The Portland daily press., 1865-10-04

wv ehC uAAcbu DAbfCt-
Lieut. Nelson Towle, Of Porter, command
Co. E., 9th Regt. Me- Vols, fell in the charge
ON Battery Gilman, near Richmond, Sept. 20,
1884, aged % years. It has been my privilege
to be his pupil, also to be favored with his
friendship for years, and to correspond with
him often during his term Of service, and I
offer this as last tribute of respect to the
memory and merits of my friend who. in LIES
opening bloom poured out his crimson life tide
upon his country's altar
He enlisted Aug, 2s,I 1851, was mustered
into service September 22d and appointed
Sergeant, and early in 1862 was appointed Or
DERBY Sergeant, which Office he filed until a
short time before bis death, when he was ap-
pointed LIST Lieut. He commanded the COM
pany inhehlof the time, and was at an times
fearless, faithful, accurate and ttnperate Off
cer,and won the respect Of the soldiers by his
kindness to all, especially to the sick e5,5
He was engaged in IS battles. In the bat
tie inwhich he fell, the regiment led a aforlorrn
hope,p and, after being terribly cut to pieces,
and losing three commanders, was led from
the field by I'd leatenant-the only com
missioned officer with the regiment who es-
capped unhurt. While advancing through a
field of corn, Lieut. Towle was seen to place
his hands upon his breast, and fall, but as the
regiment fell back soon afterward, leaving the
dead and wounded upon the field, it is uncer
tain whether he was killed instantly or not.
His friends thought that he might be among
the prisoners, but when theywere exchanged
they brought no tidings from him, and it is be-
lieved that he died where he fell. One of his
comrades informs me that he never saw per-
son more earnest in defending the cause of the
Union, and that his hopeful words, and the
inspiration of his iauntIess spirit cheered the
responding soldier in. the hour of trial and
gloom. 20 - 12eh iAA191uA
4 4 From letter that Lieut.. Towle wrote me ON
April 21st, 1864, after re-enlisting and before
joining the Potomac army, I copy the follow
ing, to show that his heart burned with the
fire of patriotism, and beat with the true ring
OF loyalty; ]. T,IWC40 81 p
Our course lies over MANY fields of blood
and carnage, wherein thousands of our brave
comrades will be inundated upon the altar of
freedom and our country's salvation, and
through scenes of peril and.suffering that syilI
try psea's souls Yet we shrink not; our
cause is just and holy; weifghtfof Liberty
for Freedom. Weight for our country; for
the land Of our birth for the, honor of the
old flag, that glorious 5aAaer of Liberty; and
shall, yea, SHALL succeed
He was ayouug man of gifted and cultivat-
ed mind, stainless morals and correct habits,
and was ever a genial CONF anion and faithful
friend. In the lyceums of the town he had no
superiors, and seldom met his equal. His fine
social qualities made him a general favorite.
anu ms home was the centre of the various
festivals q, the community, but it is lonely
now WIN mat the pride and hope Of the household
has gone from it forever. $500 H9H IA. ~.
= ms Is not an isolated case a.. ,,,,o,,
every battlefield such eherisbed az. ~ NJ
allen and all over our broad ,. v,s9 ~ u
are such homes, from which tbe ra, s'''
joy and, hope. has departed; but the tree ,oe
Liberty will bloom richer and brighter from
the blood by which it is nourished, and the