Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-06-05
THE MAN WE HONOR.
A Sketch of William Henry Browne,
the Gallant Colonel of the
45th Va. Infantry.

Six feet and two inches in height,
straight, So iarc shcul lered, with Il high,
narrow, wcll.puiscd head, aud features
that were sharply cut and regular; Straw
col rei hair and bluc eyes in which always
parked 81 smile Il slightly Dropping nous
tnche arr IL knightly growth Of beard. half
revealing and half conccaling the youth
iuln, s. of the fi.ce-hehold Col Browne
step out upon the canvas before you
He WAS the SON ~ Geo. w. q. and Sarah
Anne Browne, nee Gillespie, and was born
November 9th, lS2S, mt'" Sunnysile," in
the suburbs OF Tazewol His f,ther was
native Of the State of Maine. w.ls bnrn ut
Portland, the birth place OF l.o,g0elow
0n many other notable men, and when
quite young came to Tazewcll ns an a,lven-
turer. He hatl, however, before coming
South graduated at Buutcin college where
he was classmate Of franklin Pierce,
afterwards President, and Nathaniel liaW-
throne, the novelist. He and Pierce were
intimate friends beginning when they sepa
rated Il correspondence that was continued
through the ipitcrs administration. He
was Il man Of fine parts, very popular, hay
ing held the clerhs!lip for long term Of
years.
Young Browne received his elementary
education intlic public schools of Tazewen.
Major X. Britain, one of our pionee"
and III, st efficient teuchers, WAS one of his
INSTRUCTORS He Nasa studiotts and mainly
boy
In the fall of s5z, when he was nine
teen years of age. through the influence
! of hi fathers old friend, who had mt that
time just retired from the Presidency, lie
WAS appointed a cadet lowest Point. He
remained there until the spring of 1861
when, by what means We have been una
BILE to ascertain, he escaped and came
home to cast in his lot with the Conled-
eracy. From two letters printed in
another column the reader can CLEAN some
idea of his life there. At that time the
course mt Wrst Point covered five years
instead of four, rs now, and he lacked
only few months Organization.
After his fathers departure for Texas
in 1897 he went into the family of Mir
Isaac Chapman where lie remained as II
foster son. From MIR. Chapman we learn
that his reports were always excellent
lie stood close to the head of his class
Therefore, it was not "a breach of disti:
pine, nor anything OF the kind, that
brought him home from West Point. 1t
was the same spirtithat manifested itself
throughout the campaigns of the 10th.
Va. Regt. He came. bringing, we dare
FAY, dreams of glory in his bosom; to lay
his young life, so rich with promise of
noble achievement, on the altar iof his;
State.
When the Tazewell troops were organ
lied he WAS elected captain of Co: SC. "
1t will be remembered that the first or
ganization took place mt Camp Jackson
: near Wytheville.
In the first campaign he did not evince
very marked military ability. Various
other captains in the i.esiment > ere
thought to be his superiors as comman-
ders. lie needed more scope. The
sphere was not large enough for the opera
ton of so expansive Il nature.
, AT the reorganization May 10Th, 1852,
, he succeeded Harry Heth,I of Washing
ton, ID. c., who is now in the department.
of war, MS colonel Iof the regiment. This
promotion was brought about mainly
: through the efforts of his fellow captains,
Hartman and Fudge. He was now in a
position commensurate with Isis ability
and hencefolth until he fell at Piedmont
he had the confidence and esteem of his
2 regiment. A lifelong friend of his writes
this of him: 'In every position in which
he was placed he measured in the dis.
charge of his duties fully up to the expec-
tations of his friends and of his superior
officers. He was soldierly and command
n ing in appearance. In disposition he was
j. gentle and mild and always considerate Of
: the rights of others with whom lie came in
= contact. AS a commander he was cool,
n deliberate, brave, of clear and accurate
c Judgment He had q determination that
J, no obstacle could shake: AS discipline
ian he had the tact to- enforce rigid
e obedience, yet with such gentleness and
Il kindness as to win the love and admira.
II ton of all who were subject to his com.
C mand.'
i We have not the space nor the material
1t to 60 into the details of the operations Of
e tile regiment. The most important en-
d gagements in which it took part were those
8 OF Dry Creek, Sewell Mountain, Cotton
81 Hill, Gross Lanes, Cloyd's Farm ane
o Piedmont
p 1t was in this last battle, June 5th
e 1864, about two o'clock in the afternoon
0 that he fell, pierced by a, minie, ball, a
is the head of his columns;
'e amidst the acclaim of thousands her
!, aiding TO. Heaven his name
1. Mid all those heller harmonies of fam,
IAt Il ~