USA > Vermont > Orange County > Bradford > A history of Bradford, Vermont : containing some account of the place of its first settlement in 1765, and the principal improvements made, and events which have occurred down to 1874--a period of one hundred and nine years. With various genealogical records, and biographical sketches of families and individuals, some deceased, and others still living > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
Orin Lufkin,
B, 6th reglment. Afterwards 1st Lieut. Co. D, 8th regiment Lieut, and Capt. Co. D, 8th regiment.
Private Co. H, 12th
1
Lyman D. Mattoon, 1 23 Private, Afterwards Sergeant Co. G, 9th regiment. A. J. McFarland, Jr., 19 Corporal, Co. G, 9th ..
Joseph McCullum,
23
Charles T. Mckellips,
18
66
Private Co. H, 12th
Robert Meservey,
22
Sergeant Co. H, 12th
George P. Moore,
19
in one of the Vermont Batteries.
Daniel Moulton,
18
killed on the Peninsula.
John Norcross,
20
George W. Norcross,
20
Sergeant Co. H, 12th regiment. Co. D, 8th
Phinehas S. Palmer,
26
.6
Private Co. C, 8th
Charles E. Peters,
25
Co. D, 8th
Harlan P. Prescott,
22
Co. E, 4th
John C. Putnam,
22
Thomas Prue, Nat. Robie.
26
Lieut. Co. D, 8th
James L. Rush,
23
66
Private Co. M, Cavalry
Jacob B. Sawyer,
33
John C. Stearns,
30
Archibald H. Storer,
29
Daniel F. Skinner,
18
Stephen S. Taylor,
22
Le Marquis Tubbs,
32
66
Benjamin Underwood,
23
John B. W. Prichard, 21
Originally 3d Lieut. in Bradford Guards, but could not be mustered into United States service as such; did not choose to leave the Company; was mustered as a private, and finally ap- pointed Sergeant Major of 1st regiment; afterwards adju- tant of 9th regiment. Afterwards entered a New Hampshire regiment. 1st Sergeant Co. H, 4th regiment.
Captain Co. B, 6th regiment.
Died at Fortress Monroe, May 20, 1861-the first Vermont soldier that lost his life in the war of the Rebellion.
103
Sergeant Co. D, 8th
Albert Page,
20
Co. H, 12th
32
Name. Age.
Horace P. Williams,
20 .
Rank. Remarks. Afterwards Sergeant Co. H, 4th regiment.
Charles P. Wood,
22
George E. Wood,
20
Lieut, Co. B, 6th
Charles C. Wright,
33
66
Sergeant Co. H, 12th
Andrew J. Young,
26
Corporal Co. D, 8th
Azro B. Davis,
25
Private Co. H, 12th
Leonard A. Andross, John B. Corliss, Francis E. Davis, John P. Eastman and Francis H. Frary, all of Brad- ford, went to Rutland as members of the Guards; but as the company was full without them, they could not be mustered, and returned home.
The company served at Newport News, Va., most of its term of three months, was present and took part in the Battle of Big Bethel, where George W. Flanders was wounded, and was mustered out of service, August 15, 1861, at Brattleboro.
SECOND REGIMENT.
Names.
Co.
Age.
Rank. Date of Muster. Date of Discharge. Remarks. 1
Harlan E. Felch,
K
18
Private, Jan. 8, '63. July 15, '65, ·
Alfred Jacobs,
15
66
Appointed Drummer.
William Wilson,
C
20
Jan. 1, '63, July 29, '65, Transferred to V. R. C.
THIRD REGIMENT.
Oscar D. Eastman,
C
23
Charles H. Rhodes,
F
24
July 16, '61, Oct. 9, '61, Sept. 22, '62, Jan. 31, '63,
Luther W. Smith,
41
Deserted December 10, 1862.
Harry N. Worthen,
FOURTH REGIMENT. Lieut. Col. Sept. 21, '61, July 19, '62, Resigned.
104
-
· · James B. Brooks, H
. 00
2d Lieut. Sept. 21, '61, Aug. 5, '64, 1st. Lieut. Co. I, Jan. 19, 1862; Capt. Co. H, April 19, 1864; Lieut. in Signal Corps from Nov., '61, to Sept., 1863; Honorably discharged for wound 2 re- ceived at Wilderness, May 6, 1864. Private, Discharged to re-enlist in Regular Army.
