The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-06-12
Shall they Help Us2

The correspondent Of the Boston Adverti
ser. at Now Orleans sends touching nc
count Of the devotion Of the blacks to the
National cause as shown in the circumstance
attending the murder Of Capt. Dwight. Id
says:
Immediately after the late Capt. Howard
Dwight fell by the hands Of guerrillas his body
was taken to New Orleans, and borne to m
former residence there, to await the depart
urc of steamer which should transport II
to his homo in Massachusetts.-Ag guard o.
men detailed the house both day and night.
Tho brother and immediate friends OF the
deceased wrapped the coffin in tho American
Tag, and covered it with flowers. These ar
rangemcnts being concluded, they LETT the
APARTMENT and retired for tho night. When
the next morning the afflicted brother entered
Their again, scene presented itself whicn
showed that there were others besides tne
immediate friends who sought to pay theii
tribute Of respect to the memoryof this brave
son Of New England.
Members of tho "Union Association OIL
Colored Women" had visited the room early
in the morning. They had brought white
linen with which they had covered the fur.
niture Of the room, and upon which they had
sewed green leaves. They had filled tho room,
and covered the coffin with tho freshest and
sweetest Of flowers, made into wreaths and
bouquets. They had made the scene one up.
on which the eye rested with delight. Each
morning this labor Of love was repeated.
Ecah morning the faded flowers Of the previ'
Gus day were removed and those OF fresh
beauty and fragrance took their place.
Before Lieut.. Dwight left New Orleans
no attempted to express his thanks to thos'
who had shown such tender care for hin
whom no mourned. He said to ono OF theil
number, al want to thank you, but know
not how to express my thanks" "You owt
us no thanks" was the reply; "who arc your
friends, il wo are not? All We ask OF you is
that when you 90 home. you will tell thu
northern people ho,o zoe feel, and say to then
that we want our husbands and our sons to bt
allowed to fight in this war"
Capt. Dwight was captured by three quo
rillas while bearing dispatches to his brother
Gen. Dwight, and Immediately murdered
lie was the son Of William Dwight, Esq.
of Boston, Treasurer Of tho manufacturing
Corporations in this city. Of four sons gon'
TO the war two have been returned to THU
bercavcd family. sleeping the sleep Of thu
"unreturning brave"
Thus tho nation has poured its hoardct
treasures into tho lap Of treason in dcfenc'
Of its life. Thus have met glorious death
thousands Of bravo men to secure for us ant
ours the heritage left us by our fathers. Lei
those lives not DO wasted, nor their blood
DO merely spilled upon the ground; but
let these sacrifices cement still stronger ant
stronger our love for those principles which
form the sure foundation Tor free Republic
Justice, Liberty and Equality to all men
We cannot close this brief article better thar
by adding tho elegant words Of tho gallan
Fremont:
"Go to the graves Of these honored dead
and tell them tho flag they loved floats ovel
their regiment upon some glorious feld-wil
their sleep DO disturbed? Tell them thai
their names will be handed down with honor
through the succession Of gener.tions-wil
the blood again thrill in their veins, and will
their eyes glisten? Give them. then, while
they can enjoy it. tho satisfaction to know
that their efforts have an object. Already
you hear the tramp Of eager thousands hasten
ing to tho prepared battle-your fancy in
the restlcss night brings you back the voices
of their farewell. Except in dreams Of the
night how many of you will ever hear again
those household voices!
Remembering these, remembering tho hoard.
cd treasures you have thrown into the gulf for
your country 5 goodwill you hesitate? PEG.
pie Of Maine, will you hesitate to strike with
vital force tho unnatural enemy who has
compelled thcsc terrible sacrifices? Shall this
blood DO shed in vain? Baptized in such
blood will you not name FREE that soil where
il was shed! Never shall ploughshare
guided by the hand OF a slave throw up to
whiten in tho sun, the bones Of patriots who
fell in this struggle for their country.