The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-06
FINE RECORD
AS SOLDIER
Major LemueI A. Abbott Who
Was Native of Barre
DIED AT ABERDEEN, WASH.
Body Will Be Brought to This City for
Burial--He Came of Family
Long Associated with Barre
Interests.

distinguished ngure IN the military MS
tory OF the country, a veteran of the
Civil war and noted Indian fighter in
the years directly thereafter, died Fri
day, February 3. at Aberdeen, Washing
ton, where he was engaged in completing
book and in being close to a work
which he had entered into enthusiastical-
ly. namely, the improving OF the water
way at Aberdeen.
Major Abbott was accustomed to spend
the summers in Barre, and his last visit
was in the summer of 1909. That fall,
after leaving this city, he went to Wash
ington, D, G.. and spent some time gath.
ering data in the congressional library,
going then to jacksonville, Fla, for the
winter. Last spring he went to Aber-
deem, Wash, though still suffering from
the effects of stroke Of paralysis sus-
tanned during the winter. During the
summer months, he was iii with Brights
disease and apopleXy and only recently
he went to the General hospital in Aber-
deem. However, he was able to sit up
part of the time, and he conducted his
correspondence to the last.
Lemuel Abiiah Abbott was born on
the Abbott homestead, Barre, near the
location OF the Wells & Lamson quarTies,
on August "a, ls43, being the son Of
Richard Flagg and Mary Norris Abbott.
The senior Abbott was born in Barre in
1900, and his father. Abijah, was one
OF Barre's earliest settlers, having come
here from Holden, Mass, in 1898 and
having opened up the land which is
known as the Abbott homestead.
The father Of the subject OF this
sketch died when the lad was Is years
Of age. l.enuel A. Abbott commenced
fitting for college by attending Barre
academy, paying his way by teaching
and at the same time assuming the
peemiary responsibility for the care of
a favorte younger brother till the latter
died in 1861. Shortly after that, the
care Of an invalid mother in a hospital
was assumed by the young man and
maintained until her death in 1887
In 1861, the war OF the rebellion hav-
ing broken out. young Abbott went to
Norwich university, then located at Nor
wich, to fit himself ii his services should
be needed. Then, at the age OF lS,
giving up his college preparatory stud
les. he enlisted III the Union army
going into Company 3, 10th Vermont
Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Cap
tain Edwin Dillingham; OF Waterbury.
Young Abbott was made sergeant and
was later promoted in due course to sec
ond lieutenant aud then first lieutenant.
In the brilliant assault by his regiment
at Winchester. he was badly wounded,
having part OF his lip shot away, both
Jaws crushed and eleven teeth knocked
out.
On account OF these wounds, he was
absent several months, and on his re-
turn 20 the army he was made captain.
In the battle of Monocasy he was pain
fully wounded in the hip by piece of
shell, but declined to leave the field be-
fore his regiment on account OF the
hopelessly weak condition Of the Union
forces. Except for Cedar Creek and
Fishers hill, when he was out, wounded,
Captain Abbott participated in every on
gagement fought by the army of the
Potomac until the elese of the war.
AT the end of the war he was made
adiutant OF the 9th I. S. G. l. and on
July ?, 1867, he was appointed second
lieutenant, 9th e. S. Cavalry, being in
due time promoted to first lieutenant
and then captain. On July 3, 1885, he
was retired from the army on account
of old wounds and disability incident to
long service. On April 10, 1894. he was
breveted major in the United States
army, for bravery in the Indian cam
paigns,
During his active service in the regular
army. he was highly eompiimented in
official communications for efficiency as
quartermaster, by General L. G. Eaton,
chief qusrtermaster of the department
of Missouri, and by General Nelson A.
Miles. commanding the Indian territory
expedition in 1874. hS being quartermas-
ter on General Miles staff, General o.
b. Wilcox, commanding the department
of Arizona, commended him in his an
nual report in 1880 for efficiency in ar
resting certain turbulent Apache Indians,
including a noted chief Major A. W.
Evans commended him in 1882 for cour-
ageous and effective service in fight
with the Apaehes on July IL. OF that
year.
At various times Major Abbott served
on the stats of Generals P. II. Sheridan.
Nelson A. Miles. James 0akes. James
Biddle, Thomas II. Neill. y. r. Laughlin
and Others. Another important service
was in being sent by the government
as committee OF one 10 investigate
and report upon a method of subdung
the Indians. Major Abbott came back
and advised educating the Indians, and,
although the report was received with
scorn in some quarters, il was adopted,
and the Indian question was largely set
tied as a result.
Besides his interest in the deep water
way at Aberdeen. Major Abbott was in
strumental in 1891 in having the outer
bay to Gray's harbor Washington. sur
veyed by the United States government. |
which the interests of commerce de- !
manded. For his services for Aberdeen.
the chamber of commerce of that place I
elected him an honorary member for
life.
His Heart Still in Vermont.
But. although his greatest activities I
were elsewhere, Major Abbotts heart /
was still in the Vermont home, as indi
Gated by q letter which he wrote last 4
summer from Aberdeen, part OF which |
Il could write quite an essay on the 4
contrast given between the Roekv noun. 4
taius. one Of the wonder regions of the 4
world. and the Green mountains OF Yer /
mont. but not 10 the latter's delrimeut