Daily globe., 1879-12-13
COLONEL DOWNIE.

SOAONGA Nv" NADs
Sketch Of the Life Of q Gallant Onicer.
The G1.oBE has duly recorded the death of
Col. Mark w. Downie, which occurred in
Florida last month. The Florida Mirror,
published at Fernandina, gives the following
very interesting sketch of this gallant off,
Ger: "
We have already noticed the death of our
fellow citizen, Colonel Downie. in what
seemed to us appropriate terms of respect;
and there was added, also, the brief tribute
Of an old friend to gallant soldier, who had
died in the faith and penitence of humble
Christian. Some facts have since been
placed at our disposal, the recital of which
may possess interest not only for the i'm
mediate friends of the deceased, but for
many others, as pertaining to those feats of
daring and deeds of gentleness which char
acterized the great war that closed in the
year 1856. Ez@5>. Il ,... E.. .-.s ~ =.
Colonel Mark w. Downie was born March
18th, 1886, at Chatham, in the province of
New Brunswick, and removing to Minnesota
at the age of nineteen, was at once actively
and successfully engaged in business. The
breaking out of the war found him cashier
of bank at Saltwater. On enrolling him.
self as volunteer, he was chosen captain
of the Saltwater Guards, and by successive
promotions became major, lieutenant colo
mel, and colonel, of the First Minnesota
regiment. His career during the war was
signalized by dauntless resolution and cou-
rage. The prompt energy OF
h: nLo,.n ,,,:1l =.
such incidents as the following: 1885,. 80 ~
While the series of hard fought engage
ments near Richmond was still in progress,
at time when it seemed impossible for Gen.
Mcclellan to extricate his army, his retreat
having been cut off by Gen. Lee, it became
necessary, as q means of escape, to construct
a bridge across the Chickahominy in single
day. The United States engineers reported
for Major Downie, who was lying in his tent
prostrated by fever. The reply was promptly
given "General, find nue. thousand lum-
shall be built" The task was performed ao-
cording to promise, but for two months the
builder was confined by wasting fever to O
| carried Immediately after the bridge was
finished. 80 a#i:-' -,. =. -. -
At Atlanta, last summer, United States
officer, on hearing Gel. Downie's name men
| toned, said of him: ssMark Downie was the
bravest soldier in the army" Capt. MoGill
Southerner, replied: swell, he was surely
| the kindest." He then related an occurrence
which took place ehortly after the battle OF
fredericksburg, the town being held for 9
time by the Union forces. The ladies' had
entreated permission of the officer in COM
| mand to take the Confederate wounded ia
their homes; their request was sternly re-
fused. Col. Downie arriving at this juno
| trre with his regiment, as superior in rank
| took command of the place and revoking the
refusal directed his men to prepare
stretchers for the wounded, and in every
way render thom assistance and pro-
| vide for their comfort. Capt. McGill found
himself o prisoner, but seeing the sympathy
for the suffering manifested by his enemy,
he boldly stepped forward and announced
himself confederate surgeon, and begged
to be released that he might attend upon the
wounded soldiers. Gel. Downie immediate
~ ordered his release. This confederate
captain (not q surgeon) was bearer of dis
patches from Stonewall jackson to Gen.
Lee, and reported the facts to Gen. Les,
| whose words of praise are treasured up alike
by friend aud foe. The confederate COM
mander-ln-chief said: "Col. Downie is q
soldier and gentleman; send his namo and
regiment to the adjutant-generals Office in
Richmond, and if he is ever taken prisoner
let him be released at once on parole" The
ladies Of Virginia showed their appreciation
of this kindness to their friends at Fred
ericksburg by hospitable attentions to the
First Minnesota, as that regiment passed
through after the war, and subsequently by
letters of thanks to its commanding officer.
A manly foe must admire traits of gener-
osity, whether displayed in peace or war.
During his residence in Florida, Col. Downie
showed his friendship and sympathy for the
poor and suffering, and particularly at the
time when the yellow fever prevailed at Ce-
dar Key in 1871. He went there s:to nurse
the sick, feed the poor and bury the dead"
he expended his strength and his money on
their behalf, and the result of his six weeks
incessant labor was very severe illness,
from which he never fully recovered. "~ :,
Such is an unadorned narrative of charac-
teristic events selected and set down as fitting
words to be recorded concerning one whose
last painful and protracted illness, soothed
by the unceasing ministrations of affection,
was borne with fortitude and with resigna-
tion; whose faults, frankly acknowledged by
himself, were those of warm, impulsive ma
ture, and of whoss virtues this short chroni-
Gle of detached incidents may aid in preserv-
ing the recollection. ~ --.