Michael Brannan,
19
Richard A. Brown,
27
Corporal,
..
Dec. 15, '62, As Private.
John A. Conant,
66
23
Private,
66
Died October 21, 1862.
William P. Glines,
66
27
..
Aug. 15, '62,
Joseph Greenwood, 66
20
Nelson B. Hackett, C
.
Jan. 8, '63, July 13, '65, Sept. 21, '61, Jan. 1, '62, Died.
William M. Mckellips, H
41
Joseph Pelrant,
25
Private.
Daniel F. Skinner,
.. .
19
Sergeant.
66
Moses D. Hackett,
G
18
Private.
Byron B. Wilson,
H
Luman Coburn,
C
28
Aug. 4, '63. Dec. 8, '63,
Charles A. Smith, C
24
William W. Johnson, Band. 32
FIFTH REGIMENT. Sept. 16, '61, April 11, '62,
/
Barnard D. Fabyan, B
SIXTHI REGIMENT. 2d Lieut. Oct. 15, '61, Oct. 28, '64, 1st Lt. Co. B, June 14, '62; Capt. Co, B, .July 23, 63.
George E. Wood, 21 Sergeant. June 26, '65, 2d Lt. Co. B, June 14, '62; 1st. Lt. Co, B, July 23, '63; Capt., Oct, 29, 64.
Deserted September 10, 1863.
Re-enlisted; deserted April 3, 1864. died May 14, 1864, of wounds received in action, May 5, '64. Died October 31, '62. Promoted Corporal; killed at Wilderness, May 5, '64. Drafted. Drafted; killed at Petersburgh, June 21, 1864.
105
Name. Co. Age. 21
Remarks.
George W. Flanders, 1 Albert C. Abbott,
B
Rank . Date of Muster. Date of Discharge. Sergeant. Oct. 15, '61. June 26, 65. Re-en. Jan. 21, '64; 2d Lt., Co. A, June 7, '64; 1st Lt., Co. B, Oct. 29, '64. Feb. 23, '63, Re-en. Nov. 30, '63, into same Co .; mus- tered out June 26, '65. Promoted Sergeant ; deserted Jan. 7,'64. 66
William Argy,
19
William L. Argy,
27
David Horner,
48
Wagoner.
66
April 19, '63,
Orin Lufkin,
35
Corporal.
Harrison B. Martin,
19
Private.
Oct. 28, '64,
Moody C. Martin,
1
R. C. Martin,
18
Nov. 30, '63, Sept. 4, '65 Transferred to V. R. C.
Archibald Marston, John McLeod,
18
66
Oct. 15, '61, June 19, '65, Re-enlisted.
George Peters,
34
Oct. 15, '61, Oct. 28, '64,
Thomas J. Pillsbury,
26
66
Died' June 12, '62.
Wm. H. H. Robie, John B. Shunway, J. B. Shunway, Jr., - Freeman F. Stanford,
21
66
Sept. 22, '62, July 7, '65, Transferred to V. R. C,
19
Oct. 15, '61,
Died October 4, '62, Taken prisoner May 6, '64, and died.
Moses C. Stratton,
66
18
Nov. 3, '63,
Simon Tuttle,
47
Henry M. Washburn,
19
Geo. W. Woodbury,
18
Oct. 28, '64
Ephraim C. Abbott,
22
66
Nov, 30, '63,
Discharged before being assigned.
- EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Cyrus B. Leach, D
Captain.
Feb. 18, '62, June 22, '64,
7
106
1
18
Sept. 22, '62,
66
Deserted September 2, '63.
22 .
66
Re-en. Nov. 30, '63; killed at Wilderness, May 5, '64. 1
32
. 21
Oct. 15, '61, Dec. 31, '63, Transferred.to V. R. C, Re-en. Dec. 15, '63; trans. to Co. H, Oct. 16, '64.
20 Private.
Alfred E. Getchell, William H. Haskins,
1st Lieut. Private.
