The Portland daily press., 1863-03-12

OF the few whom he admitted to the joy of
his more intimate friendship was one from
whose pen regretfully remember might hare
come more feeling and worthy tribute, Chas.
Henry Burbank, man OF large brain and no.
BILE heart, who died at the West nearly three
years since, at the very commencement of an
honorable and promising career. 1t is pleasant
to link these two names together. On earth,
fellow collegians, thought not classmates;
brothers in Psi Upsilon brothers In true no
bility of soul, they are to-day rejoicing in re-
newed friendship-brothers in Heaven.
But If we would know man ,ceti, we must
meet him in the retirement of his own home.
This is the true test. Here is the character,
stripped of its snowy mask, repellant and poor,
or beaming with a luster that the outer world
can never behold. l cherish in memory pic
ture OF what Captain Hutchins made his home,
which would not exchange for the rarest
work of the greatest master that has ever
lived. recall the pleasant study-parlor, the
large and neatly arranged bookcase, with its
well chosen contents, tried, old friends of ma
ny happy days; the noble faces Of the great
men looking down upon us from their stations
on the wall; the comfortable easy-chars, in
which we sat, and let the hours go by, thor
oughly charmed as we listened TO converse,
now sportive and playful then earnest and
grave; now sparkling with anecdote and hu-
NOR, then rising easily to the heights of ex-
haustive thought; sometimes flashing with
poetry and feeling; by turns metaphysical and
argumentative, but always graceful-never by
any chance uninstructive aud dull. Refine
ment and inestimabe grace were here. Did
the sunshine lie in golden waves upon the
carpet? 1t was well; If not, it was Just as
bright. Day after day, and many times day.
there came one with a manly step and cheer
ful face. The winning cordiality Of his greet
ing and his smile warmed heart and life better
than the sunshine. think no one could en-
joy close companionship with Captain Hutch
ins, without remarking how largely he gave
of his own intense vitality to all around him !;
not human beings alone, but to every inani-
mate thing. The easy-chair In which he sat,
the table at which he wrote, the books from
which he. read, were full of him; the very air
seemed t emulous with his presence.
From early boyhood Captain Hutchins man.
ifested strong prediction for a soldiers
life. He has often remarked that nothing but
an unfortunate accident, by which an arm was
permanently weakened and injured, had pre-
vented him from seeking a military education.
He was an apprecative admirer of the genius
of the great French General; was conversant
with all his battles, and perfectly familiar with
their most intricate and skillful movements.
When the storm gathered darkly over our
land, and at length burst in fury upon the
country he loved, his noble spirit stirred
strongly within him. His calm, earnest view
of patriots duty viii be best given in his
own words:
A" II any man has not already giren his life
to the serrice uith no desire 10 retain upon 10
any claim for Mmself, he is untitled TO be a
soldier In this icdr. If our officers can think
Of their oicn tiues, schen In battle, they are
u,aicor1hy the trust imposed upon them"
In consecrating his life to the service of his
country, he had no slight sacrifice to offer.
United In marriage to a lady whom he loved
with all the strength Of his nature; just ad-
mitted TO practice at the bar; rich in the hap
piness OF a home that monarch might have
envied him; he yet put aside everything that
was dear to him, and stood up undaunted to
meet peril and death. They came to him in
his first battle, after days Of fatigung marches,
and the severe privations to which the Six
teenth were subjected. He was killed by
two balls, one entering his head just above the
right ear, the other his left side, very near the
heart. From the appearance Of the body he
did not suffer, but Immediately fell"
Every effort was made to restore conscious
ness, but the brave, loving heart was still for
ever. As the regiment was under marching
orders. It was Impossible TO send the body Inn
mediately home. II was buried on the field,
in pleasant spot, by the regimental officers.
Each brave man offered some heartfelt token
Of respect; and l cannot forbear adding, in the
language of President Woods of Bowdoin,
NOR was there wanting the costly tribute of
tears, wrung from many a manly heart, to
wash his way-worn feet for the burial"