The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29

open-hearted manners, delicate humor and
fine sense Of honor. In personal appear
ance. as well as habits Of Speech and
thought. he was the image Of his lamented
mother now two years dead, and whose
memory IS fresh in a hundred hearts.
Blessed with ample means and lndulgent
parents, he had made so good proficiency
I'm his studies that at the close of his
seventeenth year he entered junior class
at Yale College where he graduated III
July 1861. From various autographs let
ters from his classmates-such as 1t is
usual TO exchange commencement
day-as well as one from President Wool
sey now in his fathers possession, we find
he preserved the same qualities there as
here, and at once became one of the favor
ties of his class. He seems TO have been
mainly successful as a writer. One of his
productions. From the Cradle to the
Collin, printed at the time in a college
magazine, attracted much attention, and
which, il is not too much to say, gave great
promise of the future. Lieutenant Pratt
did not aspire to become famous for anal
wing Greek verbs or triangles, but rather
70 be master of that art of infinitely great
81 s1 ilhPoI eaIce IMAM any mere book knowi-
edge-hoW 10 win and keep a mans heart
II Is not too much TO say that up TO his
death he had not an enemy in the world
de was thoroughly cOnversant with the
literature of our mother tongue and could
WELD a singularly graceful and correct
pen. Some of his letters, written in pencil,
on scraps of paper soiled with the dust and
smoke OF battle, are models of unStudied
and unconscious pathos and beauty.
Immediately after completing his college
course he commenced the study Of law in
his fathers office. In the succeeding Octo-
Der, when Tor the first time the magnitude
of the undertaking before us became APP
parent and that a gigantic effort must be
put forth, with a disregard OF personal
considerations, rarely seen in one so young
he proceeded alone to Indianapolis and en-
listed as a private for three years in the
United States regulars. For four months
he cheerfully did duty in the ranks, doubly
hQ Vd nv TesC nf hi ions In fatf of
indulgence and luXury-his happy DISPOSE
ton continually turning into mirth what,
to others. seemed hardships and privations.
His correspondence nowhere contains so
many pleasant passages as at this period.
The facts in his case coming soon after
TO the attention of President Lincoln, he
promptly sent into the Senate his nominal
ton for a Heutenantcy in the regulars.
which was speedily followed by a commits
sion. The spring, summer and fall of 1862
were spent in the Eastern States recruit
ing, where at Syracuse and Auburn n. Y,
and at Boston, Mass, he made a multitude
of friends. Recruiting, however, was never
an acceptable service to him, and in the
spring OF 1868 he joyfully hailed the sum
mons TO join his regiment in the field.
During that campaign he was In actual
command of his company in the Fifth
Army Corps, under General Meade, his
captain being absent. His merits soon
raised him to the adjutancy and that,
too, in a branch of the service where pro-
motions come slowly and only on the best
From this time he was continually in the
field. Our readers will readily recall many
of his graphic descriptions of battles and
campaign life. published in the papers of
this city during that season. OF MS own
share in these various enga gementS, but
little is known, either from his letters or
conversations, for he rarely spoke of him
self. and never wrote home except when in
actual service. When he was silent it
was a sure sign he was i'm camp, His
friends who were with him, however. bear
united testimony to his GOODNESS and I'M
flinching courage. and that he was never
so thoroughly himself as when under fire
in danger.
He was with Hooker in the action at
Charlottesville. with Meade in the Penn
sylvania campaign and in the thckest
of the fight at Gettysburg where he was
twice struck; at the affair at Mine Run,
which he describes as the most perilous
of all his experiences, and lastly in the
eight day battles in the Wilderness-fall-
ing finally, almost at the gates OF Rich
mond.
Ever since the commencement of the
present campaign. he seems to have had
a presentIment that his days were num-
bered, yet meme the less anxious to do his
course he had taken. or desisting from his
settled purpose of seeing an end of the war
or falling in the harness. He had his
wish gratfied-that, IL fall he must, 1T
should be in the face of the enemy and by
instant death. II would be consoling to his
friends TO know more or the particulars
of his last days, and especially to procure
his remains but even this the stern neces-
sites of war forbid for the present. And
so we leave him. No life is wasted, how
ever short it may be, that teaches such les
sons for the living as those that gently
whisper from his early grave. Stricken
down in the morning of early manhood,
with all its bright eXpectancies before him
and with few of its actual experiences to
teach him how deceitful they are. with a
record without a stain, and hundreds OF
loving hearts TO treasure II up; safe for
ever from liability to sin and error. which
is the mysterious condition of the grant of
life: and above all. and the best of all.
best with he proud honor of dying for
his countrN-what else add than
exclaim. how fortunate he was! How
tender we ought TO be of his memory! How
grateful for the rich legacies of heroism
and self-sacrifice that he has bequeathed