Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-04-06

had been alternating anl was hring
warmed to life 10y new aud spring like
Influences. Coming in contact at this
time with Erastus Buck. who was after
wards distinguished us the brave captain.
he two became one in sentiment and
purpose. As twin Sous of Mars suddenly
born into new and warlike conditions
they soon brcanc the local prr>ouitica-
ton of the warlike enthusiasm Of Il time
filled with fear, anxiety and passionate
devotion. But Capt. Cmrier had no
time To waste in home enthusiasm and
he was speedily off to the front. where he
was soon heard from in that famous
charge at Lees Mills; in which the
brave boys waded breast deep in the
rushing waters which had been let loo,,
upon them. reaching up to carry their
guns above the waters to keep them dry
and fit for action. Coming to the orpo-
site shore they drove vastly superior
force in numbers from their dpfences by
the most daring acts of bravery and by
leaping upon their brrastworkS and call
| ing for the reserve. But when the
enemy saw the ruSe and that there was
no reserve and also that they were as
sailed by only handful of men they re-
turned, and when our boys were retiring
back across the river the enemy secure
in their entertainments poured
shower OF lead upon them which made
the water fairly boil. This was not the
! worst Of the captains experience, nor
yet were the many other perlS and for
tunes which he encountered actively.
fhe sacrifice of his life began when I'M
tble to reach the shore opposite the
enemy he and a comrade were Obliged To
seek shelter in the water by and partly
under the roots of a tree where, SUBJ
merged, and holding on to whatever
they could catch hold of. with inst
enough OF the face above the water to
enable them to breathe, they remained
watching the slowly going down of the
sun until under the shadows Of evening
they could crawl ont and get within the
lines. Like others from this locality he
was in the thick OF the fighting. being
in more than twelve engagements. until
broken in health and crazed with fever
he found himself in hospital from
which with great difficulty he got back
to Vermont and ploldrd his weary way
into his home never to he a we'll man
again. Many years he struggled along
concealing his sutterings, cheerfully per-
forming the duties Of civil life. public
and private, (tor he was much entrusted
with public positions), never complaint
ing being constantly reduced to the
end. With brave and self-sacriticing
life companion. forming a comraderie
more sacred than army ties, he and she
held their little fort besieged by sickness
and other uutoward events till his final
surrender, and fully maintained its sub
stance and responsibility.
Notwithstanding the intense desire Of
mortals to foresee the events in their
lives it is one of the best and wise,t
things in creation that they are con
cealed and that the veil that hides the
future from us cannot be lifted until
they occur. Thus the ardor of the SOL
lier is not dampened by looking beyond
anticipations of the glory of his country
and his own achievements upon that
still, monotonous, toilsome decline down
, which he often YEARLY travels with in
| creasing sickness and suffering to the
! end. But let us not forget life'S com
| pensations, for therein lies human hap
piness. The captain was full of rejoic-
ings at his country's great victory and
| its subsequent prosperity. 1t more than
balanced his sutferings.
| A natural reticence and quiet pride
made him reluctant to apply for pen
sion, but when completely disabled he
did 80 at the earnest solicitation of his
friends who did all in their power to
hurry the matter along, but only after
years delay and on the very day and
just few hours before the captain died
the papers came showing that the pen
sion had been granted. 1t was sad in
deed to see a brave man all warm and
ardent in the joys of peaceful life going.
induced by duty. through the thick of a
soldiers experience, long restrained Nv
pride and patriotism from applying for
a pension and then to see a whole COM
munity waiting with GREATNESS anxiety
for what they knew was soon to happeu
and not be abb to lift hand in aid and
a country as indifferent to and perhaps
unconscious of his situation as if he had
not perilled his life for it,. But to time,
the brave captain and to the sublime
| heroism of life all those things ale inn
material now. They only add a sadder
interest and deeper respect and love
for the brave and generous though
peaceful soldier, the sincere Christian.
l the honest and trusted citizen, the true
S and untaltering friend and brother, and
S the attectionate and indulgent husband