The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-10
"One of the Youngest and Brightest.

"One of the Youngest and Brightest"
PHILADELPHIA, October 7, 1864.
To the Editor of The Ecening Telegraph
SIR;-History IL truth, and should be ever
vindcated by despatch, published this evening,
that the remsns Of Lieutenant John r. Megs OF the En-
gineer Corps, have been brought in Personally, knew
neither he any related to him; but know the grea.
glory Of young le, alas now ended That glory though
his no set must yet be written. Our country the
battle have chosen him at sacTlace great cause He
Is splendid victim this mighty Nooch Of Secession.
Bot his deserts let bring this youth 70 the
slauEhterers infamy Says the despatch have read
"Ths officer brought In the remains q Leuen John
heiRs, Of the Engnter Corps and only Of Brayet
III ed by bss6bactSrs on Non iay IAsi Tbie maRIpg a
mhtaly survey In the death OF this gallant officer the
Department has occasion 10 dcplOre no ordinary loss.
Last year he graduated at the Military Academy, West
Point with The highest ho ors, a. tie head OF his class.
datey sent into the field. He performed merOrOus and
dsnr eTous service during the asyear the fjrhcAton
was made Chief EDS neer In the Army of the shenlndO
In It's can paiIs ne accompanied the under sisel
Hunter and sheridan In every position he gave proof
great professional skill personal courage ana devo,ed
patriotism, One OF the youngest ana brightest ornaments
ofthe military profession, he has fallen early ylctm
murder Gus lt bel warfare,
Youngest an brightest" is indeed a lifting phase Tor
ms young uhn and gives me an eNorum to what he dill
whilst YET novice az Bull tho hrst. rcceye the
information oHect by ana from the most undgubted
source and as assurance Of my faith in its truth give
Those who live and have failed to perform their full
duty dare not blame the writer who lndes the fu need
known beyond the circle OF cadet,hlp one Of the
most extraordinary incidents that warfare has yet pro-
duced.
In the frat battle Of Bun Run Colonel Rod Matte wson
received orders TO take the extreme left moved to
the place assigned with the Eomptltude Of an accom-
plished soldier, and astOhshed nd another and
another regiment 20 he's left the commander Of each sJp-
posing himself 10 be the extreme portion Of the held. Unt
alate hour IA the day the battle raging all the while
the rtnt The noble Matthewson, "whose clay another
clay doth cover was resting impaently and inactive.
No general officers OIders, mo nothing and yet the
booming near. At3 P NJ II my nOry OF time
DO correct the anxious MathewsOn courier arrive
Sir said the courier ~ wish you 10 protect the road
TO your left You Will be supported by battery (named
at the tmeI, and must attack the enemy ifhe attempt TO
come in this drectioR."
order that eased his mpetence, ard him the
soldier loves to enter. Before the had left how
ever Colonel hatthewsOn, seeing his YOUTH hailed, and
asked him hence he procured his authority The terms
characteristic
"By whose order. sirY'
"Excuse me, sir, but have been over this aeld and
ithRye seen no one 10 give orders"
Said Colonel MatthewsOn, ~ concluded the order gyon
Lord II Obeyed it,"
HMRy ask who you arep" he cried 70 the gentleman
before he had left his portion Ofthe field,
"My name IL AeLgs sir 1 am 4 son OF Cenerai AeKs
and cadet At West Point oamO here 10 see praceai
war; taw no general officers around and Thought there
ought % be some 50 Just promoted myself aud gave
SO thought the glorious Rod, and falalled than It
Il not my present sphere present busneas 10 write
up down. the infnmy OF the first ul Run nut had
he brave boy who there showed himself both hero and
captain, have had more Rods to give orders TO- and less
military "red tRpe' 70 contend with instead peraps To-
day Of doing feeble justice 10 his memory might have
said in three words I'VE conquered you at rst better
am, aT, yours respectfully, INA,