The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-18
The Soldier S Last Watch.


The touching incidents given below were re
lated to the writer by paroled prisoner now
awaiting an exchange. Many Christian hearts
are praying that ali OF our noble soldiers who
must fall as those here mentioned have fallen,
may die rejoicing in the hope Of glorious
resurrection.
On the ground where was fought one of the
battles 10 the retreat before Richmond, little
by itself, may be seen lonely grave, with
che word Oh its simple wooden headstoDe-
Trowbridge' Beneath its sod lies the still
form Of brave youthful soldier and noble
Christian. During the battles 10 the retreat
before Richmond, many soldiers, worn out by
marching, fighting, hunger, and loss of sleep,
gave up in despair, and either recklessly threw
away life in the thickest of the battle, or fell
into the hands of the enemy through inability
to keep up with their comrades who effected
an escape. From the lips of a soldier who
witnessed the scene, | give the little sketch,
which is all that may be known, save to a few
bleeding hearts, of him who, alas! like so
many others, sleeps, martyr to his country,
in that saddest Of all burial places battle
ground. On the day preceding his death, he
remarked to his lieutenant, AIN so worn |
do not know what can do further and was
told to lie down and get what rest he could on
battlefield About ten at night, said the
soldier who gave me the account, we were
talking together, when our lieutenant cameup
aud tod US we should retreat at 2 A. NJ, and
must stand guard each two hours.
W. dooiJod hu LOT ynitl, rpb ob
should stand first 1t fell upon Trowbridge.
threw myself on the ground under tree,
with my blanket for a covering, and was soon
In a deep sleep; 50 that when awaked at
twelve, [ said, You must be mistaken. 1t
cannot be five minutes since | lay down
Feel of the hands OF my watch he replied,
10 whisper,-as our orders we're not to
speak aloud or have Light it is twelve
took his place, and be was soon asleep At
halfpast one came our order to start went
to awake him, when he groaned aloud twice.
| endeavored to quiet him and awake him ST.
lently, when, with another groan, he turned
his head aside and was gone. | struck a
match in my cap and looked upon his features
set and CHASTITY in death. | placed his hand
on my cheek, requesting him, if conscious of
anything, to press it. There was DO pressure,
and life was evidently extinct.
Unwilling to believe it, | asked the lieu
tenant what was to be done. Call the sur
geon. He was gone, and also the chaplain.
So, searching his pockets, and taking from
them six dollars for his mother and letter
directed to himself l replaced the envelope,
that, il found, his name might be known, and
we hurried on. 1t was hard to leave him, but
the enemy were upon US and it must be done.
Some days after, [ was one of number
detailed to go back to that spot to bury our
dead. found near where he fell grave, with
the wooden tablet bearing his name. Seeing
house not far distant, | called and inquired
if the persons there knew any thing Of that
grave. The woman showed me an envelope,
the one | had replaced, and said they had
buried a soldier there, from whose pocket it
was taken. 1t was a relief and | wrote to
his mother, sending the money and giving an
account of his last moments and his burial
One other incident, given me by the same
soldier, might bring tears from eyes most un-
used to weep. He, with his company and
others, returned to the field after the battle
of Fair Oaks. Among the many sad and ter
rible sights then witnessed, none were so
touching as ths:-
In one portion OF the field, lying apart by
themselves, were four dead soldiers. They had
crept together and laid each right hand up
on that of his colnrade, and thus died. A pa
per lay upon the breast of one of them, and
pencil near by on the ground, showing what
their last work had been-to give some last
knowledge, if possible, to absent friends of
their fate. Ga the paper was written, in
faltering hand
-Four dying soldiers. Be kind enough to
give Us decent burial. And then below were
written their four names We wept as we
buried them together where they had lain, and,
placing above them the names they had SO
rouchlngly bequeahed us, enclosing the grave
by little rallng, we lett them to their last
long sleep. The sea shall give up its dead
and No less shall the battlefield, blllowy with
unmarked graves, unmarked save by HIS
eye aohich seeth eOery precious thing job
xXvin. 10.