Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-06-03
- CorresponSence a the Journal.
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ing birds. Our homes are all redoIenE with Che
beauty and g6ustle influences of natare's balray
breath, and while during the past month we
have opened our hearts to Joy, that winters
reign is over, and the faded treasures of beauty
returned to us again, we have watched and wait
ed, and held our trembling, sinking hearts stout
| ly and herOically TO the brave trust, that all
would be well with our loved ones when news
from the great Battle Week" should arrive.
1t has come at last and though we try to meet
it with heroism worthy the friends of our no
bic brothers who have fallen, it has darkened
every hearthstOne in our community and shroud-
ed in mourning the home circle, whose brightest
treasure has been the lamb of sacrifice. The
sad tidiDgs came to as on Friday, May 10Th,
that two of our most promising young men,
JONI BEERY and ALBERT BENNER, young men
loved and respected by all who knew them, had
fallen in the late battle near Spottsylvania
Court House, in Virginia. 1t is sacred pleas
ure and but inst, that we pay tribute Of the
hearts best feelings to the memory of these
brave boys; that we mingle our tears of sorrow
with those who are called to MOURN the unfime-
ly death of promising son and an affectionate
brother. Y oung Beery had been a resident of
Clyde but a short time before the attack on
Fort Sumter fired his heart with patriotic zeal
and led him to enlist in defense of his country,
but it was long enough for him not Only to have
acquired the respect and confidence of his en-
| ployer (B. r. Bacon,) but of all with whom he
became acquainted. He left behind him good
name and took with him to the battlefield
many fervent prayer for his safety, from his
| new made friends. We remember him as
young man ofsterling integrity and intelligence.
| He proved himself worthy, faithful soldier; by
bravery and intrepidity be had advanced from
aprivate, one step after another, until he ranked
at the time OF his death as Captain of Company
! /, lst U. S. Chasseurs.
/ But Albert Benner he was our own from child
hood. Five years ago the bright spring hours
numbered him as one of our pupils, as gay and
| Joyous schOolbOy as ever worked problem
IN algebra or puzzled over a lesson in arithme-
| tic. Most intimately can we sympthize with
the bereaved family, for very near to our hearts
lay the destiny of one whose manly counten-
ance always beamed and bright eyes sparkled
with animation as we spoke of the great future
Of usefulness open to true manhood Asa
school boy he was studious, obedient and much
beloved by teachers and schOolmates When
the boom of cannon resounded throughout the
land and the American Eagle tapped his broad
wings over the trembling ALTAR of Liberty"
though but sixteen years of age, he laid his
books upon the shelf, set aside his plans for the
| future and marched boldly to the rescue. Fa-
vored with health, he fought bravely in the bat
I ties of Yorktown, Fair Oaks Seven days before
Richmond, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Get
| tysburg. Whata history to chronicle OfODe
who was but IS years old. Forth from these
battles he came without the slightest wound
For his fidelity and courage he too was being
rewarded-though the. youngest member Of the
company he had been promoted to Orderly Ser
geant and acting in that capacity when he fell
| After an absence of two and a half wears, he
| writes his name for another three years service
in his cOuntry's defense and returns to us, not
the same as he went away, but grown to man
hoods stature; true nobility of greatness
stamped upon his brow, but with the same light
of innocence beaming from his countenance, he
was more courteous, more gentlemanly, for the
| boy had become the man. No one could look
into his manly face and converse with him. with
| out being at once convinced that truth and no.
bic principles were stamped firmly upon his
character, that the army had not vitiated his
morals; and though We were once the teacher,
now we felt that We ought humbly to learn, of
one who had grown so far past our own age in
the performance Of nsbie deeds. We did not
wonder that the parents hearts beat high with
Joy in realizing all that even father could wish
in his boy; that anticipations Of his bright fu-
| ture should weave themselves into being des-
pite the uncertainty of he new campaign be was
to enter. The futute with him was very short
but OF what deeds of valor he performed a
brave, heroic death he died Young as he was
his life was rich enough in great brave and no.
bic actions to have crowned grey hairs with
never fading glory. Away from home and
friends the stout-hearted Albert fell. upon the
battle field, a martyr to the cause of Liberty
Three days after his boon companion and school,
mate found him dead upon the field and per-
formed the last sad duties which the living SOL
dier can to the dead cOmrade and penned the
letter bearing the sad tidings to the bereaved
father.
Thus in the loss of these two noble boys has
our village been again baptized in the waters of
grief In the heart of every loyal citizen the
fountains of sympathy are stirred to their very
| depths and while as now our own hearts are
/ wrung, we pray that the storm may be tenn
pered to the shorn lambs, and forth from these
bitter Affections may be born firm resolves which
shall shape into mountains ofstrength" to pro-
| claim that this blood and treasure shall not be
| split in vain, but that other stout hands and
brave hearts viii still pursue and finish the
work they have so nobly begun. There is no
such thing as fatering now after all these price
less jewels have been paid. Ali yes, beloved
ones who have cOnsecrated our homes, by lay
/ ing down your lives in their protection. we l6il
be true to the trust The loyal hearts that still
remain can do little less than exclaim with re-
newed energy, in the language of one of our
great men, that the Blue Ridge which looked
i down upon your death struggle shall never be
the monument for Liberty's grave; the ocean
voice of Niagara shall never sound its requiem.
nor the starry banner of the brotherhood OF free
dom, while God iveth, be its funeral pail.
Then, farewell brothers, though your manly
forms now rest IN the rude grave ofthe soldier,
monuments OF remembrance and affection shall
forever rear themselves from our hearts TO your
memory. And may the blessed assurance that
your spirits serenely walk where there is no
more war; where death can never again over
take you, and where joys supreme shall be for
ever yours, comfort your afflicted parents and
enable them TO say in truth. at is well with
our sons" MRS. MN
The following is the letter informing Mr..
Benner of his sons death:
| f4 HEADQUARTERS 65th N. Y.VI.)
| 81 .as (Chasseurs,) May 18th, 1864
| NJ. BENNER: Dear Sir-With feelings ofdeep
regret take the opportunity of informing YOU
/ of the death Of your son Albert. He was killed
on the evening of the 10th inst, although we
| were not certain of it until last evening as the
| ground was held by the enemy yesterday But
last evening took a stroll over the field at the
risk of being hit by the enemy s sharpshooters.
and found out the painful truth / saw that he
was buried the best way possible for us to do.
marked his grave with a head-board and en-
closed it with pole fence. His pocket-book
and watch had been taken, but his album Sc
cured and shall endeayor to send it to you. He
| fell doing his whole duty as a soldier of our
country, and his loss is deeply felt by the whole
regiment and particularly the company, as all
who knew him loved him. To me be was as a
brother and none mourn his loss more than / do.
With heartfelt sorrow and deep sympathy for
you in your hour of bereavement win sub
scribe myself the constant friend of your late
son. 'f ~ ~" ANDREW JACKSON
Casualties in Co.'s X and /, U. 5. Chnsscuurs.
Co. 4 Cup to May 18th, 1851
Sergt, Albert Benner, killed, residence CIvde:
Corp. Peter KirkwOod, missing, Fostoria:
Private George +. Kuhn, missing Tiiin:
Private Charles Sheath, missing, Tifin;
Sergt. Martin L. Vanhorn, flesh wound in leg,
New York City;
| Corporal Daniel P. KeilbOItz leg amnatated