Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1865-02-10
FAYETTEVILLE, Jan. 13, 1865

FAYETTEVILLE, Jan. 10, 1865.
Gen. J. w. PnELps,-My Dear iSir:-
Having received authentic information rea-
tive to the death of my dear son Sardis write
agreeably to request in your kind letter of the
10Th December last, to advise you of some of
the circumstances of his sickness and death.
He died at the AndersonviIle S,ockade pris-
on, of chronic diarrheA on the morning of
August 20, 1864, aged % years and four
months. AS he was captured on the Odd of
June, the day Of his death was the 5Sth day Of
his captivity. 1t appears that until about ten
days before his death his health was as good
as it had been for the three months preceding
so says Sergeant Dickinson of the same bat
terry, 3D." who was captured at the same time
and was constantly with Sardis. Sergeant
Dickinson writes me that che kept up remarka-
bly, good spirits though "it was impossible to
get him into the hospital or to procure medi-
cal attendance" lie realized his situation and
expressed a wish to prepare for death, had a
minister called in, and after comforting with him
and having prayers he was calm and expressed
willingness to die, though with many regrets
that is was his lot to die so far from home and
friends, "hs only irish being that he might live
to see once more his loved ones at home" His
friends procured a tent for him and did all they
could to make him comfortable under the diff
culties of his situation. He died calm and
happy.
Albert Mason brought us a letter. which he
found in Sards' pocket after his DEATH adj
dressed to me. 1t was dated June 20th, in
hospital at Petersburg, and by it learn tha,
Sardis was under fire for ten days, with his
company, at Cold Harbor up to the 10Th Of
June, when the army marched for the James
River. and then he went to the hospital with
the other sick ones of his regiment. The sec.
ond page is dated Tuesday, June 2lst He says,
81 left the hospital this morning and am now
in the front lines around Petersburg. The
shell and bullets come over the works quite
fast and five men were killed few minutes ago,
yet we keep on cooking our suppers and atten-
ding TO other occupations that are necessary,
without mnding them much"
81 am feeling quite well this evening, am in
good spirits, my spunk is good if we have no
more long marches for while may be able
to get through it and be tough; at any rate
will not give up for any trifing cause.
Thursday, June 23,-Did not have chance
to write yesterday for we started and marched
all night and lay in line of battle all day. We
lay on our arms last night and were called W
at daybreak and told to prepare for a charge or
the rebel breastworks, but il is now about ter
O'Clock and we are in hopes to escape battle
but one cannot tell how soon he may be in tn,
midst Of it."
This letter was finished and signed the very
day he was captured and it is the last letter o
his, and regard it as precious relic. TIL,
above are few extracts that you may see how
he bore up under sickness and hardships, fo
he was surely in feeble health at that time ant
all through the previous campaign.
Sardis enlisted in the 1lth Regiment Yer
mont Volunteers. in June. 1868, and on thu
organization of Company L he was appointed
LIST Sergeant and acted in that capacity until h.
was taken down with the measles, the latte
part OF January, 1864. After getting well O
the measles he still retained his post of Is
sergeant. But unfortunately, the latter par
of March or first of April he had a sever
attack of pleuro pneumonia. which reduce,
him very much, and although he survived
he never recovered his full strength and il
consequence of this sickness was obliged t
reinqush his post Of LIST sergeant. Whethe
he acted thereafter as one of the sergeants, o
in the ranks as a private, | do not know.
am well persuaded that he was lily able to bea
the hardships of the campaign, and it seems t.
me that nothing bnt an uncommon share o
ambition and courage could have sustained hin
on the march, in the trenches. skirmshes AM
fights through which he passed between Wash
ington and Cold Harbor and the latter place
yet he never complained and seemed AWAY
cheerful. ! think we have reason to believ
that he found the blessed Saviour in that aw
full prison, and that he is now in hsppy stat
beyond the skies. This is a great consolation
to us. in addition TO the fact that he died in
just cause and has laid his precious life on tn
altar Of his country.
Very respectfully your friend,
AUSTIN BIRCHARD.