The National tribune., 1903-04-23
THE LATE COMRADE BOWLEY.
Lincoln Post, OF San Francisco, Adopts
Highly Complimentary Resolutions.

Highly complimentary Resolutions.
The final closing of any earthly career
of practical manhood is always fraught
with thoughts of the past, regretful that
no longer can be continued the pleasan,
companionship with one we have loved
and respected: SO now. with bowed head.
and emotional hearts we reverence til,
memory of a good man, who in obedience
to the memorable law of nature has passed
from among the members of Lincoln Post
Yet, the example of well-spent life
can somewhat reconcile us to its ending
and it is a somber recompense to a friend
that we can place on our records a recOg
milton of the value of an useful and exem
plary existence. SD. .....,
Freeman Sparks Bowley was born il
Orland, Me-, April 10, 1916, and died in
San Francisco, Cal, Jan. "a, 1908.
He came from good old American stock
going back to the "Mayfower' and ply
mouth Rock" and one of his great grand
fathers was in the War of the Revolu
ton and died n prisoner of war.
His ancestors lived in PrOvincetown
Mass, for several generations, and his
parents moved to Orland, Me-, before he
was born.
When he was 10 years of age they
moved to Springfield, Mass. and when IL
years old he went to Worcester, Mass, in
order TO attend the Highland Military
Academy, and not only pursued his stud
les by day but long into the night, that he
might perfect himself in military tactics,
for which he had natural inclination and
with the hope that lie might enter tie
United States service.
Before he was IS years of age he went
to Washington, passed a severe eXamin,
alton. and April %, 1864, was commits
stoned as First Lieutenant of the Both u.
$. G. l., being mustered as such on May
4. 1864.
He Joined his regiment. which was
serving in the First Brigade, Fourth Divi-
SIGN. Ninth Corps, Army of the Potomac,
in time to enter upon Grants famous
campaign from the Rappahannock to
Petersburg, and took an active part in the
battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania,
North Anna. Cold Harbor, Old Church,
and before Petersburg June % and &c,
1864.
He was in the charge of Ferrero's Divi-
sion at the explosion of the mine in front
of Petersburg, July 80, 1864; was taken
prisoner i'll the Crater, and suffered the
indignities then accorded to captured Off
GERS of colored troops. He was confined
in many Southern prisOns-at -Danville,
Camp Asylum, Charlotte, Raleigh and
GOldsbOrO, and managed to escape three
times, but was in every case recaptured
and returned to prison.
After seven months experience as q
prisoner of war he was exchanged March
!. 1865, and rejoined his regiment in
North Carolina, where he served until he
was honorahly mustered out of service
Dec. 30, 1865.
On his return to Massachusetts,, Lieut.
Bowley was chosen Captain of the Spring
field City Guard, which with him as it's
commander soon became known as the
best,drilled company in the. Bay State
National Guard.
In january, 1867, Capt. BowIey came
to California and secured employment as
fireman with the Central Pacific Railroad
Company, and in one years time, by close
attention to his duties, was promoted to
engineer.
He worked continuously as engineer up
to within two weeks of his death, and dur
ing his SO years service had many mar
row escapes from death and many thrill
ing experiences, but never had wreck of
any kind or any accident for which he
was responsible.
On May IT,, 1888. he was proposed.
elected and mustered into the Grand
Army of the Republic by special -dispen-
sation as Comrade of Lincoln Post, No.
1, and more faithful, true hearted, hon
est member this Post can never boast.
While he was possessed of great ener-
gy aud determination, he was man of
modest and retiring manners and of a
most lOvable character. He was de-
voted husband and father. and his wife
and children were always his companions.
Our Comrade Bowley was also an
author of recognized ability, and the con-
tributions from his pen have been read by
many of us in The National Tribune,
Overland Monthly, Youths Companion
and other publications.
The "Boy Lieutenant" early Rail-
reading in California" $40 and Through
West Point" and other stories were not
only enjoyed by thousands of readers. but
will long he remembered as living histories
of practical experiences.
His last request was that he be buried
in the soil of the country for which he
fought, in sight of the Golden Gate, where
the reveille is sounded. and that his coffin
be covered not with flowers. but with the
Stars and Stripes. for which he fought
and suffered and dearly loved.
This request was carried out. and his
remains now rest in the Officers Plot of
the National Cemetery at the Preside.
Regardless of the future, a life we'll
lived is compliment to ancestry and a
legacy to posterity. and when a consistent
an intellectual personality and
Il man such as Comrade Bowley passes
from among us, the members of this Post,
as well as those of the communities in
which he lived, feel that, owing partly to
his influence, he has left this world better
than he found it.
And now, as an unpretentiOus yet per-
evidence of our appreciation of the
worth of our fellow comrade. Be it
Resolved, That Lincoln Post, No. 1,
Department of California and Nevada, G.
A. r., does deeply deplore the loss of one
so long connected with our organizat ton,
and that we do hereby hear tribute to
his ability and his usefulness. and particu-
arly to his loyalty and devoted interest in
the welfare of our Post.
Resolved, That the heartfelt sympathy
md coincidence of the members of Lincoln
Post are hereby rendered to his widow
and children and to the many friends of
Dur late COmrade.
Resolved, That the Adjutant place
these resolutions upon our records and
hat a properly authenticated copy of
same be forwarded to the widow of our
deceased associate.
C. Mason Kline, c. J. Handley, VIM.
Il. Wharf, Committee.