Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-07-19
Death OF Surgeon Abbott.

From the Army and Navy Journal.
The news Of the death Of Colonel Robert O,
Abbott, Brevet-Col0nel and Surgeon L. S. Ar
ny, viii be heard with regret by bis many
br0ther-ltiicers who are familiar with his dis
tnguished services. 4 kind, quiet, unassuuing
gentleman in demeauor, II was his great pro-
.ess.uual sEill and energy which raised him TO
,hc honorable distinction he acquired; and The
value Of his patriotic services may be known
from the fact that he successfully welded the
control aud management Of the crowded sol
diers' hospitals az Washington, at time when
tl patients were numbered ly the ten thousand
aad when a.l were open to tile comment and
criticism Of the public
At the tine Of bis death, Or. Abbott had I'm
ished nearly a score Of years q public service.
lie entered the army in lS4g as Assistant Sur
geon. and in that year accomp pauieI Magruier's
Battery 20 California. After serving about FIVE
years on tie Pacific coast, lie vas ordered East,
and served in Florida and Texas until the out
break Of tie rebellion il 1861. During 1861
be remained On duty in New York, busily occu-
pied as Assistant % the Chief Medical pu-veyor.
Early in 1862, he joined the Army Of the Potom-
ac for 1T igst campaign, aul vas made Medical
Director OF tle Fifth Army Corps, holding that
position til after the second Bull Run. lie was
then assigned 10 duty as Medical Director Of the
department Of Washington. Tie was there at
the heal Of the great receiving depot for the
sick AMI the wounded Of the Army Of She poto
mao, end hal charge Of all the hospitals m and
about Washington, together with all the hospi-
ial transports At some times be had more than
10000 sick men 20 csrs for.
As may lie imagined, such llt1rs and such
responsibility were beyond human power to
withstand. His work was not only arlu0us in
the extreme, tut iuclsssut; and his system Al
length broke under the overwhelming task. In
the winter Of 1868, when the war vas over, he
was taken sick, but remained on duty until No,
vembcr, 1866. He then accepted a six months
sick leave, and went to his home in Santa Cruz
West Indies, returning in the latter part Of May
Of this year. On the eth Of June a carbuncle
appeared on his left shoulder, and soon so
exhausted lis already enfseblet constitution
that be died on the evening Of the 10th Ult On
Thursday of this week bis funeral took place,
from the chapel on Governors Island brother Of
icers beth from the Army and the Navy being
present in honor Of his memory.
To all who knew him, the character and career
Of Surgeon Abbott are their own eClogy. lie
wasssan officer Of exceeding purity and geutleness,
Of most thorough cOnscienti0Usuess, and up
rightness beyond the whisper Of reproach. He
was one Of those few men who have no enemies.
Unpretending UDd retiring by nature, his IN
huence was, nevertheless, widespread and
powerful, from the intrinsic merits Of his char
acter and the value Of his opinion. Though he
died il the f5rtY-third year Of his age. few men
Of fourscore in hrs profession had accomplished
more OF rendered greater services to their coun-
Try.