St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-03-16
I'm VICTORIAN.
The TrIbutc of she Military Order of
ahe Legal Legion to the Memory
of the late Capt. n. ID. Rl0daefs.

-
she Loyal Legion to the Memory
of the late Capt. r. ID. BIodsets.
The following tribute to the memory
of the late Capt. P. D. Biodgett. for SO
many years a resident of ST. Johnsbury,
is herewith published by direction of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion and
in compliance with its by laws by order
OF Lieut. George Grenville Benedict, u. S.
", commander. through Henry O. Wheel
er, brevet captain, U. S. ", recorder:
Capt. Pearl Davis Blodgett was born
in Randolph, April Z, 1928. and was edu-
Gated in the common schools OF that
town, entering the mercantile business
there at seventeen years of age. He
enlisted as private soldier in August,
1862. Having recruited a part of a COM
pany in Orange and Caledonia counties
he was, upon the organization of Com
paDy 6 of the 10th Regiment Vermont
Volunteers, elected it's first lieutenant.
Captain Damon of the companynot join
ing the regiment until November, Lieu
tenant Blodgett was in command for
nearly the first three months of his ser
vice. His soldierlv qualities and efhci-
ency,in command so quickly developed,
slated him at once tor early promotion.
Soon after Captain Damon took COM
mand of the company Lieutenant Blodg-
EFT was promoted to the captaincy of
Company E, vice-Capt. M. e. Winslow
who had recently resigned. He served
with Company E until the third OF June,
1864. when he was severely wounded at
Cold Hart Dor, his left arm being shattered
by mimic ball.
The 10th Vermont was fighting regi-
ment and its service was no holiday
excursion. Where there was hard work
and hard fighting to be done that regi-
ment was very likely to be found. For
nearly two years and until he left it. Grip
pied for life, Captain Blodgett was one
of its most faithful, conscientious and
efficient officers. He was reported among
the dead and mourned by his family and
friends as lost until later reports cor
rected the error. After a severe opera
ton and tedious siege in hospital he
recovered and was later appointed cap.
tain in the veteran reserve corps. where
he served until November, 1865. After
he was mustered out of service his 9lfe
was spent mainly in St. Johnsbury. He
was for a long time town clerk and town
treasurer and the head of an insurance
firm with large and successful business.
He was for many years Mason and
very prominent in the order. He was
several times elected commander of
Chamberlin Post, 6. A. R, and was for
one term department commander. He
is survived by his wife-who was Laura
A. Freeman, and whom he married fifty
years ago June 16, 19O3,-by three sons
and two daughters, and by three broth
ers and two sisters.
Captain BlOdgett was fine example
of the good, ld-tashioned Christian gen
tleman, always faithful, earnest and sim
cere, with no faint or shadow of hypoc-
risy or sanctimony. While lifelong,
consistent and active church member,
most enthusiastic and efficient gospel
worker" for many years a deacon in an
orthodox church and a strong tenn
perance man by precept and example,
always strict and exacting with himself.
he never considered it his mission or his
province to stand as perpetual rebuke
to the weaknesses and foibies of others.
The old-fashioned notion so often ex-
pressed, that a Christian should be Gin
the world but not of it," found little
response with him. He lived in and was
distinctly of the world, and the world is
better tor every man like him. He was
intelligent enough to recognize and
broad enough to appreciate and to never
forget that a company in a volunteer
regiment is made up OF equals, a pure
uGmOCTdCy, CuOOS1DS Ills OWN OulCcIS,
and that no officer so chosen should ever
be in any offensive sense an autocrat.
While he was at all times captain of his
company he never forgot that each pri-
vate soldier was a man and as such to
be treated with respect and kindness.
While good diseiplinarian and an effic-
lent commanding officer, ne was no mar
tinet. He was incapable of any offensive
show of authority upon any occasion
and freely conceded to others all that he
claimed for himself. He was self reliant,
but always courteous and considerable.
''His amer expressin' with vim,
His faith in his self, and that others
Was just good fellers him."
In all his relations Captain Blodgett
was arare man. His courteous demeanor,
unvarying good humor, and native kind
ness of heart won for him the love and
lifelong friendship of all his comrades.
His was most charming and genial
personality. and it may be said that each
man in his company and each oficer.of his
regiment was his friend, and that he is to-
day most pleasantly and affectionately
remembered by all the survivors of them.
WILLIAM w. HENRY
E. HENRY POWELL, }Committee.
JOHN A. SHELDON.