Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-25

SATURDAY MORNING.. NOV. %, 1866.
OF THE wEBsTERs.

Table, Of the 4th November. thus prefaces a
sketch Of the late Fletcher Webster The
simnle sentence is of itself proud biography.
# was an honor to be born under the roof of
the Great Expounder, his immediate descend
ant, and son; it was greater glory to die with
face to the foe, defending the flag of the
country Our subject is of the few whose
memories will survive the war and grow
greener with the lapse of years. He was one
of natures noblemen, and many thanks are
due the Round Table for its appreciative trib-
ute to his virtues.
Fletcher Webster possessed ability of no
mean order. More than one state paper,
considered not unworthy the fame Of Daniel
Webster, emanatcd from the pen of the son;
while the brilliant lecture delivered by him on
his return from China, aud THE Life and
Correspondence of his father, so carefully
edited after the death of that great man, fur
nished abundant evidence of his superior
Belle LettreS culture. The truth is, Mr..
Webster was extensively read in ancient and
modern classics and combined with his ripe
scholarship the faculty of graceful and at
tractive expression. Few men excelled him
in colloquial skill; the conversation Of no one
was pervadcd by kinder, more genial and
generous spirit.
During the first winter Of the war Col. Web
ster was quartered with his regiment near the
good old town of Frederick i'll this State
The intelligence and high social character of
the citizens, and the superior quality of the
military staff collected there at that time, af
forded seasons of pleasant intercourse long to
be remembered by those who shared them.
In the circles which surrounded the cheerful
lireside. when the camp and Office duties were
over for the day. the Massachusetts, Colonel
was always the bright. particular centre of
attraction. A distinguished resident of Fred
erick, DR.. Lewis H. Steiner, whose testimony
to literary worth and genial qualities will
hardly be questioned where he is known. thus
alludes to Mr. Webster, in private letter to
the editor:
my acquaintance with Fletcher began
when his regiment, the 18th Massachusetts,
was encamped in Pleasant Valley, in August,
1851. During the winter of 1872, Banks
'!Division was in winter quarters near Fred
''crick, and had frequent opportunities Of
injecting Webster He was Il man of remark
liable conversational power, always courteous
''and kindly in his manner, gallant in bearing
'liberai to fault, and as brave an officer as
.'any in our volunteer service. In social in
s'tercourse few men had more power over his
friends. The current Of conversation was
lI,, hui Il, oil
'.dered themselves to the magical influence
''he involuntarily eXcrted.
II can never forget charming evening
passed with him and his wife, in the town of
Frederick. Two officers, afterwards major
generals, with their wives, were also Of the
''company. Webster was full of anecdote,
!!quick at repartec, kind at receiving Joke
'.levelled at him, and equally kind in directing
lone against his companions. There were
nuts and apples, and generous glass OF
good wine--and time went by 50 pleasantly
THAT the witching hour of midnight had ar
''rived before our little party broke up. He
twas the life and soul of the whole. Eight
''months afterwards, on the morning succeed
Sing the second battle of Bull Run, when the
.'sad story of his death was told NE by one of
Ibis officers, in front of Popes headquarters
"at Centrevie the incidents of this charming
''evening flashed across memory as if in
knocking contrast. He was found stark
''naked on the field as though the enemies o!
"the Union had desired to heap insult upon
1.-THE body of the gallant foe. 1t was grand
thing for the son of the great defender of the
CONSTITUTION to offer up his own life in defense
''of his country, thus showing himself animated
with the same patriotic spirit that viviiicd
''cvery act of the father
"Col. Webscr's domestic qualities must
''have been Of a rare order. A little daughter,
with remarkable precociousncSs Of intellect,
chad wound herself tightly about his heart
'She was removed from earth not long before
Ibis own death, and his officers told me that
this loss produced great depression Of spirits.
at seemed to crush him to the EARTH and to
''tear out from life much that had made ii
"bright and happy before.
''1he morning of the battle he was observed
''to be more than usually careful in his toilet
land, in answer to pleasant remark from an
acquaintance, said, Il feel that will either
''be killed or taken prisoner to-day. And
thus looking fully in the face the probable
''result of the coming contest he calmly pre-
''pared for it.
But striking feature in the character Of
Col. Webster was his reverence for and devo-
ton to the memory of his illustrous parent.
He loved to inger on the eloquent sentences
of those grand speeches which thrilled the |
Senate and the forum, and to recount in the |
social circle, and by the camp-ires at night,
the incidents of his fathers private life.
A caustic and ungcnerous review of the |
Life and Correspondence of Daniel Web. |
ster (of which Fletcher was the editor having
appeared in leading Northern journal, its |
charges were replied to by the author of this |
article. A correspondence succeeded between |
the editor of the correspondence and the |
writer, the letters from the former illustrating |
in marked degree the flial attachment to |
which allusion has been made. The following |
will show the estimate in which he held the |
noblest of parents:
CAMBRIDGE, April 20 1857.
"Dr. -.
my dear Sir:-I have been much gratiiied |