Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-16
Ills FATHER BLAMED LINCOLN
Gravestone Inscription Arraigns
Martyr President.
IT. Adams Cemetery Contains Strange
Relic Of civil War Days Erected
by Gricf-stricken Father of
Andcrsonville Victim

Chisseled upon a marble shaft that rests
Wer the grave of Joseph Partridge Brain
ord. brave Union soldier. in a cemetery
1t St Adams. is an inscription which
charges that Abrahm Lincoln cruelty
neglected him, and expresses a bitterness
against the president which probably
finds few parallels In this country The
monument was erected during the civil
war and for Is years it has been stand
Ing. voicing the anguish of a father who
lost his son in the war
Tho stone rests on the Brainerd lot in
the Main street cemetery, which is the
principal burying ground In the city. The
Inscription from its length as we'll as it's
sentiment attracts attention. 1t is well
known to the people of st. Adams for
the Branerd family is one Of the best
known ir. the city and hundreds of resi-
dents remember both the young man
whose grave 1t marks and his father.
"Uncle Jo' Brainerd. who wrote the
bitter words
The inscription on the west face OF
The stone relates a tragedy. Anyone
whose heart has ever known loss
through the visitation Of the grim reap
Pr will not find 1t difficult to understand
The short and sad story which has been
Engraved upon the monument. The in
fcription Is as follows:
THE INSCRIPTION.
'Joseph Partridge Brainerd. son
OF Joseph II. and his wife. Fanny
Partridge, conscientious, faith
full. brave Union soldier. was born
on the 9th day OF June, 1910; grad
uated from the University Of YER
mont in August. 1862: enlisted in
Co. l. of the Vermont cavalry; was
wounded and taken prisoner by the
Rebels in the Wilderness. May 3,
1864; was sent to Andersonville
Prison Pen in Georgia. where he
died on the 18th day of September.
1864 entirely and cruelty neglected
by President Lincoln. and murder
ed with impunty by the Rebels
with thousands OF our loyal sol
diers by starvation. privation and
exposure and abuse"
The monument. which stands about five
leet high, Is of beautifully grained whie
marble. The body of the stone rests on
double base and slightly tapers to-
ward the cap. The top is surmounted
with narrow projecting cap upon which,
running half way round the monument,
are these words: Honor the Faithful
and Brave Soldier" The stone when
erected was one of the most expensive in
the cemetery. The south side OF the
monument shows but nine words. but they
are expressive: vengeance Is Mine
VIII Repay, Saith the Lord"
The short biblical extract is subject
to several interpretations as read upon
the stone. but read with a knowledge Of
the circumstances surrounding the case
Inscription. The painful implication is
that it was phrased to apply to the par
ties blamed in the first instance for
young Brainerds death-"President Lin
coin and the rebels" The extract is a
part OF the 10Th verse Of the 18th chap
ter Romans The whole verse reads:
Dearly beloved avenze not yourselves.
but rather give place unto wrath: for It
IS written. Vengeance is mine, will re-
pay saith the Lord" The preceding
verse says "If II be possible. as much
as lieth in you. live peaceably with all
men " Tho succeeding verses have this
admonition: Therefore. if thine enemy
hunger. feed him; II he thirst. give him
drink, for in so doing thou shalt heap
Goals Of fire on his head. Be not over
come Of evil, but overcome evil with
good"
THE FATHER A DEACON.
When 1t is stated that the father OF
the soldier was a deacon in the Congre-
gational church 20 years was an active
churchman and knew his Bible thor
cughly. 1t must he admitted that Bacon
Brainerd had a motive in selecting only
part of the verse in question. He chose
1t because it expressed his feelings, and h,
omitted the context apparently because /
did not agree with his state Of mind.
Pity for the suffering Of the father
who erected the stone tenaners fhe amaze