USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The heroes of Albany. A memorial of the patriot-martyrs of the city and county of Albany, who sacrificed their lives during the late war in defense of our nation 1861-1865 > Part 40
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490
LIEUT. WILLIAM H. POHLMAN.
But the last closing tragedy draws near. Our hero, after passing through the toil, hardships and perils of thirteen hard fought battles, appears before us in the bloody field of Gettys- burg. Our forces, weary, hungry and exhausted by their long marches under the burning sun, wheeled into ranks to receive the shocks of the rebel artillery. Those memorable three days of July, when heroism and brave endurance won such triumphs, will never be forgotten by a grateful people. On the 2d of July, the valiant Colonel of the regiment was severely wounded, and Lieut. POHLMAN was the only field officer left during the remainder of the battle. How keenly he felt his responsibility, and how well he discharged his duties, his men relate with pas- sionate pride. How could they falter, when, wherever the peril was greatest,
" There was no braver sight
Than his young form, steadfast 'mid shot and shell."
But late in the afternoon of Friday, July 3d, a Minnie ball struck his arm, and frightfully shattered it. He was at once urged to withdraw from the front, but he answered, " No, never while I have a sound arm left to fight with." An hour later his sword arm failed him, and another ball, glancing from his swordhilt, which it shattered, pierced his right wrist, and severed an artery, thus disabling him from service. At this crisis his noble nature shone forth with new lustre. To the soldiers, who would have borne him from the field, now almost won, he said, "Boys, stay in your places. Your country needs every man of you." Thus he left them, but not until he had groped about in his blindness, to recover, if possible, the sword given to him by his adopted mother. Its empty scabbard, battered and blood-stained, with the glorious motto engraved upon it, unmarred: "For God and your country," is now the most cherished relic to her who filled a mother's place to the orphan boy. He reached the camp, having fainted on the way from loss of blood, and was laid by the side of his beloved Colonel. So careful was he of the feel- ings of his friends in this city, that he withheld his name from the newspaper reporters, lest the tidings of his wounds might shock those who were dear to his heart.
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LIEUT. WILLIAM H. POHLMAN.
In a characteristic note dictated the following day, after first speaking of their glorious victory, he added, "The usual good fortune which has attended me in thirteen battles of the war, has forsaken me in the fourteenth engagement. I bear honor- able wounds in my country's cause." Our hero was tenderly cared for, and under the influence of a home presence, and while hoping soon to welcome a beloved only sister, he seemed to rally; but on the night of the 20th he sank rapidly, and at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, July 21st, his noble spirit went to its reward. His nearest relative says of her patriotic and christian brother: " We could not wish him a prouder record, nor ask for him a worthier death."
' Great God of night ! Accept our sacrifice; Bid thou our country rise, The joy of longing eyes, The home of Right.' "
The following is an extract of a letter written by a dear cousin of the deceased, and published in The Princetown Standard:
We found MARY (the sister) in the greatest distress. She felt her loss the more because she was not able to get to her dear brother. The news which first arrived was that WILLIE'S wounds were slight, and that he wanted somebody to come on, so that he could be removed to his home, in Albany. His adopt- ed brother went on immediately, and then he begged for his sis- ter. Three telegraph messages in succession were sent to her, none of which she received. Letters were written on three suc- cessive days, each giving particular directions to his sister for her journey, urging her to come on, which all failed to reach her, until after the intelligence arrived that the dear boy's spirit had flown.
I hardly know where to begin to tell you about WILLIE, but will commence at the time of his first wound.
The Captain of his company (his intimate friend) being mor- tally wounded, the command devolved upon him. He bravely, at the head of his men, cheered them on, fighting with all his might. At length a shell hit him, shattering his left shoulder
492
LIEUT. WILLIAM H. POIILMAN.
and arm, which hung powerless by his side. His men urged him to leave the field, but he said, " Not while I have my sword arm left." For an hour, he bravely rushed on to victory, when a Minnie ball penetrated his right wrist, and passed up his arm, shattering his sword in pieces. One of his men wound his hand- kerchief round the arm, and pushed his ramrod in the wound, to keep it from bleeding. They now proceeded to carry him off the scene of action, but the brave, noble boy said " No, every man is wanted; go back to your post," and notwithstanding all their entreaties, he insisted upon walking. He walked three miles, fainting once by the way. He happily fell among very kind friends, who did everything in their power for his comfort. The reporters came repeatedly, and begged him to have his name put among the wounded. No, he would not, for his wounds were, he thought, slight, and it would needlessly alarm his friends at home, and he expected so soon to be taken to them.
