Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-03-21
HE WAS A BRAVE SOLDIER.
Single Handed, He Entered Prison
Yard ana Kept 100 "Rebs" at bay.
N.

LANCASTER, N. Ii.
DEAR EDITOR In the summer Of
1881, ] was teacher in one of the pub
lie schools in Stark, N. H., and board
ed in the family of NJ. j. Stone, vet
eran of the l4th New Hampshire reg
iment. was also correspondent for
the Colebrook Ners, edited by J. ID.
Bridge. One evening Mr.. Stone was
recalling incidents OF the war which
occurred within his personal knowl-
edge. Among others he related cir
cnmstances which proved Roswell
lIolbrook man of superior courage
and force of character | gladly
gained MIR. Stones permission to write
the incident as nearly as possible in
his own words, forwarding the result
to the War Department of the Cole
brook News, which paper kindly ac-
cepted and printed it. Mr.. Holbrook
was fellow townsman of mine, Il
native of Stratford, N. H., and de-
serves this small tribute to his worth.
which is at your service.
Very Respectfully,
Mrs. S. Nj. (DAY) RADfIELD.
The following incident of the late
Rebellion was related by one of the
actors, and is given as nearly as posi-
BILE in his own language.
III enlisted as a private in Co. E.,
l4th N. II. regiment, and in the Sec
ond year of the war it was stationed
at Camp Adirondack, Washington,
d. G., under command of Col. Rob
ert Wilson. AT that time, 500 rebel
prisoners were confined in the old
Capitol prison guarded by our regi-
ment. News arrived that dctach-
ment Of prisoners was expected on an
incoming steamer and the regiment
with the exception of IL men, was or
dered to the dock to guard them from
the steamer to the central depot The
prisoners, becoming aware Of the
small guard, made threats of escaping.
As a means Of precaution, they were
turned into the yard, enclosed with
brick wall 10 or IL feet high, with a
gate opening outward. VIM. Cob
leigh, lieutenant of the guard, adj
dressed his men, saying: Boys, il is
my duty to detail a man to go inside
the yard to watch the prisoners and
give alarm inan attempt to escape.
but If one of you will volunteer for
this duty it will relieve Inc, as who
ever enters the yard may never come
out alive
A profound silence followed this
then Roswell Holbrook
stepped forward, saying, If anybody
has got to be killed it may as we'll be
me as anybody The gate was opened
and covered by the rifles Of the guard
and he entered, carrying rifle as II !
protection.
After some time, the 'Rebs' began
to crowd up around him, evidently
with the intention Of crushing him.
MIR. Holbrook said to them, Stand off
or some Of you will get hurt and
swinging his rifle and edging around
toward the gate, he called for help.
but not until he had broken his gun
stock and circle of his assailants Law
and bleeding. The guard
in, covering the prisoners
with their guns, and Withdrawing Mr..
llolbrook. Subsequently he again
Entered and remained on guard until
he return of the regiment, which
vas delayed until the next day, the
title squad OF seventeen doing duty
or whole regiment in the mean
inc"
Mr.. llolbrook has been resident
u West Randolph for several years.
English SPAWN Liniment removes all
ard, soft or calloused Jumps and blem
shes from horses, blood spavins, curbs.
pEhnts, sweeney, ringbone, stiles ,sprains'
i swollen threats, coughs, etc. Save S50
the use OF one bottle. Warranted the
lost wonderful Blemish Cure ever known.
nld by Richard G. Morton, Druggist. !
IAN ST., West Randolph, VT.