Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-06-22
COLONEL OF THE
old FIRST DEAD
heoNIoN OF THE REGIMENT
sAoD5NED BY COL. COL.
WILLS DEATH.
lHE END CANE PEACEFULLY
GALLANT HERO sUccUMRs TO
| HEART HOE
| GALLANT HERO SuCCuMRs TO
HEART FAILURE AT SOL.
DlERs' HOME.
SAVED DAY AT GETTYSBURG
DESPERATE CHARGE AGAINST a
WHOLE CONFEDERATE BRIG.
ABE LED BY HIM.

Minneapolis, June 15.-On the eve
Oh what was to be the greatest re-
union of Minnesota's first and most
famous regiment, Col. William Col
VII, the Gettysburg commander of that
intrepid body OF men, entered peace
fully into the long rest.
Ills body, SCARED and manned in
the defense of the Union, was found
this morning at the soldiers home.
where he arrived Monday for the re-
union of the old First Minnesota vol
unteers and to participate in to-day's
ceremonies attending he removal of
the Minnesota battle flags to the new
state capitol.
AS the man who led that desperate
charge of 262 Minnesotans against
whole Confederate brigade and check
ed a threatened disastrous advance,
Col. Colvill was man who has en-
joyed a peculiar esteem in this state.
Wounded thrice at Gettysburg and
many times on other fields, he had
| been but the mere battered remnant
of man for forty years. But his
! spirit was indomitable and his pride
! in the glorious record of the regiment
, ne commanded was unbounded.
The End Was Peaceful.
Bereaved ard practically alone in
the world, suffering and crippled phys
cally, the old hero knew in the end
that peace which sometimes leaves its
| neffable imprint upon the face OF hn
dead, but OF which the living can
know nothing. SO marked was this
evidence that the death angel had
touched the Old man kindly III his
sleep, that the body was not disturbed
for hours, but lay as it had been
found while comrades of the Civil
war passed through the chamber gaZ
ing reverently on their ole commands
er in his rest.
Col. Colvil came to the city from
his Red Wing farm Monday night anC
went directly to the soldiers home
Never had he appeared in better sp1r
its and bis health seemed good. Mon
day evening he visited with old com
rades until about II o'clock. Ht
fought over again the old fights ant
the dear memories of the dead soldier
DAVIS were rccounted With accuracy
and real pleasure.
Expected a Good Rest.
When he retired he bade AdJt r
T., McKusick good night and said tina
no felt sure of a good nights resi-
His friend slept In an adjoining room
with the door open between. A.
heard nothing at any time in tn
nigh,
Shortly after a. m. the adlutan
went to call the colonel. He entere
the room and spoke to his friend
There was no answer he approach
cd the bed and was startled by tn
) nallor that had spread over Col. co
} y,jre features. He looked closer an
found that the gallant old soldie
was dead.
The body lay naturally upon its lei
side. with the left hand unoef IN
cheek. The features were CAIN. II
ha clothes were unruffed. The OF
soldier had evidently gone to sleep |
: wake no more in this world. and ha
5 nasscd the great divide without
: struggle and without pain.
Heart failure is believed to nav
caused his death. Col. Colv'li n"
), erioyed fairly good heath, consloe
ing his many old wounds. but he ma
{ Noon troubled some with his heart.
e The Reunion saddened'
- Early Yesterday morning the su
81 rivors Of the ''Old First their wlve
Il children and grandchildren, began
: assemble at the home for the reunion
:" Few knew of the loss IN thelr hiei
= hershir. end when they were met
= comrades living at the nome an
II learned of their bereavement, s'foh
= NON went and the spirit OF tne
> ,n;on was changed from ]oyousne!
va to sorrow.