When the Surgeon extracted the bones from his shoulder, not a groan or sigh escaped his lips. The Surgeon asked, "Doesn't that hurt you, Adjutant?" The reply was, "Of course, a little." I know he must have used all his fortitude so that his dear sister might not hear how he suffered. On Monday, the day before he died, he longed so for his sister. He did not expect to die, neither had those about him the least idea that he was so near his end. He had a long talk with his adopted brother, until the fever flushed his face, when he was requested to desist. He then dropped asleep, when his wound commenced sloughing, as it is termed. It means that a second bleeding takes place, an outward and inward hemorrhage, and the dear boy slept away his life. Ife was called by name several times, but he took no notice. The steward stooped down and shouted in his ear, "Adjutant." He opened his eyes for a moment and then closed them again. A short time before he died he raised his head, gave the order "Cease firing," dropped it again, and in few moments expired. He was not the only one who died on that day. There were over one hundred and fifty who were wounded in the same battle, and whose wounds were all, as they thought, getting along well, but just between two and three o'clock the barometer fell, and
493
LIEUT. WILLIAM H. POHLMAN.
immediately the wounds of the more than one hundred and fifty commenced sloughing, and every one died. It is said that such a thing has never been known before.
The body was embalmed and sent to Albany, and reached Mrs. MCCLURE's on Saturday evening. It was a comfort to have the precious remains at home, but oh, how unlike WILLIE! The funeral services were very interesting. Dr. SPRAGUE opened with a prayer. Mr. NEVIUS followed with a touching address, and Dr. CLARK, of whose church W. was a member, closed with prayer and the benediction.
Mr. NEVIUS referred to his deep attachment to the father (with whom he was formerly associated in the missionary work in China) and of that love having been transferred to the son. It was truly a comforting address. A flag was thrown over the foot of the coffin with a broken scabbard upon it. At the head, a beautiful wreath of flowers was placed.
His cousin, JOSEPH SCUDDER, did not receive the news in time to attend the funeral. He came in the evening. He said if he had known WILLIE was dangerously wounded, he would have gone on immediately. He referred to a satisfactory conversation he had with W. after his visit home, in February, on his way to join his regiment. He went from home to Governor's Island. Chaplain JOSEPH SCUDDER is now stationed at Governor's Island, and was formerly Chaplain of the Fifty-ninth New York State Militia, with which Lieutenant POHLMAN was connected at the time of his death. Mr. SCUDDER remarked that as they parted, he said, " WILLIE, live for Jesus." He answered, "Yes, I will." Mr. S. says that he has not the least doubt that the precious one is now happy, and he is as perfectly assured of this as if he had been with him at the last, and heard from his own mouth that he was going to Jesus.
The following tribute to our departed hero has been received from a college classmate:
My acquaintance with WILLIAM POHLMAN began September, 1859, at which time we entered the Freshmen's elass of Rutger's college at New Brunswick, N. J. We soon became well
494
LIEUT. WILLIAM H. POHLMAN.
acquainted, and our acquaintance rapidly grew into a strong friendship, which continued until he left the college in the spring of 1861.
He was, in many respects, a remarkable young man. The first prominent characteristic that one would notice in him was his sprightliness and vivacity. He was very quick in his movements, and all his actions showed that he possessed an energy that might be quite irresistible. His continual good nature made him a most pleasant companion, and this alone won for him many friends. He was always ready for fun; was noto- rious in his class for his perpetual good humor and pleasant wit; and in all college sports, none was more eagerly sought or better fitted to take the lead than POHLMAN.
Combined with this natural buoyancy of spirit and activity of body, was a natural quickness of mind, which made study no real task for him. His power of quickly grasping and thoroughly comprehending a subject, was indeed wonderful in one so young. For him a few moments would be sufficient in which to acquire a perfect knowledge of a lesson, which it would take most of his classmates an hour to learn, and his recitations were almost invariably perfect. This quickness of mind, combined with a most excellent memory, an ambitious zeal and an indomitable perseverance, soon ranked him among the best in his class, and we all looked upon WILLIAM H. POHLMAN as one who, if spared, would make his mark in the world.
