The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-11-26
COL. LEWIS o. MORRIS.
Loving Tribute Paid to the Memory OF q
Gallant Soldier.

At the annual Reunion of the Albany County
Regiment, also known as the 7th b. A., in Al
bany. n. Y. recently, Maj Daniel j. o Brien,
of the Adjutant- Generals Office contributed a
paper bearing on the military career and death
on the battlefield of Col. Lewis O. Norris after
whom Lew O. Morris Post, g. Ar. is named,
and who was the first Colonel of the regiment.
In it he said:
"Col Lewis o. Morris was soldier by BIRTH
His fathers monument in the Rural Cemetery
records his death at Monterey leading his COM
mand, after an honorable career in the Kegular
Army. In consideration of the services OF the
father, the son was Immediately commissioned
by President Polk as First Lieutenant OF tho
LIST U. s. Art, which was then an unusual CIR
cumstance, as all commissioned officers were
elected from graduates of West Point. Often
when asked if he had graduated from there he
would answer: mo; graduated from Mexico,
when my father was killed in action be
gloried in the military spirit of his ancestor.
Later on he was presented with the sword, sasn
and belt designed for his father lGen. l.. ".
Morris, U. S. Al by the citizens OF Albany as
q testimonial of the high esteem in which they
held him. He felt proud of his gift, and loved
his father to be called one of 'Albany's favorrte
sons How we'll he earned this title is shown III
later years, when he was promoted Captain OF
Co. C, LIST u. S. Art, and when, on April 20,
1862, be opened fire on Fort Macon, N. e., then
NV
shots, they surrendered, and the flag Of the
Union was floating over another fertilization.
Capt Morris aud his battery were oltentimes
honorably mentioned in General Orders OF the
War Department., and in every history OF the
rebellion.
AFTER 1s years service in the Regular Army
he was furoughed. and in August, 1862, he was
placed in command of the 18th N. Y. as Colo
! mel. The regiment was formed ready Tor
muster in when he joined it at Albany, and
with it Immediately proceeded to Washington,
where he was we'll known as superior artil-
| lery officer. The regiment was assigned to the
defenses from Chain Bridge to Fort DE Russey,
where he soon made the not well-driiied civil
| ian equal to the Regular Army soldier. The
regiment was changed to the 7th II. A. Decem-
Der. 1863 and in the following May was first
among the reinfOrcements called for by Gen.
| Grant at the battle of the Wilderness. In this
| engagement. which happened on the 18th OF
| May, the regiment drove the enemy several
miles, when they attempted to capture our
| wagon trains Gen. Meade. in orders issued
| shortly after the battle, complimented the
| regiment stating that they had acted more
| like veterans than new troops.
Next, at North Anna River, when the regi-
ment made the charge if on parade, the
Colonies admiration knew no bounds; and
the successful charge at Cold Harbor, where
the regiment captured 400 prisoners and two
stands OF colors, being the only regiment to
penetrate the enemy's lines that day, made his
cup of joy full to overlooking. His only re.
| greet was the great loss of his men, whom he
loved 80 much. 1t was my pride and privilege
| to be by his side at all times, and his sy mpa-
| thetic nature for those under his command
was surprising for born and reared in the
lap Of war. He acting as Brigadier-
General in place of Col. Brooks, who had been
wounded the day before while making q
charge
"On the 4th of June Gen. F. C. Barlow. then
| commanding the division. ordered Col. Morris
to locate a battery SO as to silence the enemy 6
guns. While carrying out the orders OF his
| superiors he exposed himself to a sharpshooter,
who sent bullet into his left shoulder. which
lodged in the spine, causing paralysis, which
terminated in his death three hours later.
! Save the colors ut all hazards were his dying
Instructions given in whisper to DIR. Poun-
fret. his Brigade Surgeon, who loved him
| dearly, and to those around him in the field
hospital. where he expired.
The remains arrived in Albany June 3.
1864. and were conveyed to the residence of
his brother-in-law, DR.. Vanderpoel. The de-
ceased was buried With military honOrs, the
| funeral taking place from the North Dutch
| Church, where the services were conducted by
| the pastor, the Rev. DIR. Rufus w. Clark. The
| funeral escort consisted OF the 25tb regiment,
preceded by Schreiber's Band. The bearers
were Gems. Rathbone and Vanderpoel and Coils.
Baker, Ainsworth, Young, aud Harcourt.
The hearse bearing the body WAS followed by
the horse of the deceased. with officers and sol
diers of the army, the Committee Of Arrange
| ments. the Mayor and Common Council, in
carriages. The brave and fearless Col Morris
was laid away to rest in the Rural Cemetery
where handsome monument marks the spot
and where every Memorial Day flowers in great
proiusion are placed by loving hands of surviv'
ing members Of his old regiment and Of the
GAR. honOred by his name."