FUNERAL HONORS. manding, with sincere sorrow, announces to the Army of the Potomac the death of Colonel Edward D. Baker, who fell gloriously in battle on the evening of Monday, 21st of October, near Leesburgh, Va. The gallant dead has many titles to honor. At the time of his death he was a member of the United States Senate for Oregon, and it is no injustice to say that one of the most eloquent speakers in that illustrious body has been silenced by his fall. A patriot, zealous for the honor and interests of his adopted country, he has been distinguished in two wars, and has now sealed with his blood his devotion to the national flag. Cut off in the fullness of his powers as a statesman, and in the course of a brilliant career as a soldier; while the country mourns his loss, his brothers in arms will envy, while they lament his fate. He died as a soldier would wish to die amid the thick of battle, his voice and example animating his men to brave deeds." 61 memory, which they felt he would so "The King has come to marshal us, in all his armour He looked upon his people, and a tear was in his eye; He looked upon the traitors, and his glance was stern and high; to wing, Down all our line, a deafening shout, 'God save our And if my standard-bearer fall, and fall full well he may, For never saw I promise yet of such a bloody fray, Press where ye see my white plume shines, amid the ranks of war; And be your oriflamme to-day, the helmet of Navarre." At the next meeting of the National Congress, a day, the 11th of Decem- Right graciously he smiled on us, as ran from wing ber, was given in the Senate to the memory of its late member, General Baker. The unusual presence of the President of the United States on the occasion, gave additional significance to the proceedings. Mr. Lincoln came as a mourner, to listen to the eulogies, some to be pronounced in no unstinted measure, of his fallen friend. Addresses were delivered by Nesmith of Oregon, McDougall and Latham of California, Browning of Illinois, Cowan of Pennsylvania, Dixon of Connecticut, and Sumner of Massachusetts. All seemed to have caught something of the fervor of the eloquent hero whom they lamented, to whom reason presented itself in the language of passion and imagination; the heroism and devotion of whose death were the poetry of his life in action. Lilies and purple flowers were heaped with full hand upon his grave, as his old companions brought that homage to his Mr. Browning spoke of the devotion to political principles which had taken his friend from the Senate to the battle field. "He was a true, immovable, incorruptible, and unshrinking patriot. He was the fast, firm friend of civil and religious liberty, and believed that they should be the common heritage and blessing of all mankind; and that they could be secured and enjoyed only through the instrumentality of organized constitutional government, and submission to, and obedience of, its laws; and the conviction upon his mind was deep and profound that if the wicked rebellion us. which had been inaugurated, went unrebuked, and treason triumphed over law, constitutional government in North America would be utterly annihilated, to be followed by the confusion of anarchy, and the confusion of anarchy to be succeeded by the oppressions and atrocities of despotism. He believed that whatever the horrors, and plagues, and desolations of civil war might be, they would still be far less in magnitude and duration than the plagues and calamities which would inevitably follow upon submission and separation. The contest in which we are engaged had been, without cause, or pretext of cause, forced upon We had to accept the strife, or so submit to an arrogant assumption of superiority of right, as to show ourselves unworthy of the liberties and blessings which the blood and treasure, and wisdom and virtue of illustrious sires had achieved for us; and he believed that the issue of the contest was powerfully and vitally to affect the welfare and happiness of the American people, if not, indeed, of all other nations, for centuries yet to be. With these views, both just and patriotic, he recognized it as his duty to give his services to his country whenever and in whatever capacity they could be of most value and importance; and with as much of self-abnegation as the frailties of humanity would allow, he took his place in the serried ranks of war; and in the strict and discreet discharge of his duty as a soldier, fighting for his country in a holy cause, he fell." With classic taste and eloquence, Mr. Sumner dwelt upon the qualities of the man, and of those exigencies of the times which had brought him to a premature grave. "The Senator," said he, "to whom we to-day say farewell, was generous in funeral homage to others. More than once he held great companies in rapt attention while he did honor to the dead. Over the coffin of Broderick he proclaimed the dying utterance of this early victim, and gave it to the fiery wings of his own eloquence: 'They have killed me, because I was opposed to the extension of slavery and a corrupt administration; and as the impassioned orator repeated these words, his own soul was knit in sympathy with the dead; and thus at once did he endear himself to the friends of freedom, even at a distance, 'Who would not sing for Lycidas? He knew Himself to sing and build the lofty rhyme.' "There are two forms of eminent talent which are kindred in their effects-each producing an instant present impression, each holding crowds in suspense, and each kindling enthusiastic admiration. I mean the talent of the orator and the talent of the soldier. Each of these, when successful, wins immediate honor, and reads his praise in a nation's eyes. Baker was orator and soldier. To him belongs the rare renown of this double character. Perhaps he carried into war something of the confidence inspired by the conscious sway of great multitudes, as he surely brought into speech something of the ardor of war. Call him, if you will, the Prince Rupert of battle; he was also the Prince Rupert of debate. Not content with the brilliant opportunities of this