But these are intellectual graces. There are also graces of the soul which as far outshine the intellectual, as the noonday sun excels in brightness and glory the midnight star. These spi- ritual graces POHLMAN possessed in an eminent degree. His whole walk and conversation evidenced true piety of heart. As he entered upon his college course with the design of preparing for the ministry, his whole energies while in college, were bent towards the attainment of that object. He was always in his place at the college prayer meeting on Friday afternoons, and his fervent prayers and earnest exhortations often warmed our hearts and encouraged us to renewed diligence in the Master's service. It may be proper also to state here, that as he con-
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LIEUT. WILLIAM H. POHLMAN.
templated entering upon the foreign missionary work, he was one of a faithful few who sustained a missionary prayer meeting. This little band often met in his own room, and on those occa- sions fervent prayers were offered to God in behalf of the mis- sionary cause.
A prominent and well known characteristic was his love of everything that was honorable and manly. He despised mean- ness, in any shape or form, and nothing would so rouse his indig- nation and scorn as the commission, by any one, of a cowardly and ungentlemanly act. He was generous to a fault, always ready to use any means in his power to accommodate a friend, or relieve any one in distress.
Such were some of the characteristics of WILLIAM H. POHL- MAN. Every one who knew him could not but love him, and all saw before him a bright career of usefulness, when he should enter upon the labors of the minister of Christ. But God, in his providence, ordered otherwise. He had scarcely passed through two years of his collegiate course, when the trumpet of war sounded through the land. Traitors were aiming deadly blows at the life of the Nation. Men were needed to punish them, and save our Government from a horrible death, and POHLMAN was the first, among a number of others in Rutger's College, to shoulder his musket and rush to the field of battle. Friends and relatives expostulated, entreated him not to go, but in vain. He saw his duty before him, and that duty must be performed. He fought bravely. For two long years he patiently and patriotically endured all the toils and privations of a sol- dier's life, when, at the battle of Gettysburg, July, 1863, he received the wound which soon after caused his death.
Thus terminated the glorious career of one of Rutger's noblest sons; the devoted Christian student; the patriotic Christian sol- dier. God's ways are mysterious; but He doeth all things well. Yet who would say that it were doubting God's goodness, as we stand by that silent grave, to wish that WILLIAM H. POHLMAN might have lived to become, what he bade fair to be, a faithful servant of Christ.
496
LIEUT. WILLIAM H. POHLMAN.
The following account of the conversion, and Christian charac- ter of Mr. POHLMAN, has been furnished by an esteemed fellow citizen, Mr. ANTHONY:
ALBANY, March 7, 1866.
Mrs. J. MCCLURE:
Madam-In compliance with your request that I would furnish you with the incidents relating to the conversion and the carlier Christian life of your nephew and my former pupil, WILLIAM II. POHLMAN, I would present the following statement:
I think it was in the autunm of 1856, that, near the close of the day, I was in company with GEORGE BLAKE, (afterwards Sergeant BLAKE, Eighteeth Regiment New York Volunteers,) when he expressed a desire to converse on the subject of reli- gion. Gladly accepting the proposition, I induced him to lead the conversation. This was done with a view of eliciting the train of thought that was evidently passing through his mind, and with the hope of bringing our discourse to a profitable issue. The result was what had been anticipated. He left me, in- pressed with the necessity of immediate action. It was not long that I was obliged to wait for the joyful announcement that he had yielded to the claims of his Saviour.
Soon after this, knowing that your nephew was very intimate with GEORGE, I took occasion one day to inform him of what his friend had done, and how he had been blessed; reminding him that the way of salvation was no less open to him, than to the one who had already begun to walk in it. He gave me encouragement to believe that he would think seriously upon what had been said. He was faithful to his promise, and in a few days he too brought me the pleasing intelligence that he had accepted Christ as his personal Saviour, and was resolved henceforth to live to His honor and glory. This interview, as well as the preceding one, was marked by perfect calmness on both sides. My own mind was entirely free from excitement, and I wished that his should be so too. There is every reason to believe that it was so. He had evidently been doing what he had for a long time felt it his duty to do.
