The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-04-25
The Murdered I,ieutenant


The following obituary of Lieutenant Wm.
L. Sherwood, of the Seventh Infantry. shot
at the Lava Beds on Monday of lastEweek, is
from the Buffalo Courier:
Lieutenant William L. Sherwood, elder son
of William @. Sherwood, Esq, was born in
this city June 9Th, lS45, and was therefore
nearly twenty-eight years Of age. While
quite young he attended school in Ohio, and
afterwards completed his studies at the aead-
emy OF Prof. Fay, in Newport R. ]. The
writer Of these lines remembers well when, es
a bright, alert sunny-hearted school-boy, he
gave promise OF the earnest, intelligent and
dutiful man he was to become. At the age
Of twenty-five, his eager choice of a career
was grahtied by an appointment to the army.
His commission as Second Lieutenant in
Company 1, TWenty-irst regiment. dates from
September Sd, 1867. His first service was
with his regiment in Virginia, but in 1869 he
was ordered to Arizona where the Apaehes
were in chronic state Of outbreak. Fora time
he commanded Fort Whipple, and also, We
believe, held position on the staff of Gen.
Stoneman. Latterly he was stationed at
Crittenden, Arizona, and had charge of the
distribution Of supplies to the Indians at that
post During this service, in irving climate
and in duties frequently of great adventure,
danger aud hardship, young Sherwood ievel-
oped all the best qualities of a soldier, while
at the same time he grew in stature, mental
and physical, as q man. Some of our readers
may remember that the Courier, during 1870
and 1871, occasionally contained an admirable
correspondence from the frontier posts of the
army in Arizona. Our correspondent was the
lamented young Lieutenant, and we can truly
say that his letters displayed not only literary
ability and acute observation, but also g
breadth Of view, especially as regards the In-
dian problem, scarcely to be expected in g
young soldier. He was never carried away
by the passionate hatred of the red man, pre-
valent on the frontier, but invariably saw
both sides of the vexed question. The last
letter we were permitted to publish from his
pen, written from the Modoc region, in Feb
ruaFy last, was marked by the same magnani
nous and comprehensive view.
About year ago Lieutenant Sherwood
came heme on seven months furlough. A
few months of this time he spent in a rapid
European tour, during which his Instincts of
a soldier led him to visit the still fresh fields
and scenes Of the Franeo-Prussian war. On
the 9th of July, last year, he received his
commission as First Lieutenant, and last Oc-
tober he set out to Join his regiment in the
| West. Prevented by snow from reaching his
own company in Washington Territory, he
halted at Yancouver's Island, and thence, a
few months ago, was ordered forward to the
investigation of the Modoc camp. 1t appears
that he was officer of the day at the camp of
Colonel Mason, when, as was his duty, he
went out TO see what was wanted by the pre-
tended flag of truce, and fell victim to the
cruel treachery Of the wretches toward whom,
we venture to say, he never entertained re-
Vengeful thought.
We learn that Gen. Schofeld has been re-
quested by telegraph to send home the re-
mains of the gallant young soldier A host of
sorrowing friends, with fresh memories Of his
manly graces and virtues, will crowd to pay
the last tribute of respect at his grave.