Edward B. Wright, Dennis Buckley,
C
D
26
1st Serg't.
Nathaniel Robie,
26 Sergeant.
Promoted 2d Lieut. JJuly 22, '62; cashiered Dec. 7, '63. Promoted 2d Lieut. Feb. 24, '64; died Dec. 6, '64, of wounds received in service.
Noble C. Andross,
..
45
Private.
Aug. 5, '64,
George H. Austin,
18
Absalom Baldwin,
18
66
Oct. 18, '65, Re-enlisted; transferred to V. R. C.
George H. Dow,
18
May 22, '65,
.. .
Freeman F. Fleming,
28
Wagoner.
June 28, '65,
Moses Gelo,
24
Private.
George E. Kenedy,
25
June 22, '64,
deserted May 19, '64.
Nobert Lahas,
20
Edwin Lake,
32
Dolphus Laundries,
28
Chester Martin,
18
..
Re-enlisted. .
Frank Merchant,
41
James C. Merchant,
66
30
Dec. 31, '63, July 8, '65, Transferred to V. R. C.
Charles E. Peters,
26
William F. Peters,
30
Corporal.
Horace A. Pierce,
18
Private.
Ephraim Putnam, -
43
Aug. 5, '64.
Jona. H. Robinson,
:
·
Oct. 15, '62,
Jesse L. Rowe,
38
Re-en .; deserted May 19, '64.
Elias J. Tuttle,
25
June 28, '65, Corporal; re-enlisted. Feb. 25, '63,
Josiah R. Webster,
27
Feb. 26, '65, Promoted Capt. July 26, '64. June 28, '65, June 6, '62,
Hospital Steward, June 25, '62; Capt. March 3, '65.
39
1st Lieut.
June 28, '65, Promoted Corporal; re-enlisted.
William C. Bliss,
30
107
66
June 28, '65, Corporal; re-enlisted. Deserted.
Feb. 18, 62, July 18, '65, Sept. 10, '63,
Deserted September 4, '63.
44
-
Names. Co. Age. Rank.
Date of Muster. Date of Discharge. Remarks.
Thomas Welch,
E
44 Private.
Dec. 10, '63, June 7, '65,
Chas. W. Woodbury, Joseph Mansur, Joseph Prue,
D
28 Corporal. Feb. 18, '62, Private. May 17, '64.
Promoted Sergeant; died March 22, '63. Deserted.
66
22
NINTH REGIMENT.
-
Dudley K. Andross, John C. Stearns, E. A. Kilbourne, Burnham Cowdry,
G
1st Lieut.
21
Sergeant.
66
Dec, 1, '65,
Geo. C. Chamberlin,
D
Private.
Feb. 26, '64,
Robert Arnold,
G
25
66
July 9, '62, June 13, '65,
A. H. Batchelder,
18
John Copp,
66
23
George Copp,
18
George W. Fisk,
24.
66
Stephen Hix, Jr.,
25
45
Thomas Kirby, Joseph Lavoie,
21
A. J. McFarland,
66
21
Corporal.
William McFarland,
27
Private.
Dec. 10, '63, Dec. 1, '65,
Daniel N. Flanders,
25
Nov. 30, '63,
Silas Woodard,
29
66 July 19, '62,
Died October 10, '64.
Ezekiel T. Johnson,
H
22 Private.
Pro. Col. Mar. 20, '63; res'd May 22, '63. Resigned May 31, '63.
Pro. Capt, Mar. 12, '63. res'd Sept. 27, '64. 2d Lt., Feb. 4, '65; 1st Lt., July 3, '65; Capt. Co. D, Sept. 7, '65. Q. M. Sergt. Feb. 24, '65; 2d Lt., July 3, '65; 1st Lt., Sept. 7, '65.
108
66
Deserted September 16, '62. 66 -
66
Died January 8, '64. Promoted Corporal. Sergeant.
TENTH REGIMENT. Aug. 6, '62, June 22, '65, Wounded at battle of Monocacy, Va., Ju- ly 9, '64; promoted 2d Lt. Dec. 19, '64; 1st Lt. May 20, '65.
Lt. Col. July 9, '62,
Adjutant.