His friend GEORGE was soon made acquainted with the stand
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LIEUT. WILLIAM H. POHLMAN.
that he had taken; and it was resolved that we three should institute a private prayer meeting. In a short time we had an addition of one or two more; and the systematic study of the Bible was superadded to the exercise of prayer. Many a plea- sant and profitable hour was spent in this way; and WILLIAM was never willingly absent from our little circle. Here I had an excellent opportunity of studying the inner spiritual life of every member of my class; while the daily walk of each one, as manifested in the school room, could easily be compared with the standard which a profession of religion so plainly indicates. With such means before me of judging, I can say, most emphat- ically, that if he, of whom I write, was not a servant of Christ, I have no means of knowing who is so. I know of no act in his life, while he remained under my charge, that was inconsistent with, while I ean remember many things that served to adorn, a Christian profession.
In the year 1858, during the great revival, a most marked interest in religion was manifest among the youth of our city. The boys' prayer meeting, held at the rooms of the Christian Association, was largely attended, although it occurred at a time usually devoted to play. It was not a rare thing to see in the entrance halls, instruments of boyish sports, now laid aside, that their owners might enjoy an hour of communion with God, and of spiritual intercourse with each other. The devotional zeal of those boys on such occasions might profitably be copied by their elders, when, as members of the visible church, they assem- ble for prayer and praise. Our little gathering, which had con- tinued its meetings for more than a year, had now merged itself in this larger convocation, where WILLIAM still exhibited the same earnestness of purpose that had characterized his efforts from the very commencement of his religious career. And so it was with him as long as any opportunity was afforded me of observing his course of life. During all these years, nothing occurred, on his part, to modify my opinion of him as an earnest, consistent follower of his Divine Master. How could I doubt that he was so, while I bore in mind His words who said, " By their fruits ye shall know them."
32
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498
LIEUT. WILLIAM H. POHLMAN.
It gives me great pleasure to bear this testimony in favor of one so dear to both of us, so earnest in the great business of life, and whose blessed privilege it was, in his early departure hence, to set a seal, with his own warm blood, to his sense of obligation to our beloved country and our common humanity.
Very truly yours, C. H. ANTHONY, Late Principal Albany Classical Institute.
499
LIEUT. HENRY D. BROWER.
XLV. LIEUT. HENRY D. BROWER.
No feature of the late war is more remarkable and providential than the uprising of the young men of the nation, in response to the call of the President of the United States for soldiers to fill the ranks of the Union army. Especially are we impressed with the readiness of Christian young men to leave home and friends, church and Sabbath school, and the finest prospects for usefulness and prosperity, and devote their all to their country. Their religious consistency and zeal, too, after they entered the camp; the heroic manner in which they battled with temptation, as well as with the foes of civilization and liberty; their labors and success in bringing their impenitent comrades to Jesus, are such as call forth our warmest gratitude and highest admiration.
Among the Christian heroes, no one stands higher or presents a purer record than the lamented martyr whose history we pro- pose now to trace.
HENRY DOUGLASS BROWER, son of S. DOUGLASS BROWER, was born in Albany, on the 12th day of November, 1839. His mother's maiden name was HARRIET PUTNAM. The happy home circle, of which he was the youngest member, was not destined to remain long unbroken, for he was called to witness in one short week the decease of his mother, and a brother next older than himself. His mother died on the 28th of October, 1843, and his brother on the 22d of October, 1843.
At the age of sixteen years, HENRY was in his father's employ as a manufacturer of silver ware, where he remained until he was of age, and became master of his. profession. He became hopefully converted to God, and joined the First Congregational Church, when about nineteen years of age. He was engaged in
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LIEUT. HENRY D. BROWER.
the Sabbath school of that church as treasurer, and, at the time of his enlistment, as assistant librarian.
At the breaking out of the rebellion, he, being a young man, felt that he ought to respond to the call of the President for sol- diers to defend the Republic; and the more he thought upon the subject the more deeply he became convinced that it was his duty to enlist. His father cordially approved of his course, and the feelings which animated the father in his approval were illustrated by an incident which occurred at a subsequent period.
A man came into his office one day, after HENRY had gone to the front, and after inquiring about " the boy," and making some remarks as to the way the war was being conducted, said, " If HENRY was killed, his life would be wasted, for he believed the Government could not sustain itself, but must soon go to pieces." Said his father, " I have four sons, one is now in the army, but sooner than see this Government go to pieces, I would not only see that one killed, but would send the other three too, and then, if necessary, go myself."
