The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-28
BORN IN WILLIAMSTOwN.
Gen. John Coughlin Died Last Night at
Manchester, N. H.

Manchester, n. H., May 2s.-Gen.
John Coughlin, aged 70, conspicuous for
his bravery in several notable battles
during the Civil war, provost marshal
of the city of Richmond Immediately
after its evacuation by the Confederates
and who since the war has made his
home in the city of Washington, the
most time engaged in trade, died at
l0:l5 last night at the home of his
sister, Mrs. Walter Cody, 2l9 Massabe
street
He was a native of Williamstown, VT.
When he was a boy he came to Man
chester to live, became active asa Demo-
crat in politics, served in the board
of mayor and alderman as an alder
man from ward ) and also represented
the ward in the legislature.
He was a war Democrat, and when
Lincoln's call came for 100000 more"
he resigned in the recruiting of the 10th
New Hampshire volunteers in which he
was commissioned lieutenant colonel un-
der the late Cen. NJ I. Donahue, who
was commander of the regiment 1t
was the fortune of Lieut.. Col Cough
lin to command the regiment in most
of the great battles in which it took
part, and to his training and example,
the regiment owed much of its reputa-
tion of being one OF the best fighting
regiments in the service.
1t received its baptism of fire at the
battle of Fredericksburg. He led the
regiment in the last charge on Mary's
Heights, and il is a matter of history
that this regiment penetrated farther
than any other organized body of men
toward the Confederate lines, its dead
being found within few PAGES of the
earthworks
After retreating a short distance, the
men of the regiment lay down. face to
the foe, and Lieut.. Col. Coughlin, erect
as though on dress parade, paced back
and forth in front of his men as though
courting death. Although up himself.
he commanded his men to lie down and
not TO raise a head or hand as they were
being sought ont by the Confederate
sharpshooters. He seemed to have a
charmed life, and was not touched by
the swarm of bullets which filled the
air all about him.
At Swift's Creek. when the Confed.
crate general, Bushrod johnson, at
tempted by night attack to break
was broken by Coughlin leading his regi-
ment in counter charge although hs
was without orders to do so and was
without supporters. At Port Waitnal
and Drury's Bluff, his services wera
equally as distinguished At the bat.
tie of Col. Harbor it was the 10th regi.
ment, led by Coughlin, that carried
the first line OF the enemy and pene-
trated to more advanced position than
any other troops The 10th regiment
was the first organized body of troops
to enter Richmond, and the city, once
In Federal hands, Col. Conghlin was
made its provost marshal.
For bravery in action, Col. Coughlin
received medal of honor by special
let of Congress, and was also promoted
10 the position of brevet brigadier gen
,ral
At the close Of the war he settled in
where he engaged in the
lrug business for many years, He re.
.ired from business several years ago
because of impaired health, and during
he last three years has spent much Of
lis time among his old comrades in New
His body will be given a
military burial. His only near relative
5 his sister, Mrs. Cody.