Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-05-26
Major Charles p. Dudley.

Major Charles p. Dudley.
Editor Rutland Herald The death OF
Maj. Dudley which you announce this
morning seems to me fitting occasion to
place on record few incidents In his
honorable and patriotic life. Maj. Dud-
ley was the son Of Peter Dudley, Esq,
of Manchester, who has resided for
many years in our town and who is
well and favorably known to our citi-
zens. Mr.. Dudley has given all his sons
but one to wipe out the internal traitors
engaged in this war, and they have made
no mean record to stand in the history |
of this rebellion.
When the First Vermont regiment was
being organized, Maj. Dudley was in the
quiet pursuit Of the legal profession
with his uncle, Hon. James M. Dudley
of Johnstown, N. Y. He heard the bugle
tones from our evergreen hills calling
the sons of Vermont to marshal for the
strife. Taking the very first train for Yer
mont, he arrived here to obtain the place
of a private in the Rutland Light Guards.
He was informed that the company
was full, and at once hired a horse and
wagon and came post-haste to me to see
if l could devise any way by which he
could secure the place Of priUate. He
told me that he had already offered to
buy of one of the members of the com
pany his uniform and give him ten dol
lars if he would let him take his place.
Suffice it to say that he obtained place.
He sought not the honors of commits
sion-he asked only the privilege of be-
ing in as private in an organized fight.
He served with credit in the ranks of
the First regiment, and came home at
the expiration of his time. But he felt
that his work had but just begun. In
the organization of the Fifth Vermont
he participated, organizing full COM
pany at his residence in Manchester and
entering the service as its Captain. |
need not speak of the record the Fifth has
made, but may say that in all it's achieve
ments he has borne manly, heroic, and
patriotic part. In the campaign under
Mcclellan on the Peninsula, he won his
first public distinction, as one of the
BRAVES of this war. think it was at
Lees Mills or at Savage Station, his COM
pany was ordered to cross an open field
in the face of the enemy, and hold GER
tain piece of woods. He proceeded in
the work, marching his men with the
steadiness of q dress parade, closing up
his ranks as one after another of his
brave men fell killed or wounded from
the missiles of a numerous foe. Out of
sixty-nine, sirteen only remained to tell
the story of that terrible ordeal His
tory will tell that for his difficult and
gallant exploit he was publicly thankedat
the head of his brigade andregiment. Of
ten the most difficult and dangerous work
to be done in the regiment was assigned
to the brave and unfaltering Capt. Dud-
ley and his Manchester boys. With
such record it was to be expected that
place for promotion would seek him,
and he was made Major of his regiment
We have not the particulars of his
wounds that have proved fatal--how or
where or when they were received. 1t
is said by those who knew him well,
that Major Dudley was perfect stran-
ger to the sensation Of fear, and we have
right to say that he met his fate in
the thickest of the fight, adding in death,
fresh laurels to youthful brow, already
crowned with the enduring honors that
belong TO the patriot soldiers of this
war.
1t is known that his promotion from
the ranks was due to no fortunate COM
bination Of circumstances. He earned
all the distinction that sought him out,
and he wore the insignia of his rank
and station as became the true soldier
and patriot.
How many hearts are made sad, how
many hearthstones desolate But while
we drop our tears on the graves of the
loved and fallen, we remember that they
could die in no holier cause and that
our noble sons have made their names
illustrious-and placed upon the pages
of history, and enshrined in the hearts
of the people, the records that can never
die. SIN. D.
Rutland, -.A., -Ju, 1864.