Litchfield enquirer., 1871-02-16
I1awHOlLl# NOEassb
[Ft0m the Soldiers RSeOrd.1
 TRUE HEROIsM.
AR INCIDENT IN IN TIE THE LIFE lof 4 I1rcHrrrLD
 COUNTY SOLDIER

COUNTY SOL soolDllER
 A reaa christian bdss9ssSJ 4thg courage. Not only in the shock of battle, but in eve. ry danger he boldly advances in the path of duty, though in the very face of death. H. lustrations of this are freouently furnished in the records of the soldiers in our late war. One instance of true heroisn, unre- corded and unrewarded. occurred in the fall of 1663.. At the time several of our regiments were in camp near Alexandria. and among them the Second Conn. Heavy Artillery. It happened, one dark night, while private soldier, Charles w. Jack son, of New Milford, belonging to that regiment was on guard at Fort Williams, he observed strange, fickering light at distance. It was in the direction of the railroad bridge across tributary of the Potomac, one mile distant-a structure Af- ty or sixty feet long, oyer which were pass ing at nearly all hours of day and night, trains heavily loaded with O. s. troops passing to the front, Fifteen or sixteen of these trains passed every twenty-four hours. ' ' --'+ 7A@ 't-
 The soldier, startled at the bare idea of the possibility of such catastrophe as the destruction of this bridge, aroused his sleeping comrades. But careless and in. different, they lazily replied it was no fire at all, only the light of an approaching train. Not one could be persuaded to &C., company him to ascertain the truth. It was midnight, and as the three hours of his "beat" had expired he retired to his tent. But the fearful thought haunted him, that perhaps the bridgeIwas on fire, if so what a frightful loss of life would probably ensue, what an immense loss to the country at that critical hour when troops were needed and massing towards Richmond. Could he be faithful to his country and his God, if he retired to rest with such fearful uncertainty on his mind? He was perfectly aware that confederate sharpshooters and guerilla bands secured the country at night, committing depreda- tions and atrocious acts, that they often fingered near to watch the success of their adventures. He we'll knew he risked his life, alone, at dead of night, where foe, might be lurking at every step, but it seem ed the path of duty, and calmly coumit- ting himself to the care of Him whose an- fear him" he boldly started out alone in the direction of the light When he reaOl- ed there he found his fears realized. The bridge had been successfully fired in five places, and was kindling rapidly. o o'
 By the light of the fire he saw at glance the recent tracks of the horsemen,s various traces of the combustables used, and every evidence that this was the work of guerilla incendiaries No time could be lost in re- turning for assistance. Another hour and the fire would progress past remedy. Alone 2 and single handed our soldier worked man. fully, and after an hour or more of almost incredible labor, he succeeded in extin4 gushing the fire. Then building Q fire on the track as signal, he calmly awaited an approaching train. Soon four trains of cars crowded with soldiers came thunder ing along the signal caused sudden halt. Armed men poured from the cars not know ing whether they were to meet friend or foe, but soon ascertained from what ex. treme danger the bravery of one man had saved them. The bridge by a few hours labor was made temporarily safe. Thus in the faithful discharge of duty, in this aI. most unnoticed act of heroisn, this brave man was the means of greatly aiding his country and once again he faced death (alas, for the last time, on the battle field, and did his faith in God the rock of his strength forsake him then 2 An no, he advanced on the enemy with the same in- yincible courage, the same unfailing, un- faltering heart. - fj. 9"a.9 |
 He fell. fighting bravely for his country, June lst, 1864, during the early part of the terrible but successful charge of his Regi- ment on the breastworks of the enemy at Cold Harbor, eight miles from Richmond .sa He survived but few moments after he was shot. With the utmost quietness and calmness, or, as the comrade who bent over him in his dying moments expressed it, 5 ''as though nothing had happened, "a he sent his love to his wife and children, and sad, "tell them die happy, die for my country" He lies with hundreds of others ill an unknown. unmarked grave but God watches over the precious dust, and his spirit is reaping the reward of his consci- entious discharge of duty in that happy nome' where s~aa<3 s EEslaH1N
 "The anthems of rapture unceasingly roll, e~r! And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul
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