The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-01-06
The Death OF Sedgwick.

A little before eight O'Clock on the
morning of May 9, the general mounted
his horse, and directed me and two
other staff Ulcers TO accompany him to
make an examination of the lines in
our immt diate flo1t. This day he
rode black pony called "Jeff Davis"
given that name because it had been
captured in Mississippi on the plantc-
ton of Joe Davis, brother of the Con-
federate presidenO. 1t was turned
into the quarter mas ter's department,
from which it was purchased by the
general on his Vicksburg campaign.
He was not well at that time, being
fflicted with bols, and he took fancy
to the poi y because it had remark
al ly easy pace, which enabled the GEL
ersl to make his long daily rides with
much more comfort than when he used
the horses he usually rode. "Litlle
Jeff soon be came conspicuous figure
in the Virginia campaign.
We proceeded to Sedgwick's COM
mand, ard the general had confer
ence with him in regard to the part his
corps was to take in the contemplated
attack. Both Ulcers remained mounted
during the interview. The gallant
commander of the famous Sixth Corps
seemed PARTICULAR cheerful and hope
full that morning, and looked the picture
of buoyant life and vigorous he allh
When his chief uttered some words of
conf lment upon his recent services,
and spoke of the hardships he had en-
countered, Sedgwck spoke lightly of
the difficulties experienced, and ex-
pre- ssed every confidence in the ability
of his troops TO respond heroically to
every demand made upon them. When
the general-in-chief left him, Sedgwick
started with his staff TO move further
to the front
Our patty had ridden but short dis
lance to the left when General Grant
sent me back to Sedgwick to discuss
with him further a matter which it was
bought had not been sufficiently en-
phasized in their conversation. While
| was following the road | had seen
him take, 1 heard musketry- firing
abe ad, and soon saw the body of an
officer being borne from the field. Such
sight was 80 common that ordinarily
it would have attracted no attention, but
ny apprehensions were aroused by
seeing several of General Sedgwick's
sti if beside the body. AS they came
nearer gave an inquiring look. Colonel
Beaumont, of the taft, cast his eyes in
the direction of the body, then looked
at me with an expression of profound
sorrow, and slowly shook his head.
His action told the whole sad story.
His heroic chief was dead.
| was informed that as he was APP
preaching an exposed point of the line
to examine the enemys position more
closely. General Mcmahon, of his
staff, r. minded him that one or two Of
ficers had just been struck at that spot
by sharpshoott re-, and begged him not
to advance fal ther AT this suggestion
the general only smiled, and soon after
had entirely forgotten the warning. Ii.
different to every form of danger, such
an appeal made but little impr6 ssion
upon him. His movements led him
to the position against which he had
Teen cautioned, and he had scarcely
dismounted and reached the spot on
foot when bullet entered his left
cheek Just below the eye, and he fell
dead. AS his life less form was carried
by, smile still remained upon his
lips. Sedgwick was essentially sol
der. He had never married; the camp
was his home, and the members of his
staff were his family. He was always
spoken of Familiarity as "Uncle John,
and the news of his death fell upon his
comrades with sense of grief akin tC
the orrow of pers onal bereavement.
rode off at once to bear the sad in
t, diligence to the genera!-in- chief. Fol
few moments he could scarcely real
ize it, and twice asked, Is he really
deadP,' The shock was severe, and hi
could i'll concel the depth of his grief
He said: "His loss 10 this army il
greater than the loss of whole divi
sion of troops" Gen. Wright was a
once placed in command of the Sixth
Corps. Accomplishing with Grant," b.
Gen. Horace Porter, in the Januar,
Century.