The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-09-26
Death Of old Uncle Jake.

The Albany Argus says, Old Uncle
Jake died in back room over stable in
one Of the alleys on the hill. Somo
friends bought him a plain coffin aud had
him buried quietly. No paper announced
his death. and the unfeeling neghbors
said they were glad the old niggcr was
gone. Beneath the dark exterior and re-
pulsivc form of that old man was heart
as true in its sympathy, and conscience
as pure in its motives, as ever graced tho
human form. A diamond of the purest
water passing unnoticed through earth
to fash resplcndent in the Masters crown
hereafter.
One dreary night in September, 1868,
while company Of the Fourteenth Yer
mout Infantry was on picket duty in
pine swamp near Nowbern, N. g., Uncle
Jake came into the lines at the risk Of bis
life TO tell that large force Of rebels
would gobble them up that night. On
| this Information the company were de-
ploycd as skirmishers, and about mid
night came ia contact with the enemy
aud drove thom back in great astoniah-
ment to find tho Yankees ready TO meet
them, A few weeks later the Captain
aud two Sergeants Of the Vermont com.
pany were taken prisoners aud put in Il
boat TO cross the bay. Uncle Jake, who
was rowing, cut tho cords that bound
them and they with desperate struggle
succeeded IN oyefpowerng their captoF
aud making them prisoners.
Later still, Uncle Jake went out to got
his wife aud children and bring them
within the lines, when he was seized by
the rebels and tortured TO get some inlor.
nation Of the Union forces. News was
carried TO tie Union pickcls, and a squad
Of cavalry went out just in time to find
the rebels In the act ofstrlngiDg old Jake
up to tree, having failed TO get any sits.
faction from him. a short fight, and
Jake was free again. These are only
some Of the incidents, which would form
volume II written. The war closed aud
Uncle Jake was brought north Ills wife
died at Boston, and bis children scatter.
cd.
Two years ago he came to Albany, aud
with a small boy went round gathering
ashcs from day to day. Uncle Jake was
Christian II the ever was one in the
world. Three times a day he was seen
10 knccl down IN the camp among The
soldiers and pray ferycntIy for the bles.
sings Of heaven on Massa ljnkum and
his boys. a small Testament, worn aud
black with age, was his regular camlan-
lon This be could read with little dln
Guilty A fieh foundry man 1f Troy said
that the prayers Of Uncle Jake more i'm.
pressed his mind than all the sermons b.
gelher be had ever heard lie was an OF.
dcer at that lime al AeWburn.
We cannot write an obituary of LaeIe
Jake, because we % net know bis last
name nof BIZ history, We only know
that be was true friend d tie Union,
willing IL any time 70 lay down be iife
FOR the cause, and that through his eKcr.
tions many poor soldiefs wefe saved from
death and Southern prisops One man
ia lhis city owes Als lie 70 hln, and oth-
G. when they zee lhis brief mention vii
remember similar deeds llis llie was
Dot ID gaiu Although BE aels 4 d spy
sui q s0uf may pass uHaJlel .H history
yet uis humble eaorts helped % promote
the revolution which liberated and 60.
ifauchised his race.