Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-07-12
now GEN. MCPHERSON DIED.


dad AmeTIcaR, the story of Gen. Nc
PhersOn's death. before Atlanta. July
%, 1864. Capt. Beard was in command
of his company. in Gen. Pat Cleburne's
division, and be and his men were placed
in order of battle about noon, that day,
and ordered to advance until they were
in the northern army's breast-works.
Under the excitement Of heavy and
rapid canonading, they struck double
quick, and suddenly" be says, ''came
up to the edge of a little wagon road
running parallel with our line Of march,
and down which Gen. Mcpherson came
laundering at the head of his staff, and
according to my best recollection, his
body guard. He had evidently Just
left the last conference that he ever had
with Gen. Sherman, near the Howard
house, and was on his way to see what
the rapid and sudden firing upon his
left meant. He was certainly surprised
to find himself suddenly face to face
with the rebel line. Ny own company,
and possibly others of the regiment, had
reached the verge of the road, when he
discovered, for the first time that he was
within few feet of where we stood.
| threw up my sword to him as a signal
to surrender. Not word was spoken.
He checked his horse slightly, raised
his hat as politely as if he was saluting
lady. wheeled his horses head direct
ly to the right, and dashed off to the
rear in full gallop. Young Corporal
Coleman, who was standing near me,
was ordered to fire upon him. He did
so, and it was his ball that brought
Gen. Mcpherson down. He was shot
passing under the thick branches of q
tree, and as be was bending over his
horses neck. either to avoid coming In
contact with the limbs. or more probably.
to escape the death-dealing bullet of the
enemy that he knew was sure to follow
him He was shot in the back, and as
Sherman says in his memoirs. the ball
ranged upward across the body and pass
ed near the heart A number of shots
were also fired into his retreating staff
Iran Immediately up to where the
dead general lay, just as he had fallen,
upon his knees and face. There was
not culver of his body to be seen, not
a sign of life perceptible. The fatal
bullet had done Its work well. He had
been killed instantly. Even as ne lay
there. dressed in his msjor-geDeral's uni
form. with his face in the dust, be was
as magnificent looking picture of man.
hood as ever saw. Right by his side
lay man, who. if at all hurt. was but
slightly wounded, but whose horse had
been shot from under him. From his
appearance / took him to be the adju-
tant or inspector general of the staff.
| Pointing to the dead man / asked him,
Who is this lying here 2 He answered,
with tears in his eyes. Sir, it Is Gen.
Mcpherson. You have killed the best
man in our army This was the first
intimation that we had as to who the Of
fcer was, and as to his rank"
Capt. Beard was taken prisoner, with
his regiment, and mentions how, on hi
way to Johnson's island, he passed
through Clyde, MePherson's birthplace
and home, saw the flag at half-mast and
was told that It was for Gen. McPher
son, whom the damned rebels had muir
dered," and whose body they had jus
buried. Capt Beard further says ''tha
the circumstances under which Gen. Nc
Pherson met his death were perfect,
justifable. He had every OppOrtunit.
on earth to surrender and refused to d.
so, but preferred to take the chances o
fight. Although be was considered a
host in himself, against Us. his untime
1 ly end was mourned even by the con
! federate army, for be was UNIVERSAL,
esteemed as soldier and gentleman.
/
7 Daniel Webster once dined with an
old Boston merchant. and when theJ
came to the wine. dusty old bottle wa
carefully decanted by Peter and passe'
to the host Taking the bottle be pour
ed ont Mr.. Webster's glass and hande
it to him. Then pouring out anothe
for himself, he held it to the light an,
, said:
How do you like it. Mr. Webster ?
Il think it fine specimen of Of,
Port ?"
Now you can't guess what that eos
me % SAID the host.
Surely not, sald Mr.. Webster. ''
; only know that 1t is excellent"
t We'll. now 1 can tell you. for | mad
! careful estimate the other day. Whel
l add the interest to the first price.
find that 1t cost me the sum of just on
dollar and twenty cents per glass =
Goodness gracious you don't sa
50 !" said Mr.. Webster; and then drain
: ing his glass. be hastily presented