Ralph Kendrick, G
45 Wagoner. Sept. 1,'62, May 14, '63,
Lucius M. Kent, Charles N. Martin,
66
35 Private.
June 22, '65,
As a private.
George W. Martin,
E. J. Mckellips,
18
Wm. J. Merritt,
24
ELEVENTH REGIMENT.
Albert S. Butler,
L
18
Private.
June 27, '63
Died Dec. 6, '64, a prisoner of war.
Nicholas A. Clark,
18
..
April 15, '64,
John Desmond,
G
29
March 8, ,64,
Died December 7, '64, Died June 8, '64.
Daniel J. Stevens,
L
25
June 27, '63,
TWELFTH REGIMENT.
Lt. Col. Oct. 4, '62, July 14, '63,
Roswell Farnham, P. S. Chamberlin, James W. Kelley,
H
Captain. 2d Lieut.
Promoted 1st Lt. March 10, '63. 109
Leonard A. Andross,
20
Corporal.
66
J. H. Benton, Jr.,
66
27
Private.
23
Sergeant. 66
66
22
Private.
Trans. to Navy, Dec. 25, '62, as Master's Mate.
John B. Corliss,
66
24
George A. Colby,
18
Merritt A. Davis,
23
66
66
Azro B. Davis,
25
William M. Deun,
18
1
Henry W. Dickey,
21
Henry Dowse,
25
Abbott L. Fabyan,
20
:
66
Harlan S. Blanchard, Everett Chamberlin, Henry B. Colby,
19
Private.
66
66
Died March 13, '63. Promoted Corporal.
5
24 Sergeant. Private. Jan. 9, '63, June 15, '65,
Sept. '1, '62, May 28, '65, Died February 8, '65.
110
FIFTEENTH REGIMENT.
John Mc Leod,
D
18
Private.
Oct. 22, '62.
Frederick C. Staples,
26
Aug. 5, 63.
Moses C. Stratton,
66
18
Charles Weed,
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT.
Albert J. Chase,
I
22 Private.
Daniel M. Clough,
F
37
Sargeant.
Daniel W. Cole,
66
18
Private.
'66
Killed April 2, '65.
Alden J. Fisher,
H
21
66
July 14, 65.
Willard W. Fisher,
21
66
66
Promoted Corporal.
Ezra W. Flanders, 30
Daniel M. Lufkin,
19
Corporal.
Charles A. Manson,
18
Private.
66
Chas. T. Mckellips,
19
66
66
H. H. Pillsbury,
21
66
Oct. 4, '62.
George H. Taylor,
66
25
1
Daniel G. Waterman,
66
35
Music.
.
1
Charles C. Wright,
34
Sergeant.
Henry C. Wright,
27
Private.
Joel A. Brown, Milo C. Bailey,
66
20
66
66
Remarks.
Names. Co.
Age.
Rank. Date of Muster. Date of Discharge.
Elijah Farr,
24
Corporal. Private.
66
66
Alvan E. Farr,
19
Daniel N. Flanders,
24
6
Charles Frary,
28
.
Died Dec. 11, '62.
Rufus H. Tucker,
21
18
Oct. 23, '62.
44
66
Jan. 27, '63.
Apr. 12, '64.July 14, '65. June 12, '65. June 3, '65. 66
Sidney T. Doloff,
I
21
.
Samuel J. Flood.
1 39
William Gillespie.
H
32
66
66
Wiliam Hubbard.
G
21
66
66
Lurette Westcott,
H
18
Died July 3, '64.
Daniel Caraway,
B
18
Private.
Dec. 10, '63. Aug. 9, '65.
Milo J. Corliss,
D
33
Bugler.
Nov. 19, '61. Nov. 18, '64.
Michael Milan,
John Hutton,
D
18
Sept. 26, '62.
Martin V. B. Vance,
23
Nov. 19, '61. Aug. 9, '65. Re-en. 2d Lieutenant, May 9, '65.
Linus V. Vance,
18
Sept. 26, '62.
Rufus E. Whitcomb,
42
Nov. 19, '61.
Promoted Chief Bugler, trans. to 1st Mass. Cav., and afterwards made leader of Division Band.
