9th
Regiment
ARMY
CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP
NEAR FREDERICKSBURG, VA.,
December,
18th, 1862
Mrs.
Cole: Dear Madam. It becomes my painful duty to announce
to you that God in his providence has removed from our
midst a dear comrade. Your son, George Albert Price.
Bravest of the brave – he fell while gallantly
contending in one of the most glorious causes, that of
maintaining the American Liberty and Independence. I am
sorry to say that I was not with him after he was struck.
The contest was fearful. There was a rebel battery at one
point which was creating fearful havoc among the men
on our right’ a few us determined to silence it;
we rushed forward, gained cover near it and drove the
gunners away and kept it silent until over powered by
numbers and were forced back. It was while I was forward
that George received his death blow, and not until the
fight was ended did I learn that he was no more. His body
was recovered next day and interred; but, everything had
been taken from his pockets – nothing was left as a
memorial. I would have given all I possess to have been
with him, but even then would have done nothing, for the
following order was read to us that morning. “No armed
man shall have his company or regiment, for the purpose of
assisting any wounded man or officer. Any soldier
violating this order shall be punished to the fullest
extent of the Army Regulations.” Which punishment is
death. – Men were detailed on purpose to care for the
wounded; but, there were so many that scores were left to
be cared for by the enemy. The ball that caused his death
struck him on the top of the head and passed out near his
neck on the back part. He was buried by a detail from a
Maine Regiment, who were on picket the next day.
Please
accept my sympathy in this your loss. He was a noble boy,
and a dear comrade. I loved him as a brother and his loss
is felt deeply by the whole company. May God sustain you
in the trying hour and at last receive you into his
kingdom, where I feel that George has gone. His was noted
for his moral department while with us.
Give
my best respects to the family also to all the friends and
believed me to be your friend in the hour of affliction.
T.
J. Marshall,
Serg’t.
Comp. H, 9th Regt. P. V
Wednesday
Morning, Feb. 4, 1863.
LINES
SUGGESTED.
On
the death of G. A. Price, Company H, 9th
Regiment, P. R. C. Killed at the battle of Fredericksburg.
Alas,
vain hope, then now art crushed,
And
all our joys are fled;
For
he, who once our joy and pride,
Lies
mouldering with the dead.
He
heard of treason’s wild career,
He
heard his county’s call,
Then
to the rescue, forth he went,
To
conquer or to fall.
Tho’
much he loved his friends and home,
He
bade them all adieu;
And
onward rushed, with manly tread,
To
shield the right and true.
Twas
first at Drainsville he met,
The
foe in dread array,
Where,
when the battle widly raged,
Much
valor did display.
And
then, though all those dreadful days,
On
Fair Oaks gory field;
Our
noble boy in front was seen,
Nor
thinking once to yield.
And
next on Antietam’s plain,
Where
crimson clothed the ground;
His
God did guide him safely through,,
Tho’
thousands fell around.
But
in the conflict, dire and fierce,
Near
Rappahannock’s shore,
‘Twas
Heaven’s mandate he should fall,
On
earth to rise no more.
Until
the Archangels’ trump shall sound,
To
call the nations forth;
To
meet their Ruler in the skies,
The
East, South, West and North.
Weep
not fond Mother tho’ he sleeps,
Beneath
a Southern sky,
But
trust that Jesus heard his prayer,
And
now he is on high.
For
thus he wrote – ere I engage,
In
conflicts bloody fray,
To
God may spirit I commend,
For
help Divine I pray.
That
He will lead and guide me,
Who
marks the bullets path,
Or
take me to himself above,
If
I should fall in death.
O,
Mother, Sisters, cease your tears,
Weep
not the loved one slain,
But
view him borne the angel bands,
Safe
to the heavenly plains.
And
let us each through Jesus’ grace,
Strive
to possess the crown,
That
we with him may meet at last,
When
this life’s work is o’er.
M.
A. B.
