Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-24

=. ihc ucatn Vi tA-UnlteQ states
Marshal John M. Dunn, the &C.
CURED on Saturday evening, about
$50 so'clock. II resulted from
softening of the brain, from which he
hal been suffering upwards of year.
His illness became extremely alarming
six weeks ago, and he had to be sent to
Delaware State Hospital for the Insane,
at Farnhurst For several weeks after
his removal there he was very violent,
but during the last two weeks he grad
ually grew weaker. On Saturday morn
Ing 1t became apparent that he could
not live long, and his family was noti-
fed. Late in the afternoon relatives
went to the hospital and brought him
back to this city. lie arrived home
, early in the evening and had just been
carried upstairs and put on bed when
he gave one or two gasps and died.
He was born in Dublin, Ireland, on
+, March LIST, 1913. When he was four
years old his parents removed to New
York and three months later they came
here. He received an ordinary school
education and while in his teens was
apprenticed TO the late John Merrick to
learn carriage trimming. Before the
completion of his apprenticeship the
civil war began and he enlisted as a pri-
vatc in Company X, Firht Delaware
Volunteers. He fought in every battle
in which his regiment participated and
continued in the service until Lee sur
rendered. AS soldier he was young,
impetuous and courageous. He was
gradually promoted and in turn served
as corporal and sergeant. Next he
Joined the color guard of the regiment
and was made color sergeant. Re-
turning to his company he was adj
vanced to lieutenancy, being promoted
to first lieutenant on November 14th,
1864.
AT Antietam the First Delaware, on
emerging from a cornfield was thrown
into some confusion by scaling post
and rail fence, and, being under a gall
ing fire, was hurriedly formed while
moving rapidly forward. The enemy's
position was but few rods away. and
his line ran obliquely to the First Dela-
wares, SO that in the charge the right of
the regiment was much nearer the
enemy than the left One line of rebels
was posted in a sunken road, while
across the road, on rising ground, was
second line and its batteries. The fire
the enemy was thus able to bring to
bear on the regiments single line was so
destructive that even veteran troops
would have been repulsed. AS it was
the right of the division, which APP
preached nearest the sunken road, was
staggered and recoiled, and was forced
back to the edge of the cornfield, while
the remainder could make no further
advance. AT this moment the support
ing troops behind, instead of charging
through the regiments line, halted in
the cornfeld and fired from the rear
on the regiment, thereby forcing the
command to retire a few yards. There
the regiment rallied and returned the
enemy's fire with telling effect On the
ground, few yards in advance, where
the line was first arrested, lay a large
number of the men of the regiment.
killed or wounded, and among them lay
the regiments colors. Several officers,
among whom was Sergeant Dunn, raj
lied a large number Of men and returned
u the original line and recovered the
colors. While they were holding the
front line rebel, with limping gait and
using his musket as support, APP
preached, when Sergeant Dunn raised
his musket and said, "I'll drop that
fellow" but before he could fire his
piece was struck down by Captain
Richards, who exclaimed, "You
wouldn't shoot wounded man p At
that instant the advancing rebel leveled
his gun and shot the captain, who died
few minutes afterwards. The rebel
fell in his tracks, riddled with bullets.
When the rebel charge was broken at
Gettysburg, and its ranks fell into dis
order, the First Delaware sprang over
the stone wall en- masse and charged
with bayonets upon the rebel fugitives
The regiment was headed by Color
sergeant Dunn with the national flag.
A hand-to-hand conflict ensued, in
which many instances Of gallantry
occurred and hundreds of prisoners
were sent to the rear. In his report to
Colonel Batchelder, who was appointed
by the War Department to prepare an
official history Of this celebrated battle.
Lieutenant Dent said special mention
should be made of Color-sergeant Dunn,
who, colors in hand, led the regiment
across the stone wall in its counter
charge.
During the march to Appomattox
considerable merriment was had at the
expense of young Dunn, then lieutenant.
He seemed very desirious of knowing
the distance to the Danville railroad and
made SO many inquiries in regard to it
that the matter became Il joke to several
of the officers. AT length an aged
negro was seen by the roadside, "Now
them" said Lieutenant Dunn, "you fell
lows may laugh but l am going to find
out how far il is to the Danville rail-
Dad" When they reached the negro
She lieutenant asked him the well-worn
question and by the look of deep wis
dom that lit up the old mans face they
saw at once that they had found one
who could give them the desired infor-
nation. ode Danyille railroad" said
he, "Yes, sab Hits jes' fo' miles FIN
John Thompson's, sah." For the rest
Of the day there was not much peace
for the lieutenant and next day, when
the troops had attacked the enemy at
High Bridge, charged across the bridge
through perfect tornado of shot and
were reforming under brisk fire on
the other side, Captain Barney shouted,
u say, Dunn, how far is it to the Dan
vile railroad 7" In the gallant charge
cross the bridge Lieutenant Dunn, in
ommand of Company G, rendered i'm
,ortant service in leading the
assault. General Barlow was urging the
roops that had reached the end OF the
ridge 10 charge through the carriage
way beneath the railroad track, which
was defended at the other end by the
enemy with artillery and musketry, and
there was some hesitation about taking
the lead, when part of the First Della
ware supporting the skirmish-line ar
rived on the spot. Seeing the reluctance
to enter the bridge Lieutenant Dunn
asked Lieutenant-colonel Nichols il he
should take his company. and charge
Soross the bridge, to which Gen. Barlow