111
SHARP SHOOTERS.
Amos B. Chase, H
Private. Nov. 30, '63.
Killed June 18, '64.
FRONTIER CAVALRY.
Private. Jan. 10, '65. June 27, '65.
Promoted Sergeant.
Charles M. Andross, Michael Brannon, Rufus H. Cate,
Corporal. Trumpet,
Sergeant.
Private.
Corporal.
NAVY.
Substitute.
James Doyle,
Albert R. Cowdry, Ezra S. Pillsbury, H. H. Pillsbury, Charles R. Rogers,
CAVALRY REGIMENT.
Substitute; deserted ; never joined reg't. Died Nov. 27, '63.
112
CAPTAIN EMERSON CORLISS.
A VETERAN IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
This old revolutionary hero, as he was sometimes call- ed, was born in Haverhill, Mass., March, 1758. At the age of seventeen, he went with his father to engage in the war of the Revolution, and, the same week, found himself in the fierce and bloody battle of Bunker Hill. His heart, as might be expected, when moving forward with others like himself, unaccustomed to such perils, to meet the flashing swords, threatening bayonets, rattling musketry, and roaring cannon of disciplined hosts, at first trembled with fear. An officer, aiming to inspire himself and men with courage and resolution, was boasting that there was never a ball yet cast to kill him, when instant- ly he was cut in sunder, and the bloody fragments of his body scattered among his men! Still, there was no way but to press resolutely on, and fight manfully, be the con- sequences as they might. With the increasing peril, his courage and that of his comrades increased, and nerved them with an inspiration and energy unknown before. The Americans fought bravely ; and through subsequent life Captain Corliss was proud to tell of his youthful ex- perience at Bunker Hill.
The same year he, with others, was sent to the aid of Montgomery, in Canada, and was wounded in a skirmish with the Indians, n'ear Fort Lachine, though probably not severely, as he still continued in the army, and we next see him, at Christmas, 1776, under command of General Sullivan, in the very heat of the battle at Trenton, in which between forty and fifty of the surprised Hessians were slain or fatally wounded, and more than a thousand, with arms, ammunition and stores, made prisoners, and spoils of victory. Washington, with his prisoners and booty, recrossed the Delaware on the evening of the same day.
113
Shortly after this, January 3, 1777, our hero was in the army of Washington, in the battle at Princeton. When Sullivan's division were yet three miles from the town they were loudly assured, by the roar of the cannon, that the battle had already fiercely commenced. Sullivan called upon them to rush on, with utmost speed, and they arrived at the very crisis to turn the scale of battle.in fa- vor of the American arms. But the brave General Mer- cer was found among our slain. His horse had been shot under him; he was on foot, pressing forward his men to victory, when a British soldier, with clubbed musket, felled him to the earth. Many other beloved officers were lost on that snowy battle-field. The entire British loss was about three hundred men. The Americans, though victorious, were obliged immediately to withdraw from the place.
On the 16th of August, in that same year, 1777, Corliss was under the command of General Stark in the decisive battle of Bennington, in which he had seven balls shot through his coat and one through his hat, without being wounded. In one rail of a fence immediately before his platoon he said ninety-seven of the enemy's musket balls were lodged. He was present, also, in the battles of Still- water and Saratoga, in October of the same year, which issued in the capture of Burgoyne, with all his forces and military stores. Though in the first engagement wound- ed in the leg, when there was a call for volunteers to move with artillery to a post of special danger, to cut off the retreat of the British, Corliss promptly offered to be one of the party, provided he might ride on a cannon, being unable to walk, and was permitted to do so. His hardships and perils during the war were many and ter- rible, but all bravely met and endured, to secure the in- dependence and permanent prosperity of his and our coun- try.
