, 1863-07-06
Last Hours of :4dmIral Foote...

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Last Hours Of Admiral Foote...
From sketch Of the late Rear.Admlral
Foote, furnished the New York Herald by .
We eztract the following:
On Wednesday 1t became apparent to his
physicians that the Admirul could live but q
short time longer, and accordingly his family
| were notified, and Captain Sanford, who has
been bis constant attendant, went on to
Washington and laid the statement Of the
AdniIafs critical condition before the De-
| partment. :
The Admiral now expressed himself freely
IN relation to his own feelings. He stated that
| he believed that he could live but q little
while longer, us he had on the previous eve
ming premoniiion Of his bodily decay. He
spoke firmly, and congratulated himself that
his preparations for eternity had been made
years agos and that now he had but 10 await
the cali Of his Heavenly Master, who doeth all
things well. His conversation from this time
forward Was full Of sweet and glorious ex-
pressione, which have made deep and mark
ed impression on all who were SO fortunate
as to witness the ebblBg hours Of the Christ
tan hero. -:
He gradually sank from day to day, and Was
bnoyed Up only By the aid Of opiates and
stimuMnts; at tunes he was conscious Of the
presence OF bis friends, and ut other times the
stupot, which 1t was necessary to keep him
In, Ind SO firm hold upon him that It was
Impossible to arouse him. He bore his ILL.,
ness and e1crutiating pains with Christian
fortitude and meekness so characteristic Of
the man, He was never heard to mhrmur ut
anything, and his childlike obedience to the
Instructions Of his physicians Was very
marked.
The writer nus with the Admiral the major
portion Of Friday night, whsa 1t Was expected
that he could not live from one hour to
another On entering his room he found it
dimly lighted vi; b one gas burner, while on
the sldeboard flckered long candle, emble-
NAUTICAL Of the scene before Us. 90.
: On large bed on the aouLh. side of the
room, bolstered up with pillows, lay the al
most nteless form Of that noble man. Around
the bedside we're gathered Commander Sand
ford, who Was to have been his feet captain;
Commander Simpson, who was to have COM
son, who VAS tenderly holding the Admlral's
head, Brooks, his faithful serYant, and the
nurse. The Admiral was breathing very
strangely; his respiration was very regular,
but not In keeping with the usual manner.
He would take on the average ten breaths,
times for over thirty seconds. This manner
Of breathing was followed mp during pcarly
al1 the time we were In the room.
At about half-past II o'clock Mrs. Reese,
his eldest daughter, arrived from Baltimore,
and Was recognized By the Admiral, who low
calling her by name, said he was glad to see
her. and then, closing his eyes, he fell back
exhausted and unconscious.
At twenty minutes bef3re o'clock the col
or Of his face had materially changed, but
the clammy sweat stood out in big drops on
his broad forehead, which seemed to be In
fever heat. Ills extremitfes were cold, and
his pulse gave out nothing but convulsive
th1obs. It was thought he could live but
very few minutes, and Mrs. Reese was sum
moned to the room; but In few minutes he
again seemed to rally, and be then babe fsir
TO hold on some time longer.
During this time Captains Sanford and
Simpson, and Mr. Stetson seemed to vie with
each other In their kind attentions to the form
Of one whom they so dearly loved. From the,
iu constant atteudunce upon the Admiral, and
Mr. Stetson, provided every comfort and lux.
ury that money could purchase for the good
Of the Admiral. Night after night they
watched over him, but In vain He sank from
% hon5 to .5 hour, ! At times rallytng, but always
! He was very anxious that Admiral Dupont
should be informed that it was no effort or
intrigue On bis part that led him to obtain the
change In the command of the squadron.
These TWO officers hive always been warm
friends, and it sorroWed Admiral Foote to
think that he was the man appointed to re.
1ieye him. he said that, Us the Government
had ordered him to the performance Of that
duty, he obeyed It as IN order,
At seven minutes past two o'clock sllght
conyulsions were manifested, and the patient
endeayored to change his position. The effort
was severe tax upon his weak system, and
he fell over sideways; and after remaining In
that position short time, and apparently by
his own desire, he WIS lnid back upon the pil-
lowe, when he seemed to be a triae easier.
There was from that time no change in him
until the gray dawn Of morning came streak
Ing in through the closed blinds. He lay
there as calm and complainant as mau in the
bloom OF Life, aud but for the peculiar sound
Of his breathing one could have scarcely be-,
1ieved that he was passing away. It did not
been 90 exemplary, his trust In God 90 sure
md steadfast, that one could but feel TINT this
was but thejou5ney to better and u brighter
" left his room long after daylight had
darkened the gaslights, and when the earlier
ous stations, 1ulI Of the pleasant thoughts
which review Of his life Ind brought. Here
WAS . man who never entered battlt, but pre-
yious to undertaking the work, counted upon
the lives Of his officers and men; man who
held himself responsible to God for every lifa
pure In heart, living always Cody life, and |
one Of the strong hopes Of our naval service. |
Ha was now fast going to meet that Judge |
xho Wonld sag, well done, thou good and |
Later Saturday morning he rapidly failed; |
but after ten o'clock he revived, aud was ]
moderately comfortable during the middle Of |
the day. His eldest son arrived during the |
day, and Eat beside the bedside Of his father
during the whole Of the day. During the |
early part Of the evening the Admiral seemed
to have gained considerable streogth, aud at
timea talked considerable; but his miad still
wandered. "a Captain Rowan and. Surgeon
Williams were present, and watched him
with tenderness and care. Els feet were
much warmer than they had been for some
time, and. It was thought he might live
From Saturday last up to the present time,
the Admiral changed but little, save that he
has daily grown weaker, at times Frightening
up, and in few hoprs afterward sinking. Els
system was one Of great strength, and the dis
ease bad powerful will and strong constitu-
tfou, to master.
Yesterday, however, he failed rapidly, md
after sundown 1t Was known that he could not |
live until midnight. The writer was present
at his death bed, which was surrounded by his
family, Capt. Sanford and the Intending SER
wants. >.
At ten o'clock he sunk 30 rapidly that all
present telt that his time was numbered by
minutes. In appearance he was much wasted
away, scarcely moving, and he looked calm
At eighteen minutes past ten o'clock be
way to the God who gave 1t:
IN making the necessary preparations for
filing SO responsible position he oYertaxed
bis frafl system and has gone home to fight
no more. To say that he WIS universally be-
loyed 70 conyeya b9ta slight tdea Of the feelings
Who knew him held for the noble and brave
officer now lost to us forever. His memory 1