Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-03
Death Of Charles E, Avery,

!
This simple paragraph which announces
that kind husband and father is taken from
the family circle, is the notice also that anoth-
er of the brave and true men who were our
country's defence in war and at the same time
so preserved the valuable qualities of charac-
| ter that they were good citizens thereafter in
peace, has passed away. 1t is the lot of few
| men to endure so much as this man, for few
were physically able. A robust and vigorous
young man, he enlisted in the Goth Maine
Regiment in July, 1862 participated with it
in the Maryland campaign, and was during it's
continuance slightly wounded by fragment
of she'll, at Fredericksburg in December of
that year. Recovering in few weeks, he was
severely wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg
and sent to hospital for Treatment. From this
injury he recovered in season to reioin his
regiment as it left winter quarters, and was
with it in the battle of the Wilderness. On
the 9Th Of May while in action in that engage
ment, his right arm was torn in pieces and
when the regiment was ordered back to anoth-
er position, being faint from loss of blood he
was unable to leave the field, and fell into the
hands of the enemy. On the afternoon Of the
next day an anputation was performed of the
right arm at the shoulder. For a few DAYS he
had a stretcher for bed but when this was
needed he was transferred to the ground, in
spite of the swollen and painful wound, that
had up to the fourth day from the time it was
received, received no care except being
moistcned with water by his fellow prisoners.
On that day an assistant surgeon Of the Con
federates gave him some attention, the first.
last and only medical aid or assistance from
the Contedcratcs received 10y bin, from the
time 81 the amputation till he was exchanged.
In Jure following the battle began his trans
fer to the South with other prisoners. Well
and wousded men together being packed in
common box cars, seventy or eighty in each
car: all could not sit down at once, and thus
he With others was carried from Orange
Court House to Charlottesville and later from
Andorsonville prison to Millero. Fortunate
ly the FIRST trip was relieved by delays occa-
stoned by the necessity for repairs of the
road, though they were often obliged to sleep
on the ground by the trains. He was stopped
at Lynchburg for time, where the ration
was one pound of corn bread daily and four
ounce, Of baa~n once in two days, for each
man. He arrived at Anderso nville in July
loG4; and suffered all the horrors of that fear
full prison with this wound still but partially
healed, having with his fellow prisoners only
the noisome water Of the stream that first
passed the cock house and sinks of their guard
to drink, and the meal and bacon in less
quantities to eat than at Lynchburg. and
brought into the stockade in the same carts
that on their outward trip had been filled
with the bodies of the dead. and had received
no cleansing for the return freight of food for
these imprisoned men, v lille the strictuess of
the guard that before his eyes, summarly
shot a sick prisoner, who sought by reaching
with his Tin cup hands breadth beyond the
dead line at the entrance to secure some
pure water and left him lfeless and bleeding
in its waters and with another shot, destroyed
the life of a man who weak from starvation
was vainly striving to walk and had fallen
against one of the posts of this line of death
as if to indicate to all these prisoners that
hope might well be shut from their hearts for
ever. Much as the fate of those might seem
preferable who escaped these mseries by
DEATH he still lived was sent to Mllero and
finally to Parol Camp at Annapolis whence he
was discharged in Worcester in 1854 and
las since resided in Sidney, where he leaves
a wife and child. Mr. Avery was chosen and
served an Assistant Messenger of the
House of Representatives from 1867 till 1870,
and was messenger during that year. His
taithfulncss to duty and uniform courtesy Sc
cured him large circle of warm friends, and
ly, have been reelected the last winter to the
place he had filled SO acceptably. Having
the full confidence of his townsmen he was
entrusted with responsible town offices which
he only resigned when confined to the house
by his last illness.
The shock which he had endured from
wounds and prison was too great to allow the
most vigorous constitution to overcome its
eHcCts, anu Siauudiig SoAsuhPt4oi ldsteHSu
itself upon him. With the same indomitable
will that has ever supported him he dealt with
disease and died as he had lived herocally,
having we'll performed the duties of man
and citizen, soldier and patriot as one of
that vast army of heroic men who in the hour
of our country's need laid their all upon her
altar, earning imperishable honors, none the
less that they were not lifted by rank to gene
raj notice. His life was bright example and
his memory remains treasure, while he, es-
Gaping the pains of this life, has passed to
''where beyond these voices there is peace"
W.