Near the commencement of the second, and it is hoped
114
our last, war with England, a large meeting of the patri- otic citizens of Bradford, Newbury, Topsham and Corinth was held at the house of Gideon Tewksbury, on the South border of Newbury, to consider the state of public affairs, and was earnestly addressed by John McDuffee, Esq., and others. This led to another meeting of men who, by reason of age, were exempt from military service, held in Bradford, Sept. 28, 1812, at which time thirty-nine of these men solemnly agreed with each other to form a mil- itary company, with such others as might join them, and offer themselves as volunteers, in the military of Vermont, ready for any service, however perilous, to which they might be called. By act of the Legislature, the subse- quent autumn, the organization of such companies was duly authorized and encouraged. This company, through the influence especially of John McDuffee, who had been commissioned by Governor Galusha as orderly sergeant, was soon filled up with the requisite number of men, and then duly officered, the old warrior, Emerson Corliss, then fifty-five years of age, being constituted Captain. The company held themselves in readiness for any emergency, but were not called out during the war, and in 1815 were disbanded.
Captain Corliss died in the quietude of his own home, in Bradford, where he had long resided, December, 1843, and his remains were laid down to their long repose in the principal cemetery there, the grave being designated by rough stones, with no inscription whatever-stones which he had himself seasonably selected for that pur- pose.
. The principal facts above stated were gathered from an old memorandum, put into the hands of the writer to aid in preparing an appropriate discourse at the funeral of the deceased.
115
CHARLES MAY. KILLED IN A DUEL.
In the early part of this century there lived for many years in this town a respectable family by the name of May; Thomas and Mary (Mills) May, and their family of three sons and two daughters-Mills, William, Charles, Mary and Sarah. Mr. May owned and occupied the farm and house now (1873) possessed by Mr. Kinney Cum- mings, on the Upper Plain, and for some time, I know not how long, kept tavern there. After his decease Mrs. May became the wife of Mr. Daniel Chase, of Cornish, N. H., and in 1825 took up her final residence there. The children, having become men and women, had previously gone, with perhaps the exception of the youngest daugh- ter, to new homes, and from about that time the old home- stead passed entirely into the hands of other occupants.
Charles May, the youngest son, having, through the in- fluence of the Hon. Mr. Mills, of Northampton, Mass., his mother's brother, received an appointment to a Cadetship in the Military Academy at West Point, accordingly en- tered that institution, and honorably graduated there, in the Summer of 1829, and in the capacity of an under offi- cer joined the army of his country. In the course of a few months, that is, in the following March, I was called, by his mother and other friends, to the deeply affecting ser- vice of delivering, in this his native place, a discourse giv- ing an account of his deplorably tragical death. Some ex- tracts from that discourse I propose here to give, not only in memory of the interesting young man, but in hope of making some salutary impression on the minds of others in regard to the barbarous, absurd, and desperately wicked, practice of dueling.
The discourse was founded on the passage, " So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are, for blood it defileth the land, and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood
116
that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it." -Numbers 35 : 33.
After due introduction, I proceed to say : Our own land has recently been defiled by the blood of one of its citi- zens, by the blood of one of our fellow townsmen, of one who in his youthful days was accustomed to meet regu- larly with us in this house of worship. The blood of that interesting young man, Charles May, has been wantonly and cruelly shed in a duel, and is now crying from the ground for expiation.
On finishing his education at the Military Academy at West Point last Summer, Charles was promoted to a Lieu- tenantcy in the United States Army. He was assigned to the Sixth Regiment of Infantry, stationed at Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, Missouri. The commanding of- ficer, in the letter which conveyed to Charles' mother the first intelligence of his deplorable death, says : " No young gentleman ever came to this post who, in the same length of time, acquired more respect, or gained more friends. His deportment, both as an officeer and a gen- tleman, was entirely satisfactory to all who knew him."
Late one evening, after May was in bed, one Hamilton, a clerk in the Quarter Master's department, and son of a high officer in the army, entered his room in a state of partial intoxication, and in a humorous way commenced a scuffle with him. May requested him repeatedly to de- sist ; but he would not. At length, tired out with the in- truder's rudeness, he rose from his bed, and by force put him out of his room. The consequence was a challenge from Hamilton to May, to meet him in deadly conflict. His honor, he felt, had received a stain which nothing but the blood of the man who had so treated him, or his own, would wash away. How absurd !
