Evening journal., 1917-12-04
Colonel NIELDS
VETERAN LAWYER
Called BY DEATH
contInned dom FIrst Page.


living member Of the Delaware bar and
man OF lovable disposition and man
oer. observed his eighty-slxth birth
day anniversary Thursday. July r.
when there was a family gathering.
Colonel Nields was very active. up
until the time he became prostrated by
illness. He was fond Of golf and play
ed his fayorite game at the Wilmington
Country Club until shortly before he
was stricken last July.
The funeral will be held on Thurs
day afternoon at 2 o'clock. The services
win be held az the house, No. SOB
Broome street. and they will be In
charge Of the Rev William Frederick
Dickens Lewis, now Of Cleveland, Ohio,
and formerly pastor of Westminster
Presbyterian Church.
Colonel and Mrs Nields celebrated
their golden wedding anniversary on
The 26th Of last June
The death Of Colonel Nields leaves
Alexander B. Cooper, Of New Castle, ihe
oldest active member OF the New Cas-
tie county bar.
Former Judge lgnatius Z. Grub, the
oldest living member Of the bar next TO
Mr. Nields. and former Judge George
Gray have both retired from active
work. Mr. Grubb was admitted to the
bar in 1862 and Judge Gray in 1863. Col
onel Nields was admitted TO the bar in
1889.
Colonel Nields was born July i2,
1881. IN East Marlborough, Ches
ter county, Pa His parents were
Thomas and Eliza Nields, who were
Friends Of English descent and. whose
ancestors had resided IN Eastern
PENNSYLVANIA since the earliest settle
ments were made there Colonel Nields
began the study Of law in December,
1885. under the preceptorship Of John
:. Patterson. Of this city. and in April
1859. he was admitted to the Delaware
state bar AZ Georgetown. following
which he Immediately began TO proc-
Ice his profession.
In 1856 he attended the Republican
national convention which nominated
Tohn C. Fremont for President, being a
member Of the Delaware delegation.
leaded by the elder Edward g. Brad
ord, for many years Judge Of the
United states district court in This city
10 was practicng law in Wilmington
when the Civil War began.
True 10 the principles for which he
,ver stood Colonel Nields espoused the
snti-slavery cause aud became an en-
'husiastic member of the Frec-soil
party Of anle-bellum days. Tie work
I'd ardently for the election Of Ere
mont in 1856, and later. with more
success, for the election of Lincoln in
1860.
When the call fer volunteers was is
yued In 1861, Colonel Nields assisted In
forming company Of which he was
made FIRST lieutenant I'm 1862 he raised
he only battery Of light artillery ever
recruited IN this state and in this bait
.ery he was commissioned captain. This
battery which was composed of flow
Pr Of The youth of Delaware, an repre-
sentatives Of the oldest and foremos
families in this state. was mustered mt
service in August 1862, and ordered Il
lamp Barry, near Washington 10 as
sisted i'm the defense Of suffolk, Va.
against General Longstreet, and was or
serwards sent TO New York 90 help quel
he draft rioting in that CITY. Later
,aptain Nields was presented with a
lardsomo iewelled sabre as q iestimon-
al Of the admiration and esteem ln
which he was held
The First Delaware Battery. as his Ar
Sillery Corps became known, won such
an enviable reputation for valor that
later. when certain British officers came
over 20 this country 10 examine the i'm
movements made here bon arms ami war
appliances General Barry. Chief Of Ar
tillery in the United states Army, eX-
h,bited TO them Colonel Nields corps OF
men, selecting them rom a number of
regular and volunteer batteries then In
the vicinity Of Washington as one Of tho
best exemplifying The advance made I'm
tnis country in that branch OF war SER
vice. His command became known
ramiliarly as Nields' Battery.
Not long after this honor. this bat
terry. with two others. was PLACED
under the command Of Captain Nields
and ordered 10 the Department Of u
Gulf. Upon reporting TO Genera
Banks Of New Orleans, In February
1854 Captain Nlelds command wa
assigned TO a position in the detach
ment about 20 set out on The Hed Rive
expedition and there 10 participated II
All the engagements Of that unforiunat
tdlupdleAs lNll1NAhc tiiN hn'hi'' "a '"'
line X Roads. Captain Nields wa
placed as Chief OF Artillery on The stat
Of General Emory. After The baitl
on Cane River Crossing. which oc
CURED on April -. 1861, he was com
nissioned lieutenant colonel for con
spicuous bravery ln the fall Of tina
year. he was transferred to the Depart
nent Of Arkansas as chief of the ariil
ery on the staff Of General J. J. Rcy
nolds. The following spring, May. is6,
10 was one Of the officers appointed q
receive the surrender of southern
troops west of the Mississippi River
conducted under The command OF Gen
raj j. Thompson. ln June OF that ycal
.olonel Niolds was mustered ont q
service. lie was the only member 4