The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-01-06
CHARLES n. BnocxwAv.


Captain Charles d. Brockway died at his
home on Tuesday morning at ten o'clock,
after an illness Of several weeks. He had
been In failing health for some time, and
his death was not unexpected.
He was born 10 this county April /, 1910.
Al the age OF ten years, he commenced
driving team on the canal during the
summer months and In winter hired out
his services as best he could, sometimes on
the repairs OF the canal, sometimes In the
family OF some prominent citizen. At the
age Of fifteen he filed the position Of
weighmaster on the canal at Beach Haven.
In 1868 be was appointed chief clerk In
the Attorney Generals Office at Harrisburg,
where he remained until Mr.. Buckalew's
appointment as Minister Resident at Quito,
Ecuador, whom he accompanied in the
capacity Of private secretary. During his
stay In that country he mastered the Span-
ish language, became familiar with the
geography and topography Of the country.
the manners and habits Of the people TO 0
surprising degree, a. manifested in his
correspondence with Eastern magazines
over the signature of "Quien babe" (who
knows.)
On his return from Spain he taught
school one winter, and then entered the Of
fee Of E II. Little, Esq., to study the loyal
profession.
In 1861, when the war commenced. he
was mustered into Company A, 9th P. r..
V. @ (the Iron Guards) and was elected
Sergeant. He afterward enlisted as pri-
vate In the three years service, and was
mustered into Battery F, First Pennsyl-
vania Light Artillery, then commanded by
Captain Matthews, and sfterward by Col.
Ricketts,. In this organization he soon be.
came Sergeant. The battery was at first
attached to the Reserve Corps at Tenally
town, but soon after was detached and
| ordered TO Banks command at Darnestown,
Maryland. Here section Of Parrot guns
was added to the battery, and Immediately
after it was ordered to Williamsport, Mary.
land. Captain Matthews being short OF
officers, applied to Governor Curtin for an
order for election to fill the vacancy, which
was made. Captain Brockwsy was unani.
mously elected, and at once took command
Of the section.
He made himself high reputation as a
brave officer. Col. Bryan's official repor,
of Bull Run says:
"Lieut. Bro ockway, with the other Off.
GERS captured, was marched on foot to the
Rapidan River, and from thence was con.
veyed to Libby Prison, as one Of Pope's
felons, where he remained until exchanged.
He was prisoner when Antietam was
fought, and it was the only engagement OF
the war he missed In which his Battery
participated At Fredericksburg it held al
important position, covering the lower
pontoon bridge, and was subject to a
heavy fire."
The Battery participated In all the other
battles of the Campaign, and distinguished
itself at Spottsylvania. North Anna River,
the Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, and the var
ious fights in front of Petersburg.
Soon after reaching Petersburg Capt.
Brockway was appointed Assistant Chief
Of Artillery to Gen. Hazard, then on Gen.
Hancocks Staff as Chief OF Artillery OF
the Second Corps. This position he held
until after the Mine explosion, when he
was attacked with typhoid fever, brought on
by over exertion, and was first granted q
leave of absence, and then sent to the Hos.
pital at Annapolis.
| His health continuing feeble he felt com.
PEELED to resign after three years and near.
| ly eight months continuous service. Sub.
sequently, Gov. Curtin commissioned him
Captain of his old Battery. For gallant
and ueritorious conduct at Bull Run, he
was also breveted Captain.
After the close Of the war he finished his
studies, and was admitted to the bar where
he developed marked ability. In 1870 he
was the Democratic nominee for Congress
in this district. then strongly Republican,
and was defeated by Ulysses Mercer by
only 124 votes. He represented this county
in the State Legislature in 1371-2-3. In
1867 be became associated with Col
Freeze in publishing The COLUMBIAN, and
subsequently became sole owner. In Sep
tember 1874 he formed law partnership
with Geo. E Elwell, and in October 1877
they purchased THE COLUMBIAN and con
Quoted it for years. Since October 1879,
Mr. Brockway has attended to his law
practice.
Mrs. Brockway and three daughters sur.
vive him. The funeral will take place at
the house this Friday afternoon at
o'clock, and will be conducted by Ent Pos,
G. A. r. The members Of the Bar will
stten In body.