Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-08-19
A FALLEN HERO.
WArERnuRY. July 30.

WATERBURY,, July 80.
Among the hundreds and thousands who
have died in our country's service since the
first gun Of this great rebellion was hred,
there are Of course very many incidents Illus
tratine the heroism Of the soldiers, as well as
the degree of sadness among their friends,
when the news Of recent battles, whether Of
victory or defeat, travelled through the land,
leaving blighted hopes, desolate homes, and
broken hearts. Such incidents are very com
mon, yet there is one that occurred but few
days since that is perhaps not unworthy oil
notice.
A young man only twenty years old, fell
at the battle Of the Wilderness, and left bis
parents 10 mourn the loss Of their only child,
with this short message from his dying couch:
"Tel my parents that | died doing my duty,
and that ! am going home"
He was at school at neighboring academy
when he wrote the following letter to his par
ents to pursuade them to let him 60 to the bat
tie field. He would not 60 without their
approval and had for months been urging
them to let him enlist while they, consider
ing his age and, being their only child, were
not anxious to do this. Heretofore he had al
ways been scholarly and very studies, bat as
the clash Of arms grew louder his mind was
directed another way. He wrote as follows:
WORTHWHILE Dec. q, 1868
KIND PARENTS l am we'll but not enjoying myself
very we'll 1t is all war here and cannot be eontened
TO stay here going to school when feel II my duty be
sighting. l cannot study any hing else Col Thomas
and Col. Sawyer spoke here the other evening. They
both say put into the field that the var will not
last year and believe it. but they say IL do not
do il, it will be long and bloody struggle And they
Furthermore that the boys that there will
with the q coward forever II we do not turn
out And that is not ALL when there is another cali they
will probably draft and that from is to 49, There was
man here from Rutland TO day. He says II we will 20
there and enlist he will guarantee 900 our
down and let us into the new regiment the
l7th, time and pay TO commence from the day OF enlist
ment. There never will be another such chance.
There has not been any one trying 10 make me enlist
that makes write this They all tell me TO stay At
home but shall be contened to stay here as long
the war lasts. There is some going 70 Rutland next
Monday and thst man said IL we did not find IL so he
would pay our fare both ways.
Shall 20. or not shall stay here and always he
called coward land perhaps be drafted go and do my
duty 70 my County ard my God.
Which had you rather would be- living Coward or a
dying Hero. Do for Heavens sake, let me 20 FOR shall
fret myself to death here The l7h will not probably
20 into camp before the first Of March There is going
BE- 1900 men in the regiment and there Is only about
500 now Another thing, il go into new regiment /
shall stand bauer chance to be promoted
Answer by return mail
Let me 60
What more could we say said his moth
er to me as she spoke Of this letter. SO the
young man lett his home Of ease and plenty
for the field Of battle and taking his lible
with him, he promised his mother, as be
took her parting hand, that he would never
forget to pray )" and they may not see him
again, till they too arrive at that Home"
to which he said he was going