcn-exclaimed, tsThe rascI has shot
me after surrendering." The rebels, after fir
ing, 13d all run away. Corp. Nngent sup
ported the bleeding and fainting form Of the
Major Ms long as he could, on his horse, and
then got him into Il mule wagon, with en-
ly to be at hand, and had him Immediately
conveyed to Gen. shcEman's hospital
While there Corporal Nugent, having heard
from the surgeon that the wound was morta1,
and that be could not survive more than an
hour Or two, asked him If there Was anything
he i,hsd to sa{ The 6; ada ahinng
ness message to his superior officer, Major
Houston. When reluctantly forced to say
that lie alluded to matters Of private nature,
Us Lis wound was mortal, Corporal Nugent
says llc turned to him look Of the IN ost pain
full significance and asked deliberately i he
meant be WAS going to die. When sadly in
fornu that it was 10, "Then, Nngent,' said
the brave man, II die like a gentleman aud a
soldier"
Major A. Hafkill pTas Danish nob1eman, a
polished and highly educated officer who had
never been out of military service since his
bo}hood-holdfng the position Of aid-de-
caup 10 the king Of Denmark, aud possess
ing honorary badges and titles signed by his
Majesty, Of which the outer world knew moth
ing, hut which the Major felt proud Of making
knt.x among his Intimate friends:
When this war broke out MAJOR d1ukl IN
the true spirit Of ehiyalry, and conscious Of
his knowledge and profession, obtained per
mission TO come here and distinguish himself,
with the rroTiso from his Danish Majesty
(which have myself seen) that whenever he
Wished to rcturn to his nativc land his former
position and ,honors were open to him.
:, lie originally came out IN the humble posi-
tion q sssis1ant.engineer under Gen. Banks,
| never oooo'anE that his military talents and
experience "on'd 1nsurc him speedy promo
ton as soon Is he could acquire some little
knowledge ; OF our IT, language, Of which he then
IN the tortifcations Of Baton Rouge, which
ore pronounced By all Judges the very finest
| in tie country, and which, It is well known
are due mainly to the scientific skill Of Major
Hafrkiil, who planned and sups1;tntsnded I; m them @
NOTED to the rank Of Mnjor Of the Third Ma.
i've Guards {eolored)-a regiment against
which he had no prejudice, for he often told
nc that, with such discipline as he. could
count upon in our colored regiments. he ex
I'ec'ed to make better troops Of them than
We cou1d ever form out Of white men without
| tua: lending 6oldferiv Qualification