Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-01-09
For the Bulletin.
THE LATE LIEUT.. WOODRUFF.
A Touching Tribute to His Memory
From an Old Friend and Army
Comrade.

Your letter brings me the
first account of the death of my dear
friend. 1t seems terrible blow. knew
him first at Independence in 81 or IS;
for years our relations were peculiarly in
innate, and I loved and trusted him to
an extent that did not realize until now.
AS l recall the many days passed with
him, I cannot recall one unworthy word
or action. Of how many young men
can we say this? Tho tone of his mind
was so exceptionally pure that he not on
ly avoided tho vices of youth, but hated
them with sturdy, healthy hatred that
would have won the heart of old DR.. Ar
mold himself
When we entered the army together in
81 we were both young, but he was the
elder, with better knowledge of the
world. cannot tell how much I owe to
his influence over and care for me-
When the appointment to West Point
was pending, there was more than one
hand stretched from "Co E." toward the
prize, yet when the result came, there
were none to say but what it was wor-
thily bestowed; though there were many
to regret his leaving the regiment, where
he was rising man.
Just before he left the regiment, at
Bonneville, Mo-, we were brought very
near together. He was attacked with
lung fever, and was allowed to care tor
him until myself laid on cot beside
him.
l last saw him at the Academy. where
l visited him in July '85. The days thus
passed with him will ever be kept in
sweet recollection.
In the corps he was marked man for
his devotion to duty and the purity of
his life. Convcrsing, one day, with
fellow student Of his, the former said,
ooh, Woodruff will soon get over those
notions of his about religion and not
drinking" thought that he rs little
knew Woodruff as he did the worth of
the better life his classmate had chosen.
Eugene was very reticent of his own
feelings, but during this visit seemed
to be admitted to his heart of hearts.
He was full of plans for the future, and
through all shone so clearly his rare and
tender love for home and home friends,
for whom all these plans were.
He was sensitive to q high degree, yet
there was nothing of effeminacy about
him His was one Of those strong ma
lures that bear their own burdens unseen,
and give large help to others. Just be-
fore left him, he spoke of what his
friends expected of him; he modestly
SAID, perhaps they expect too mnch,"
but added earnestly, oscar, mean to
succeed"
So left him on the banks Of the beau.
tiful Hudson; the last time, as it proved,
in my earthly life. But while that life
shall last his memory shall be a hope and
inspiration to me. You say that his death
was noble, and so it was. 1t could not
10 otherwise, for all his life was noble
For So young an officer, doubt if there
was one in the army whose future prom
ised so well. He was one of those whose
natural abilities core forth at call, yet
who left one impressed with the still
greater power behind He was one of
those to whom success belonged, for he
struggled for it with an iron will of in
iustry that would not be defeated. He
was the noblest man ever knew. l can
say of him nothing better than this
Through all he bore SO worthily
The white flower Of blameless life.''
OSCAR NJ. FULLER.
Los Barios, MERGED Co., Cal, Nov. 80, '73.