Civil War Soldiers - 1864

 Oxford Times,  October 10, 1864

Soldiers at Home:  Samuel Balcom, Ransom Church, Robert Nichols, John Figary and Whitman Stratton are at home again safe and sound, having completed their term of enlistment in the 89th Regiment and been honorably discharged. The boys have done their part well and nobly, and although young in years, are veterans in the service of the Republic, and have made for themselves a record, of which their friends, neighbors and townsmen are justly pround.

Oxford Times, January 4, 1865

Death of Wilber Young:  We are requested to publish the following letter from a visitor of the Jarvis hospital at Baltimore.

Baltimore, Nov. 28, 1864

Mr. Wm. Young, Dear Sir:  I am a frequent visitor at the Jarvis Hospital, and among other patients there, I became interested in your son Wilber. My attention was called to him by one of the nurses as a man who had no appetite and had not eaten for two or three days, but had expressed a wish for some oysters.  They were immediately procured for him, but he did not relish them much.  I saw him the next day, and sat by him a good while talking, and got from the ladies' room some little thing that I thought he could eat.  But his appetite was very poor, and he seemed low in spirits. The nurse said he could not get him to take as much stimulant as they wanted him to.  I took him some wine and some little things to eat from time to time, and the dear boy as I sat feeding him with a spoon, looked at me so bright and loving, and said "you put me so in mind of mother."  I did not think he was a going to die.  But I asked him if there was any of his family could come and see him.  He said there was not, and that his mother was fifty-eight years of age.  (I am sixty)  From this time I took him as my own as far as I could.  I saw him always once, and often twice a day, and sat by him trying to cheer him.  But his leg had several bleedings. The doctor did not think them dangerous, but he told me that he could not stand it; he was losing more blood than he had strength for. I saw him on the evening of the 26th and his leg was bleeding then, but the nurse assured me that he did not apprehend any danger from it, but that Young gave up so.  He did not seem to have any spirit. The poor darling was so weak and so discouraged.

On the 27th, I did not go up until about 2 o'clock.  I went to his place, and he was not there, and I thought that I had got in the wrong ward, but when I asked for him, they told me he was dead.  I was shocked.  He had died at 11 o'clock on the night of the 26th.  He told me that I put him in mind of his mother, and this morning, I went as his mother to follow him from the house where the dead lie to the Chapel where the funeral services are performed. The coffin covered with the stars and stripes are taken on the bier and placed in the Chapel. There is a guard through which they pass, and a muffled drum beating. This continues through the movement, then this guard follows in, and after the services, escort the remains to the graveyard, which is a beautiful spot a short distance from the city.  In the Chapel, first was a prayer, then singing, five first verses of the hymn beginning "Whilst there I seek," then reading a part of the 18th Psalm, and the Chaplain made many wholesome observations on it, showing us how if God protected David in his time of peril from a personal enemy, how near he would be to protect and care for our brave and good men, who put their trust in Him, and go out to fight their country's battles.  If they do get bodily wounds, and have to die. He is merciful to care for and receive the spirits of those who put their trust in Him. Then was sung the hymn "Nearer my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee."  The chaplain then read the names of those to be buried and said that Young had expressed himself in a calm and trusting manner of his assurance of a Divine favor, and of his full confidence of meeting and living with his Savior, that was not joyful and exulting, but clam, and firm, and gave to him satisfactory evidence that he was a child of God, and that from this world of pain and sorrow he has gone to one of glory.

My friends, father and mother, accept my sympathy, and believe that as far as could be, your son had good doctors, good care, kind nurses, and kind ladies to look after hmi.  My words to you are, not from a heart which has not mourned, for one of my noble sons, dear to me as yours to you, was wounded and died last June in Hospital at Washington.  another has been twice wounded, and is again at the front. And still another in the Navy, on account of ill health, which was brought on by his exposure.  So you see that one who has had some bitter drops herself, would fain comfort you.  But you know a true source of comfort, and in my sympathy, I can only say what I have said, and that I should be pleased if you would let me know where your other sons are, and subscribe myself your friend.

Mrs. S. R., West Lombard Street