This challenge May was wholly disinclined to accept. He had not been brought up in a part of the country where this barbarous way of settling difficulties was com-
'117
mon. Mutual concessions, a reference.to a board of honor, and other fair means of reconciliation were proposed by him, and by his adversary rejected. Nothing but blood . would satisfy him. In this emergency it was natural for so young a man-May was then only in his twenty-first year- to resort to his companions for advice. The na- ture of the advice which they gave appears from a letter by one of them to Mrs. Chase, soon after the death of her son. Says he, " A course was to be adopted. It was a momentous step, and required deep reflection. By re- fusing the meeting, his reputation with the army would have been ruined. His society would have been avoided, and his life rendered miserable. The vindictive voice of public opinion forced him to stand in the face of death and bid it welcome."
These rash and desperate fellows advised and urged- him to fight. They made him believe that he must fight or be forever disgraced. No doubt the associates of Ham- ilton had applied a similar stimulus to him.
But how false and cruel their representations were, in the view of judicious men, even in the army, appears from the declaration of the commanding officer of that division, that had he known anything of the intended meeting he certainly should have prevented it ; yet false and fatal as these arguments were, they prevailed on our young friend to accept the challenge. And yet, on deep- er consideration, his conscience and his heart recoiled. Shortly before engaging in the deadly encounter, he wrote to his mother, "I shudder when I tell you I am going out in an hour to fight a duel ! My friends, and I have many, have done all they could to settle this unjust quarrel, but to no purpose. As I pray God to forgive me, so do you also, dear mother, forgive me. That all my friends may forgive me, is the last request of your erring son."
The fatal encounter took place on the 18th of January, 1830. The advocate for dueling from whose letter an ex-
118
tract has been already given, says "He repaired to the field with a calm and meditative courage, supported by an invincible feeling of right. No rancorous malice pervaded his bosom." They fought with pistols, ten paces from . each other. May fell at the first fire. A ball entered his body at the hip and passed through him. He survived about fifteen hours only.
The coroner of the county was called to view the body, and gave appropriate judgment in the case; but the principal witnesses were not to be found, and Hamilton had fled. Whether any serious effort was made to pre- vent his flight, or to pursue and bring him to justice, we have yet to learn. A letter from an officer who attended Charles in his dying hours, shows that he had at least one by his side who felt deeply concerned for spiritual wel- fare, and sought to direct his failing vision to the Al- mighty and most merciful Saviour. Writing to the mother of the deceased, he says : "Finding him perfectly cool, collected, and altogether himself, I asked him if he felt reconciled to die, and drew his attention to the future on which he was entering. He said, ' O, no ! I am not prepared to die.' And added that for him there was no hope ; that a death-bed was too late for repentance. I combatted that idea as well as I could, and dwelt on the Gospel scheme, with its rich and merciful promises to all who, with a due sense of their entire unworthiness, seek an interest in them. * I left him for half an hour, during which he seemed to be in communion with him- self. On resuming the subject he seemed to understand his situation, and the terms on which the Divine forgive- ness might be obtained. I prayed with him, and he seemed more and more interested. He declared his forgiveness of his enemy, and his hope that the Al- mighty would forgive him, also. He expressed to Lieu- tenant Warfield, in my absence, his deep regret that he had been concerned in a duel, and cautioned him to avoid
1.
119
the same error. About two o'clock the next morning he expressed a desire that I would not leave him. On my bending over him he took my hand, and requested that I would again pray for him. Having complied, I asked him if he had followed me. He answered " Yes, and may the Lord forgive me. My mother ! my mother !" The effort almost overpowered him. I said, "How unspeakably would this blow be lessened to her by knowing that you did not die without hope.' The idea seemed to inspire him with new life, and he said with animation: 'Will she believe it? May we meet in Heaven.' 'It is difficult,' continues this officer, 'to convey the impression which conduct so noble, in such circumstances, left upon us. There was nothing of petulance, nothing of vindictive thought. It seemed as if his better nature and principles had resisted his call to the field, and having gone there, because he thought he could no longer stay away, he still had no angry feelings toward his enemy. Not a word but of forgiveness and blessing escaped his lips. His mind was calm throughout, and he seemed to contemplate etern- ity with hope, sustained by a feeling that his prayers had been answered. He ceased to breathe on the morning of January 19, the day after the deadly encounter."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.