Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-24
General Seth Williams.

Editor kennebee Journal:
| read with Interest the sketch of
General Seth Williams in your paper
of January 10. AS l understand that
the heirs of General Williams in Civ
ing a fund in his memory for school
libraries hope that what he was as a
man may be an inspiration 10 the
youth of the city, may | be permitted
TO add a few extracts from the pub
ished articles at the time of his death
in 1866, which give an idea of what
the ruling principle of his life was and
the honor in which he was held? 1
have also added few words, follow
ing the extracts, from a sketch of
General Williams written by his
brotherin-la law, Benz Apthrep Could
Fuller, a former resident of Augusta.
The y. Y Nation said of him: ."rhe
memory of none who have yet to die will
be held more sacred by soldiers than his.
Painfully diffident of his own merits, In
all duty he was great, comprehensive,
at Washington eoncurred in the scnti-
ment that mo officer of any grade bore
a higher character for integrity, honor.
and unilagging zeal for the success of
our arms; few officers We're more gen
orally known and none was more unit
xersally beloved" The New York
these words: Hundreds of thousands
of the living heroes of this war will
heay ga deep e sigh of regret as they rsad
Williams The New York Evening
Post. after touching and beautiful
tribute to his worth, said. in conclusion:
$50 modest was he, of such a delicate
and gentlemanly spirit and, while so
able unwearied, unrelaxing in his own
duties, so generous in his judgment as
to the duties and services of others, that
to know him made it necessity TO love
him. No one could name his name, at
least to any army officer. without meet
ing the warm answer, and even eXclama-
ton of attachment and respect as If
this one man was the common and be-
The Army and Navy Journal bore testi-
mony to his great patience and fidelity
under ''the vast amount of labor thrown
upon him, to his strict sense of duty
and unswerving performance of it,, and
yet speaks of his social nature as gen
tie a woman, confiding as q child.
The official order of General Meade an
nouncing the death of General Williams
contains the following tribute to his
worth; His public services in eonnec-
ton with the army of the Potomac from
its organization to within a few months
of it's muster out at the close of the war
are too well known to require recital
There was hardly an engagement in
which he did not take part; there is not
a portion of its record or written his
ability and fidelity: and to his officers
and soldiers he was especially endeared
by a never-faiing patience and kindness
of heart that made no labor irkSome that
could promote their interests and well
fare. The General commanding feels that
this official notice is due not only to his
public career, but to the private viz
tues of this distinguished soldier, and
that in him the country has lost faith
full servant, and the army valuable as
Sociate and friend.
General Grant ordered flags at half
mast at his quarters and other military
stations, and requested by telegram that
mic hn a
resting place of General Williams body
request with which his family was
unwilling to comply, though fully APP
prompted it-and he was laid at rest by
the side Of his mother at FOREST Grove
Cemetery in Augusta, Maine, with the
IL was not his to die upon the battle
field. He lived to realize that the battle
had been fought, and the victory won.
Then having faithfully done his duty,
and no longer able to resist the disease
brought on by nearly superhuman efforts
during, the four years of civil strife, he
country. amid loving friends honored
and beloved by all who knew him,
mourned by the army. and by all pa
precate the true and laudable SER
vice he had rendered TO the great cause
of the Union. So fell this Christian gem
Aleman and souderi
1t may be truly said of him,
His life was gentle; and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might
stand up
And say to all the world,-This was a
man.
touches which show the character of
Genl Williams may be of interest 20
supplement the sketch of the laurels he
won as a soldier in Mexico and in our
e'si wa c. S. ].
Cambridge, Mass. Jan. %