The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-19

-naaSter, not Hike q soldier-nsvor alsSpa
never worries, Il never ohoss, but isn't
afraid to come down On q, man who de-
serves it, Sheridan soon. learned that
J he could count on one Of his brieAds COM
manders for vigilance and fidelity, 90 wen
40 brilliant service on the field. On one
occasion during the early part Of this
campaign In the valley Q Sheridan and
his STAFF happened to come over just as
Col. Lowell had four companies ready -
charge the Confederate lines. Tn Con-
federates had piled up iron rails to form
breastWorks. from behind which they nred
volleys at their assailants. h latter
stopped, but their Colonel rode out ahead
Of them, waving his sabre and cheeripG
Thorn. The men then started again, he
leading them, and he was the nrSt man
to Jump the rail pile. the C~onfederates
broke and ran, n Lowell captured
aixty-seven privates and seven oon-
mlssloned officers. Q Sheridan's orderly
has testified that when the Colonel jumped
the rail pile, the General said: Lowell 70
d brave man. According TO the report
of. the Massachusetts, Adjutant-General.
Lowell's regiment in July and August. 1854.
marched eight hundred miles,
v.
When Gen. Early. on October 0. 1854
during sheridan's absence, surprised at
dawn AMI nearly routed the Federal
army. at Cedar Creek. LowelPs brigade
OF cavalry had much TO do in preventing
complete disaster.
His vigilance averted complete surprise
on the right flank Of the Union force, but
unIuckily the weight Of the Confederate
attack fell upon the left flank, and there its
success was at first complete. Col. Lowell.
who with the reserve brigade had OBJ
stinately blocked the Confederate advance
on the right. was presently ordered to the
left, where the need was far greater. We
are told that he rode at the head OF his
| brigade three miles along the front OF the
retiring battle, between the skirmiShers
! and the main line, and though often under
| hre rode as ooolly as II on parade. The
sight revived tho courage Of the Nineteenth
| Corps. which had fallen back. An eye
witness teSti6es: They moved past me.
that splendid cavalry; II they reached the
| Pike, l. felt secure. Lowell got by me
| before / could speak. but l looked after him
| for a long distance. Exquisitely mounted.
the picture Of a soldier. erect, confident.
defiant, he moved at the head Of the finest
body OF cavalry that to-day soorns the
earth IL treads.'
Sheridan Gays that when. later In the
afternoon, he arrived from Winchester.
Lowell's cavalry and a part OF the Sixth
Corps were all the troops he found actually
engaged with the enemy. and his first meg
a was to Col. Lowell inquiring whether
he could hold his position. Lowell said
that he could. and the new line was formed
close behind him. 1t was in q subsequent
movement that q rife ball struck Lowell
in the chest with great force, but did not
penetrate. It caused ~faintness and loss Of
voice, so that he lay for q time on the
ground, covered by the overooat Of one OF
his stan, till his strength should come back
to him, resolved to lead when the line should
advance. By the middle Of the afternoon
he was helped on to his horse-the thtr-
tenth horse In as many weeks that had
been shot under him-and formed his bril-
Rade for the last time. whispering his orders
to his aides, for his voice was gone de-
termined onoe more to charge and TO take
the destructive battery before him. BE
drew his sabre and took position. not as
brigade commander In rear Of the line, but,
as Colonel OF his own regiment, before 1t.
The bugles ave the signal and the oom-
mand, formed in brigade front. rode rapidly
toward the enemy. Almost Immediately
Col. Lowell was struck by a bullet and fell.
The brigade swept on toward the battery
and although the first charge was repulsed
with loss, il was renewed. and soon the day
ended in q great and conclusive victory.
II cost the life OF Lowell, whose faithfulness,
cool courage and ~tenacity had done 60
much to avert disaster and rout.
Some details OF Lowel's Last hours.
Riyen by the stat officers who were with
him, are here reproduced from Prof. James
Mills Peirce's memoir. Although he had
been shot through from shoulder to shoulder
and the ball had out the spinal cord on this
way, leaving the middle and lower part
Of his body completely paralyyed, shs
gave no signs OF suffering; his mind wa
perfectly clear, and he rested calm and
cheerful, though he knew that he had no
chance Of life. He dictated some private
messages Of affection. Then. from time
20 time. as mis- waning strength would
allow. he gave complete directions about
all the details Of his command Not the
smallest thing was forgotten; no ono was
left in doubt. As dawn approached it
was evident that the spirit was gradually
freeing itself from its vesture Of decay.
He had finished his days work. and he
lay tranquil, his mind withdrawn, Il seemed.
into that chamber OF still thought wherein
was the seat Of his deepest Life. As the
day rose into full morning he ceased to
breathe the air Of earth.
As We have said, Charles Lowell was
but 20 years old when he died. For q year
he had don't to the full the work Of a Brig
er-General. While he was fighting his
last hght on the field OF Cedar Greek his
commission AZ Brigadier in the Volunteer
Army was signed at Washington. II mover
reached him. He had never fought for re-
ward. HE present bioerapher suggests that,
like the Morse hero. he might well say:
where the gods have asked for one gift
! have ever given them twain
NJ A gIYyn nprTn