Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-04-02
The Last Hours Of Gen. summer.

/ The Last Hours Of Gen. Summer.
The Syracuse Journal Of Saturday gives
the following particulars of the last illness and
death of Gen. Sumner .
He reached his home in this city, from
Washington, on Friday, the 18th instant, hav-
ing just received from the President an APP
pontment to the Department of the West, and
intended early this week to take his departure
for his headquarters at ST. Louis. On Sun :
day last he attended church, and appeared to
be in his usual good health. The next morn
lag, about tv 0 O'CLOCK, he was taken with a
high fever, which appeared to be the result of
a cold. DR.. Trowbridge was called, and at
the patients request, mild remedies wers adj
ministered to him, SO that he might not be pre-
vented from making his intended journey
The next dav his position was such that his
physician put him under vigorous medical
treatment.
On that day, the succeeding day, and even
as late as Thursday, Gen. Sumner daily ex-
pressed his determination to proceed to st.
Louis, and but for the absolute refusal of his
physician to permit it. he would have under
taken the journey. On Thursday noon, he d.
rected that a special car be procured for him
and the members of his staff, and that rooms
be ordered for him by telegraph that night at
Bufaio. 1t was VIII lie endeavorng to convince
his family that he had the strength to stand
the ride by railroad to Buffalo, by walking
several times across the room, that he took the
additi onal cold which developed his disease
into severe attack of congestion of the lungs,
which terminated fatally In thirty-six hours
afterwards. He felt that it was imperahvely
necessary that he should be in st. Louis at
once, and in his endeaver TO discharge what he
considered high duty to his country, he sac
rifced his life
The responsibility which he attached to his
entering upon his new command Immediately,
grew out of the peculiar circumstances under
which it was conferred upon him His ap-
po'ntment to the Department of the West
was asked of the President by attorney Cen
e"al Bates, the Senators and Representatives
in Congress from Missouri, and the civil au
thorlties Of that State, in the belief that his
presence in command there would restore con-
fde1ce among the entire people of the State.
that the farmers would this Spring resume
their usual avocatons, and hat the blessings
ofpeace and prosperity would be again rein
stated.
When Gen. Summers disease assured the
form Of congestion of the lungs, his physicians
(Drs. Trowbridge and Shipman) pronounced
his position critical. but they did not despair
of his restoration to health until Friday after
n. on, about two o'clock, when great change
took place-his fever lett HIM and he suffered
intense physical agony, accompanied by pro-
fuse per5piration and soon he sank into
lethargic state, from which he did not rally
Towards evening of Friday, The diving soldier
attempted vainly to speak intelligibly TO those
about him. At last, when glass of wine was
handed him, he took it IN his hand, and with
great effort waved 1t about his head, and
spoke in a voice as clear and distinct as ever
-''God save nv country, the United States Of
America ~ These were the last words of
the patriot hero. He sank rapidly until
quarter past one O'Clock, and ded peace
fully.
Gen. Sumner was in his sixty-seventh year.
His family consisted ofhis wife, who survives
him, fur daughters Mrs Jenkins, Mrs.
Col. Teall, Mrs Col. Long and Mrs. Col
Mclean, and two sons, E. V Sumner, Jr.
major on Gen. Stoneman's staff, and Samuel
Sumner, captain on his fathers staff, both of
whom are in the regular army.