The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-05-19


tigue, of watchfulness, of labor and dan
ger, at Petersburg, and until after its re-
turn to Washington from its first rapid
and exhausting march through Maryland,
and into the valley of the Shenandoah.
SO far as l know, he managed the men
with efficiency, skill and satisfaction to
themselves, and although he had previous
ly been regarded by some as severe, al
most exacting, yet, by his kindness apd
conslderate treatment, to their surprise,
they found themselves more and more en-
deared to him every day. In this 1 think
| have not misinterpreted the feeling of
the regiment
During the last part of July, Colonel
Warner again resumed command, and
hiajor Chamberlin received the well-de-
served commission of lieutenant colonel
OF the regiment, and in the same capacity
served with it during its marches up and
down the valley, until, in just four short
weeks from the day the commission was
put into his hand, on a bright Sabbath
morning made gloomy by the event, he
received summons, which in a few hours
he obeyed, to higher and sweeter SER
vlce-;s we trust, in the skies.
So much for his actions; of his inner
life it is less easy to speak. To anaIyze
character with justice, where disposition,
motives, temperament and circumstances
are to be considered, is difficult and del
icate undertaking.
Most men resemble each other in the
principal features of their characters.
Lieut.-Col. Chamberlm had character
and habit Of life peculiarly his own He
initiated nobody, but rather chose his own
way of thinking and doing. He had a
manly independence all his own. His bu-
slness habits We're excellent and worthy of
imitation. He was exact and methodical
in everything. His strength of will, his
ceaseless energy, his fondness for precision
would not allow him to overlook the most
minute detail. He loved minutir.
The saving Of labor was no compensa-
ton for an inaccuracv. He loved mathe
mathcal precision in everything. Moth
inc but literal correctness in accounts. in
official papers, in measurements, in the
drill, in his writings would satisfy him.
His structure of mind seemed to COM
pei him to this, and he found it pleasant
TO yield to the compulsion But he in
sisted not more strenuously upon correct
ness than he did upon Moroughness in his
business. And perhaps the highest and
most Just encomium which one could pro-
nounce upon him in this regard is to say
that he dnl eae'ything weN
1t was an unvarying principle with him
that if Il thing were worth doing at all, it
was worth doing weN 1t mattered not
whether the matter in hand were recrea-
ton, the writing of a letter of business or
friendship, the publication of an order.
the keeping of accounts, the superintcn-
dcnce OF a policing party, the direction of
personal affairs. or the more difficult work
of celebrating an important paper, the
making out Of complicated ordnance ac-
counts, the construction of military works
and the drilling and discipline of a COM
mand, all received the same careful and
thorough attention. Combined with thor
oughness there was promptness in the ex-
ecution of his business lie could toler-
ate Incidence and shittlessness in nobody.
In his intercourse with others, especial
ly strangers, he was reserved, some
thought distant. To gain free access to
his heart was not easy; gained, however,
one found an enduring welcome there
And a more intimate acquaintance would
discover to one that he had in him a
faithful friend. a valuable counselor, a
genial companion, and enable him to de-
tect, beneath an exterior of seeming seri-
business and gravity, a strong undercur-
rent OF mirthfulness, a fondness for pleas
antry and with an elacticity and playful
ness of spirits, which made his society at
tractive and engaging.
10 be sure he was man of strong per-
sonal preferences, and this by law of re-
action, made his likes and dislikes equally
prominent, and rendered the bold, posi-
tive and striking features of his character
and the more mild and gentle traits alike
conspicuous. | have sometimes thought
that he, in his ditfidence was distrustful of
his capabiity of pleasing, of winning, of
being loved, and insisted that he rather
repelled. Facts show, however, that he
could not have more miS]udged himself
In his dealing with others, he was
strictly upright. AS an officer he always
encouraged integrity and morality in his
command.
Ills delicate sense of honor caused him
to look with contempt, upon every kind
of meanness, vulgarity, hypocrisy, triAing
and frivolous conduct and to admire a
sincere, ingenious and aspiring spirit.
He commended in the young men of his
command sober-mindedness, and purity
of heart and life. For religious and sa-
cred things he had high reverence.
And while he was governed in his con-
duct by religious principle, he chose to be
very little demonstrative in his devotional
feeling and exercise. There was reti.
cence and ditfidence in relation to this
subject, which grew largely out of his pc
culiar mould of character.
Only an intimate acquaintance with
him would reveal to one the implicitnes:
of his trust in God, in an over-ruline
providence, in the efficacy of prayer. i
was his habit to my knowledge, to ask tn,