Chamber, he accepted a commission in the army, and vaulted from the Senate to the saddle, as he had already vaulted from Illinois to California. With a zeal that never tired, after recruiting men, drawn by the attraction of his name, in New York and Philadelphia, and elsewhere, he held his brigade in camp near the Capitol, so that he passed easily from one to the other, and thus alternated between the duties. of a senator and a general. His latter career was short, though shining. At a disastrous encounter near Ball's Bluff he fell, pierced by nine balls. That brain which had been the seat and organ of such subtle power, swaying assemblies, and giving to this child of obscurity place and command among his fellowmen, was now rudely shattered; and that WILLIAM LOWELL PUTNAM. When the Senate resolutions of respect to the memory of Colonel Baker were communicated to the House of Representatives, like proceedings were held, and enthusiastic speeches delivered by Sheil of Oregon, Phelps and Sargent of California, Colfax of Indiana, Kelly of Pennsylvania, and other members. 63 bosom which had throbbed so bravely "The boy-soldier," said the speaker, was rent by numerous wounds. He "whose remains are before us, came, by died with his face to the foe; and he both parents, from the best New England died so instantly, that he passed without races. His father is descended from the pain from the service of his country to ancestor of old General Putnam, and his the service of his God-while with him family on this side contains such statespassed more than one gallant youth, the men and scholars as Timothy and John hope of family and friends, sent forth by Pickering. His mother's family has given my own honored commonwealth. It is to us statesmen, sages, patriots, poets, sweet and becoming to die for one's scholars, orators, economists, philanthrocountry. Such a death sudden, but pists, and now gives us also a hero and not unprepared for-is the crown of the martyr. His great-grandfather, Judge patriot soldier's life." Lowell, inserted in the Bill of Rights, prefixed to the Constitution of this State, the clause declaring that all men are born free and equal,' for the purpose, as he avowed at the time, of abolishing slavery in Massachusetts; and he was appointed by Washington federal judge of this district. His grandfather was minister of this church, honored and loved, as few men have been, for more than half a century. Born in Boston in 1840, he was educated in Europe, where he went when eleven years old-and where, in France, Germany and Italy, he showed that he possessed the ancestral faculty of mastering easily all languages, and where he faithfully studied classic and Christian antiquity and art. Under the best and most loving guidance, he read with joy the vivid descriptions of Virgil, while looking down from the hill of Posillipo, on the headland of Misenum, and the ruins of Cumæ. He studied with diligence the remains of Etruscan art, of which perhaps no American scholar, though he was so young, knew more. Thus accomplished he returned to his native. land, but modest and earnest, he made no display of his acquisitions, and very few knew that he had acquired anything. When the war broke out his conscience and heart urged him to go to the service of his country. His strong sense of duty overcame the reluctance of his parents, and they consented. A presentiment that he should not return alive was very strongly in his mind and theirs. But he gave himself Among the victims of this lamentable disaster at Ball's Bluff, there was an ingenuous youth, standing on the entrance to manhood, with every advantage before him which cultivated taste and scholarship, high principles and distinguished social standing could possess in the career of life. This was William Lowell Putnam of Boston, 2d Lieutenant of the 20th Massachusetts Volunteers. He was carried forth from the field wounded, and died in the hospital at Poolesville the following day. His death was sincerely mourned at Boston, not only in consideration of himself and his family, but in the wide-spread fellowship of sorrow which the losses of the Massachusetts' regiments created in so many respected homes of the city. At the funeral services at the West Church, Boston, a commemorative address was delivered by the Rev. James Freeman Clarke, from which we take the following biographical passages. They afford a striking indication of the zeal and sense of duty and honor with which the war was in many instances entered upon at the North-not without counting the cost, and fearlessly braving the sacrifices. souls, our heroes and saints; go with Ellsworth, protomartyr of this great cause of Freedom; go with Winthrop, poet and soldier, our Korner, with sword and lyre ; go with the chivalric Lyon, bravest of the brave, leader of men; go with Baker, to whose utterance the united murmurs of Atlantic and Pacific oceans gave eloquent rhythm, and whose words flowered so early into heroic action. Go with our noble Massachusetts boys, in whose veins runs the best blood of the age.' Colonel William Raymond Lee, who was taken a prisoner by the enemy, and long held as a hostage at Richmond, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1807, descendant both on the father and mother's side, of revolutionary ancestors. He entered West Point at sixteen, and completed his course without pursuing the military profession. Choosing the occu cheerfully, and said, in entire strength of his purpose, that to die would be easy in such a cause; and in the full conviction of immortality, he added, 'What is death, mother? it is nothing but a step in our life.' His fidelity to every duty gained him the respect of his superior officers, and his generous, constant interest in his companions and soldiers, brought to him an unexampled affection. He realized fully that this war must enlarge the area of freedom, if it was to attain its true end-and in one of his last letters, he expressed the earnest prayer that it might not cease till it opened the way for universal liberty. These earnest opinions were connected with a feeling of the wrong done to