Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-10-14
From the Washington (Pal Reporter & Tribune |
COL. H A PURvIANCE.

The Reporter and Tribune contains th, sac
announcement that Col. FL. A. Purviance, on,
OF Its editors and proprietors had fallen a
his post on Morris Island while operating al
the head Of his regimen. against the rebe
/ stronghold, Fort Wagner.
The circumstances attending his death are
/ in brief about these: On tbs 8Oth of August
! while our forces we're operating against the
rebel fortress which may fairly be demon ina
/ ted the Sebastopol Of meriea il was the for
tune of Colonel Purviance to occupy the cx-
! treme advance, and as our batteries were at
| the time engaged in what is no uncommon
mode of operation-fring at the enemy over
the heads of our own men--he was killed hy
a she'll from one OF our own guns. He was in
the extreme front, watching the movements
Of the enemy, when she'll from our own bat
teries exploded Immediately above him. car
rying away the whole back part of his head ,
sending one of the fragments through the body
III the immediate region of the heart, ard lac
Grating the right arm in most horrible man
neT. OF course he was killed instantly. The
melancholy mshap is ascribed to the fac: that
the powder with which the she'll was filled
''' "N'iC'b b"t toHIp. oti dCCObHl III NiiiCb lfe
fuse was cut short, and, as might natura lly be
expected. wrong calculation seems to have
been made either in respect to the length of
the fuse or the state of the powder with the
untoward result we have indicated.
Colonel Pnrviance was the son Of Parker c.
PuryiaEce, Esq, now of Kttanning, Pa, a
native OF our own town and a namesake Of the
celebrated Parker CambelI one of the most
distinguished lawyers of Western Pennsy Iva
MIA in the early part of the present century.
The subject Of our brief sketch was boru in
Butler, Pa, in tie month OF May, 1881, and
was, consequently, in the 33d year of his age
at the time of his decease. Al an early age
he developed those traits of character + which
IN after life marked him out as the man of ex-
qnslte taste and OF high literary attaiuments.
Unlike most men, he may be said to have had
10 childhood. so soon did he manifest A 6isno.
sition to prefer the society of his books and
pen toihe childish sports and amuscments of
his youthful companions. BY the time he had
attained his eighth year he had accustomed
himself to write short articles Tor the village
paper, one of wh'ch-a poem on the death of
youthful friend and companion-attracted
considerable interest and excited no little as
tonisomeDt that youth of such tender wears
shonld exhibit such extraordinary command
of language aud vigor of thought The only
which he received was such as the
village school and the academy of his native |
place could furnish. AS might be expected |
he eagerly avaiIed himself of the advantages |
afforded by these, and of course made most |
rapid progress in his studies. His father be-
ing engaged in the publication of a paper at |
the time, he entered the Office at the age OF |
aud with the most wonderful facility
acquiring thorough knowledge Of the art.
rendering the most important and valuable as
sistance in the various departments of the
concern. His connection with the office af-
orded him ample opportunity 10 indulge his
taste for varied and extensive reading of which
ne did not fail to take advantage, thus storing
MS mind with copious fund of useful knowl-
edge, upon which he was enabled to draw to
good purpose in after life. He continued to
oilow his occupation as printer without
much interruption until he attained the age of
nineteen, at which time he married, and soon
lfter engaged for a brief period in the Da-
suerrean business, an occupation which aEor-
led him the requisite leisure to indulge his
rrepressIble taste tor reading and study. Du-
ing the few years of his experience as an ar
list, he devoted himself with more than his
ordinary assduity to literary pursuits, and his
PRODUCTIONS were sought after by such noted
as George d. Prentice. From
ime to time his effusions graced the columns
# the most respectable Journals of the coun
ry, all OF which readily gave place to his ar
icles, and were glad to number him among
heir regular contributors.
In the midst of these pursuits he still found
ONE time to devote to public affairs. Hav-
ng taken up his residence in Allegheny city.
lie took prominent part in the political con I
ests of the day, and was actively engaged on
he stump in Allegheny county during the
Presidential canvass of 1856. After the close {
+ that struggle, he devoted himself to his lit c
rary labOrs, with determination to connect a
imself with the press as an opportu- i
ity presented itself, and accordingiy in June /
S5S, in connection with Col. Armstrong he y
urchased the Tribune OF this place, and from a
hat time until The breaking out of the rebel L
on actively engaged in our midst in the /
erformance of his editorial duties. In res i
onse to the Presidents call for troops, after t
ne tall of Sumter he enlisted in the first COM S
any that left county. and passed through n
he three months service as private. On p
is return home he took the ield aud recruit n
4 company of his own and attached himself
the S5ih Pa. Regiment. under command OF
oil. Howell. Having trained himself to do b