The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1919-02-07
Very Sincerely Yours,
BENSON w. HOUGH,
Colonel, 166th Infantry, U. S. A

The letter referred to above gives
substantially the same details Of
Capt. Hutchcraft's death as those
ALREADY known, and closes with the
following paragraph:
! 'The Regimental Commander, in
recent communication concerning
! Capt. Hutchcraft, summed up as fol-
lows: His utter fearlessness, per-
sonal devotion to his men, devotion
to duty and country, and the inspi
ration given to his subordinates by
his personal bravery, as we'll as the
maximum sacrifice which he had
made for his country, warrant the
awarding Of a posthumous decora-
ton for this gallant officer"
Among the more recent accounts of
depicting the closing
scenes of the great war, not one, in
my judgment, conveys to the reader
a more touching, sympathetic and
accurate statement of the tragic
scene, than the one from Treves, de-
scribing the lofty heroism of Captain
Reuben B. Hutchcraft, as he led his
men fearlessly in front of the main
body of the Rainbow Division at
Chemery, in order to wipe out ma
chine gun nest that was trying to
block the onward victorious march
towards Sedan and the Mouse.
Captain Hutchcraft's decision to
lead the men in person, when he could
have honorably delegated this perilous
duty to a subordinate, marked him as
young man of truly heroic mold
The papers have already given de-
tails of his services and accomplish
ments in public life.
We would merely ask your indul-
gence for a few words to commem-
crate his noble death. His was indeed
life of rare success as a civilian, a
life richer still in promise for the flu
ture, had he been spared. Yet, in his
brief and brilliant career, it seems to
me that he has left a legacy of duty
done that will in the years to come
fire modest worth to noble ends"
To his bereft family, he has be-
queathed a heritage of real heroism
that shall be to them a spotless
escutcheon of honorable distinction to
the name he bore, the contemplation
of which may, in no small measure,
assuage betimes, their unspeakable
sorrow, and in some way, beguile them
from the shadow of the encircling
gloom, that, no doubt, must ever and
non, be theirs. 4
The manner of his death and his
deep sense of duty, reminded the |
writer of another gallant Captain, |
well known to the Confederacy; Of |
John Pelham, who fell at Kelley's |
Ford in 1863, while a youth, and of |
whom the noble Lee exclaimed: "How
glorious it is to see such conduct and |
courage in one so young"
James R. Randall, the author of |
Maryland, My Maryland" has writ
ten some splendid lines in memory of |
the youthful Pelham, which in beauty
and sentiment, are, we think, with few
changes and slight paraphrasing,
equally appropriate and applicable to
the death and character of Captain
Hutchcraft. Both were young men,
devoted to their soldiers, and in turn,
loved by them. Both volunteered to
lead men into most critical and trying
dangers: Pelham, captain of artill-
cry, calamity drove his guns, where
the Federals were filling the very air
with death, and fell in the forefront,
near the James.
Hutchcraft led his boys, where the
German bullets flew thickest, and laid |
down his young life as sacrifice to
country, on the road to Sedan and
victory, hardly by the Meuse. Happy
indeed is the State of Alabama to
have nurtured youth like Pelham
Happy, too, is Kentucky and Bourbon
County to have the lofty and heroic
life of Captain Hutchcraft to adorn
their annals; also proud the county,
will be to throw upon his tomb the
''immortelles of honor" as she en-
balms in her local history, with tender
grace, the memory of him, who gave
to his country "the last full measure
of his devotion"
Just as Peace came smiling through
the strife,
With all its welcome cheer,
In the bright morn of an historic life
Fell noble volunteer.
and bravest in the battle
brunt-
A champion of the Truth
He bore his banner to the very front
Of our immortal Youth.
A flash of guns near where the Meuse
doth flow
The fiery pang of shells
md there is a wall of immemorial woe
In his beloved Bourbon dells.
The voice is stilled that led the gallant
Alono the crimson fold