the African race, and an interest in its improvement. He took with him to the war, as a body servant, a colored lad named George Brown, who repaid the kindness of Lieutenant Putnam by grati-pation of a civil engineer, he was emtude and faithful service. George Brown followed his master across the Potomac into the battle, nursed him in his tent, and attended his remains back to Boston. Nor let the devoted courage of Lieutenant Henry Sturgis be forgotten, who lifted his wounded friend and comrade from the ground, and carried him on his back a long distance to the boat, and re-ance of the Boston and Providence Railturned again into the fight. In the fatal battle a week ago Lowell fell, as is reported, while endeavoring to save a wounded companion,-fell, soiled with no ignoble dust, non indecoro pulvere sordidum. Brought to the hospital tent, he said to the surgeon who came to dress his wound, go to some one else, to whom you can do more good; you cannot save me,' like Philip Sydney giving the water to the soldiers who needed it more than himself. . . . Farewell dear child, brave heart, soul of sweetness and fire. We shall see no more that fair, candid brow, with its sunny hair, those sincere eyes, that cheek flushed with the commingling roses of modesty and courage. Go and join the noble group of devoted 6 ployed by a Boston company in the survey of lands, which they claimed in Texas, and while engaged in this business, was taken prisoner by the Mexicans, and held for several months in captivity. He resumed his profession of engineering on his return, and found various employment in the superintend road, and other engagements connected with railways. On the breaking out of the Rebellion, he offered his services to the Government, which were accepted. He set about the formation of a regiment, the 25th Massachusetts Volunteers, with which he proceeded to Washington in September. He was at once sent to the advance post on the Upper Potomac, where we have found him ready for duty at the first intimation of a movement against the enemy. So unhappy an affair as that at Ball's Bluff could not be allowed to pass by without bitter comments on the misman agement which led to the melancholy disaster. The folly of committing men in small detachments, to so untenable a BALL'S BLUFF IN CONGRESS. 65 having been continued in his command on the Potomac, was arrested by an order from the War Department, on charges, it was said, among other matters, involving his conduct at the Battle of Ball's Bluff. Of that, however, no authoritative information was given to the public. The fact only was certainly known that he was carried to Fort Lafayette, and was there detained a prisoner of State till the following August, when he was released without trial or any other public proceedings. position, with such paltry means of com- remarks afford an idea of the impressions munication as the three flat boats at this event, seemingly so difficult of comHarrison's Island, need no military crit-prehension, created on the public mind. icism or judgments to insure its condem- A month after this debate General Stone, nation. It was a blunder for which the public demanded an account. Why, it was asked, were not means of communication provided, if the movement was a necessary one, and why was it not adequately supported by the large force below, on the Virginia side? Immediately on the meeting of Congress a resolution was passed by the House of Representatives, "That the Secretary of War be requested, if not incompatible with the public interest, to report to this House whether any, and if any, what measures have been taken to ascertain In the month of July the Battle of who is responsible for the disastrous Ball's Bluff was again brought before the movement of our troops at Ball's Bluff?" attention of Congress in the speech on To this an answer was received on the the conduct of the war already cited by 16th of December, communicating a letter Senator Chandler of Michigan. The batfrom Adjutant-General Thomas, "that tle of Ball's Bluff was reviewed on this the General-in-Chief of the Army is of occasion, chiefly in reference to the opinion an inquiry on the subject of the neglect of General McClellan and of resolution, would, at this time, be in- General Stone to coöperate with Coljurious to the public service." A dis-onel Baker by a flanking movement. cussion was held in the House of Repre- The course of Colonel Baker was desentatives on the subject of this resolution on the 6th of January, 1862, when an animated speech was delivered by Mr. Roscoe Conkling, a representative from New York, in which he vividly presented the circumstances attending the battle field at Ball's Bluff. "The chief mourners for that battle," said he, "those who suffered most severely in it are the States of New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. To those States it was the battle of Cannæ, for the very pride and flower of their young men were among its victims. No wonder that the army and the country burn with indignation at 'The deep damnation of their taking off.' No wonder that twenty millions of people and their presses are yet discussing whether the battle was fought on orders issued by General Stone, or on forged orders, or on no orders at all." These fended on the ground that he had every reason to trust to reinforcements being sent, in the confidence that forty thousand effective men, in the divisions of McCall, Smith and Stone, were within twelve miles of him; being ignorant that the commands of the two former had actually been withdrawn; while he was exonerated from the charge of rashness by his prudent dispositions in the field, and the necessity he was under, as a man of courage and gallantry, of proceeding to the relief of the small body of troops which had preceded him, and which were beset by the enemy when he crossed. 66 Why," asked the Senator, fortified by the evidence taken before the War Committee, of which he was a member, was this little band permitted to be destroyed by a force little more than double its numbers in the presence of forty thousand splendid troops? Why were Mc |