That was the true spirit of loyalty, that made him approve his son's choice, and that spirit HENRY carried with him as he left home to do battle for his country. After having decided to become a soldier himself, his next thought was to try and call together young men enough of good moral character, to form a company. After spending considerable time and money, he at length had the satisfaction of marching to the Barracks at the head of the first installment of men, who after having been recruited to the requisite number, were known as the Eleventh New York Battery, or the Havelocks; taking the name from General Havelock, and desiring, that like him, they might be good as well as brave men. On the first of October, 1861, he was mustered into the service as a private. Afterwards he made application to Brigadier General RATHBONE to be trans- ferred to some other company, and being successful, he left Albany for Washington on the 17th January, 1862, as Corporal in the Twelfth New York Battery, under command of Captain WILLIAM H. ELLIS. The company left here in a severe show storm, and after many detentions, reached Washington January
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LIEUT. HENRY D. BROWER.
28th, at about 7 o'clock in the evening. They received orders the next morning to be prepared to leave for Fort Ellsworth.
In his diary he says:
" January 30 .- This morning we started for the fort, at eight o'clock. It rained very hard, and the mud was ankle deep. I never saw such mud. The Albany Barracks are nothing to it. I was, I confess, a little disappointed to find nothing but tents for our accommodation. However, I shall soon be all right, as I have expected hardships."
From the outset of his military career, HENRY manifested an earnest religious zeal, as well as a pure and lofty patriotism. In his diary and in his letters this is very apparent.
To a younger brother, whose name was CHARLES MOORE BROWER, he wrote as follows, after learning that he had a hope in Christ:
" There is one thing, CHARLIE, I wish to speak to you about particularly. You have hoped that you are a Christian. Oh! my brother, stand fast in the faith. You have had experience enough, even in so short a time, to know that it will be a hard battle. Temptations will beset you; that you must overcome. Don't think to gain friends by yielding to temptations; for the very friends that you might thus gain would despise you for it. Such friends are not worth having.
" But do not be discouraged by the difficulties that attend the Christian course. Have the most implicit faith in God. He will bring you safely through them all. Our first duty is to love Him with all our heart, and "perfect love casteth out fear." This you know, and the rest will be easy.
"I have been some time in camp, and know what a young man's peculiar temptations are here, and the only way to steer clear of them, is to have the Bible for one's chart."
In a letter to his father, dated June 11th, he says:
" As you see by my letter, I have changed my quarters, but for how long, I am unable to say. We are detailed from the various companies and regiments, under Gen. WHIPPLE'S com- mand, for a brigade guard at his head-quarters, which are at Arlington Heights. It is a beautiful place: on a hill, covered
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LIEUT. HENRY D. BROWER.
by a very fine grove, commanding a splendid view of Washing- ton and the Potomac, while around the house is a beautiful lawn. At the time the war broke out, it was occupied by Gen. LEE. Many of the negroes are still here. These Heights for- merly belonged to the CusTis family, and their graves are to be seen in the grove not far from the house."
Very early in his connection with the army, HENRY manifested his courage and daring, as will appear from the following inci- dent, deseribed to CHARLIE, under date of July 20th:
" You say you like anything that savors of adventure; so I'll tell you of a little one which I had the other night. The offi- cers of the Sixty-ninth Regiment have been in the habit of coming up to our camp, when on guard at night, under pretense of making the 'grand rounds,' which you know are made by the officer of the day, officer of the guard-a Captain and Lieutenant, with a file of guards. They, not being attached to us, or in any way connected with us, have no right to enter our camp at night, under any pretext whatever, not even with the countersign, without calling our officer of the day to pass them in. Several times they had imposed upon the guard and got in, and then boasted of their success, and ridiculed the order we had in camp. The other night, when I was on guard, about three o'clock, just after posting the guard, I heard the call, ' Corporal of the guard, No. 7.' I ran down to post seven, to see what was up, and found the ' grand rounds' from the Sixty- ninth, and asked them their business. They replied they wished to go through the camp. I told them they could not go. They then wished to see the officer of the day. I went to his tent to call him, bidding them stand there till I came back. When I got back, they had passed the guard, and were coming towards me, the guard calling out to them to halt, but not daring to stop them. I ran down and ordered them to halt. Said the Captain, ' Do you know who I am? I am the officer of the day.' I told him I couldn't see it. I recognized no officer of the day but our own. He turned to the guard, and ordered them forward. I drew out my navy revolver, cocked it, and again ordered them to halt. The Captain, now, in a great rage, ordered his men to
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