Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
Providence, R. I., Oct. 4, 1862
The remains of Brigadier General Rodman arrived here on Friday morning, and lay in state until noon to-day at the State House, when the funeral ceremonies took place.
The remains of the brave and fearless soldier were escorted by a large turn out of citizens and by the military, consisting of the Eleventh regiment of infantry, the Horse Guards, and Battery H.
The telegraph has given the news of the dismissal from the service of Commander Preble, of the blockading squadron off Mobile, for allowing a vessel carrying the English flag to run the blockade, when he had power to prevent it. The people will not complain of any necessary increase of stringency in the Navy Department. An application of equal stringency to some other Departments would not be ungrateful to the popular heart. With reference to this particular case, however, we feel confident, as do the numerous friends of Commander Preble in this city, that when all the facts shall come to be known, he will be restored to his command. Commander P. is a Portland boy, was raised in this city, educated in our Public High School, and is known to be as true a sailor, as honest a man, and as loyal a citizen as ever stepped on shipboard, or obeyed an order. He is a nephew of the late Commodore Preble, and, like his old weather beaten kinsman, has seen hard and honorable service. His friends, we repeat, cherish abiding confidence that there must be palliating circumstances, which, when known, will cause his name to be restored to the service.
The funeral of Col. Netter yesterday was a most imposing affair. Personally, he was known to but few of our citizens, but his reputation was familiar to all. The large military procession which followed his remains to the grave, gave proof of the high regard entertained by our citizens for the services of so gallant a soldier of the Republic.
The remains of Col. Netter arrived on the steamer Delaware late Saturday night. This was the first authentic intelligence obtained of the Colonel’s death. No opportunity was given to announce the time of the funeral, which was fixed for 4 o’clock. Adjutant Sonntag, however, did his best to notify the members of the different companies of the Indiana Legion, and by half past 2 o’clock they commenced collecting at their various headquarters. By 3 o’clock they were in line on Third street, where they were formed the regiment under the command of Lieut. Col. Gwathmey and the battalion under Major Walker. The regiment was headed by the German Brass Band and the battalion by the Crescent City Band.
A correspondent writing from Corinth, Mississippi, sends the following in relation to the Commander in Chief of the Western armies:
There is yet no sign of an immediate intention of General Halleck to leave Corinth. But with him what is apparently improbable today may be certain tomorrow. Events may forecast their shadows but the move ments of General Halleck do not. His plans lie always buried in that safest of repositories—his own head—until the hour for their execution has arrived. Not even the members of his staff, holding the most confidential positions, share their burden until then. Independence of conception seems one of the main characteristics of his mind.
The gallant commander of the ninth Massachusetts regiment died at his residence in Boston, Saturday morning, from injuries received in the battle of July 1st. Col. Cass was an old resident of Boston, an old member of the volunteer militia, and his position and popular qualities gave him great influence among his Irish fellow-citizens. When the war broke out he immediately tendered his services towards raising the regiment which he has since commanded. The regiment has done noble service, and has met with fearful losses. Officers and privates who knew no fear, and no other place of duty that that of danger, have fallen like leaves before an untimely storm.
The Union has lost one of its ablest defenders, and Pennsylvania a noble, upright citizen, ever zealous for the public good. General Charles Ferguson Smith died at Savannah, Tennessee, on Friday last, from an illness contracted at the time of his occupation of that town. The deceased officer was a son of Dr. Samuel B. Smith, of Philadelphia. From the date of his graduation at West Point, in 1825, his advancement, not only in rank, but in the esteem and confidence of his fellow officers, was merited and rapid. Commencing his military career as a second lieutenant of artillery, his distinguished merit on the fields of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, Cherubusco, and Contreras, raised him in quick succession to the rank of Major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel. At the time of his death he was colonel of the Third Infantry—one of the best regiments in the service. Such worth as his could not lie dormant in the present struggle.—In August last he was made a brigadier general. At the taking of Fort Donelson his valor was conspicuous, alike to friend and foe, and won for him the rank of major general.
Since the death of this noted rebel leader, some interest is attached to his previous history. From our best sources of information we learn that General Felix K. Zollicoffer (irreverently styled “Snollegoster,” by the Union soldiers,) was of a Swiss family who emigrated to Tennessee some fifty or sixty years ago. Felix was born in Maury County, near Nashville, in 1812; was educated a printer; edited, when twenty-two years of age, the Columbia Observer ; in 1833 was made State Printer, and in 1842 became editor of the Nashville Banner, then the leading Whig paper in the State.
Helen Keller, famous blind and deaf woman will arrive in Milwaukee Thursday to spend several days in making a personal appeal for the support of the American Foundation for the Blind.
Miss Keller will be accompanied by her life-long teacher, Mrs. Anne Sullivan Macy.