BREVET BRIG.-GEN. GEORGE DUNCAN WELLS.

George Duncan Wells was born at Greenfield, Mass., Aug. 21, 1826. His father was Chief Justice Wells, from whom he inherited his integrity, and kindness of heart. He was elected to the Legislature in 1859; becoming at once chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and leader of the House. Early in the Rebellion, he served for a short time at Fort Warren, and was then commissioned as lieutenant-colonel of the First Massachusetts Regiment. To him that gallant corps owed much of its discipline and efficiency. At the siege of Yorktown, he led the first assault of the Peninsular campaign, capturing a redoubt at the head of three companies; himself being the first man to enter the lunette.

Lieut.-Col. Wells shared most of the battles of this campaign; leading, for a time, a demoralized regiment, to which he was assigned for the purpose of restoring its character. In July of 1862, he took command of the noble Massachusetts Thirty-fourth.

Col. Wells was next placed in command at Harper's Ferry. In October, 1863, the Thirty-fourth gained an opportunity to show themselves under fire, driving Imboden's raiders ten miles, and marching thirty-five miles in fifteen hours. In December, this officer, with fourteen hundred men, including four hundred cavalry and a battery of six guns, was sent to Harrisonburg to aid Averill, who was engaged in cutting the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. He rendered essential service, holding a rebel army of ten thousand men in check, and, when pursued by a large force under Early, made a masterly retreat. Building fires to deceive the enemy, he marched by night, and reached Harper's Ferry with his men and munitions unharmed, and with many prisoners and trophies. This march of forty-three miles in thirty hours was followed by a dress-parade on the next day, when the shining guns and neat equipments of the men were as remarkable as ever.

The next battle was the disastrous one at Newmarket, where the Thirtyfourth gained new glory. The colonel was struck by two bullets; but his "boys "boasted that he was "iron-clad." To the courage and coolness of his men, the safety of the army was, in great part, ascribed. Col. Wells next took part in the battle of Fisher's Hill, where he saved the day. The colonel was struck by a bullet, but without harm. On the 12th of October, Col. Wells fell at South-Cedar Creek, mortally wounded; giving, after he received his death-wound, the needed orders for the withdrawal of his brigade, and warning his men not to attempt to save him. A brigadier-generalship by brevet was bestowed upon Col. Wells, dating from the day of his fall. So, mourned and honored by friends and foes, he died the death, as he had lived the life, of a true patriot and a true man. His body was buried in his native

town.

BRIG.-GEN. THOMAS I. C. AMORY.

Thomas I. C. Amory was a native of Massachusetts, and born in Boston, Nov. 28, 1828. When seventeen years of age, upon the nomination of ExPresident John Q. Adams, a friend and classmate of his grandfather, he was appointed a cadet at West Point. He was above the usual height, and of a robust constitution, well fitting him for the hardships and exposures of his profession.

Graduating in 1851, he was appointed brevet second lieutenant in the Seventh United-States Infantry, stationed at Fort Smith; and for the next ten years was constantly engaged in his military duty in the western wilderness, from the Falls of St. Anthony to Texas. His regiment was not in the Mexican War, but formed part of the Utah Expedition in 1854. After ten years of active duty, he returned home in the spring of 1861 on recruiting service, and, when the Rebellion broke out, was useful in expediting troops to the field. In the autumn of that year, he was appointed colonel of the Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteers. His regiment, one of the most efficient in the army, was ordered to Baltimore, and, after being employed in re-establishing order in Eastern Maryland, went to Newbern. Col. Amory as acting brigadier took part in several expeditions into the interior, and, when Newbern was attacked, repulsed the enemy. In October, 1864, while in command at Beaufort, his wife died of yellow-fever; and, a few days later, he also fell a victim to the disease.

COL. FLETCHER WEBSTER.

Fletcher Webster, son of the illustrious statesman, Daniel Webster, was born in Portsmouth, N.H., July 23, 1813. He was fitted for college at the Latin School in Boston, and graduated at Harvard College in 1833. In 1843, he went to China as secretary of legation under the Hon. Caleb Cushing, who was minister. Upon his return, he settled in Boston. Immediately after the firing upon Fort Sumter, he proceeded to raise a regiment; and his efforts were so warmly seconded by his own friends and those of his father, that, in a very short time, its ranks were filled. After passing some weeks at Fort Warren, in Boston Harbor, diligently drilling, and learning their new duties, his regiment, the Twelfth Massachusetts, in July, 1861, proceeded to the seat of war. For the remainder of that year, and for a considerable portion of 1862, the regiment was employed in guarding the upper waters of the Potomac. In the second battle of Bull Run, Aug. 29, 1862, the regiment suffered heavily from the fire of the enemy; and Col. Webster, who had throughout behaved with the utmost gallantry, was shot through the body, and died a few hours afterwards.

Col. Webster was a generous and warm-hearted man, a brave soldier, and an excellent officer. His friends were strongly attached to him, and he was much beloved by the men whom he commanded

CHAPTER IX.

FALLEN HEROES.

Brig.-Gen. F. W. Lander. - Brig.-Gen. T. G. Stevenson.— Brig.-Gen. Charles Russell Lowell.-Col. R. G. Shaw. Col. P. J. Revere. Col. G. L. Prescott.- Lieut.-Col. C. R.

RIG.-GEN. FREDERICK WILLIAM LANDER was born in

B Salem, Dec. 17, 1822.

Salem, Dec. 17, 1822. He was an active and adventurous boy, and grew up fond of and familiar with manly sports. In early youth, he entered Capt. Partridge's Military Academy at Norwich, Vt., and graduated a civil engineer. After a successful practice in his profession for several years, he engaged in explorations for the Government at the West. Of two expeditions to survey the route of a Pacific Railroad, he organized the latter at his own expense, and was the only survivor of the party who went out with him.

Subsequently he surveyed and constructed the Great Central Wagon-route; travelling, in four months and a half, four thousand six hundred miles. In 1858, while this gigantic enterprise was in progress, the Pah Ute Indians fell upon his party of seventy men, and were completely routed.

When civil war burst upon the country, he offered his services to Gen. Scott "in any capacity, at any time, and for any duty." He was soon after employed successfully on secret missions to the South. He was volunteer aide on Gen. M'Clellan's staff the same year, and shared honorably in the battles of Philippi and Rich Mountain; in the latter, especially, displaying coolness and bravery which decided the fortunes of the day. In July, 1861, he was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers; and while in Washington, hearing of the disaster at Ball's Bluff, he hastened to Edward's Ferry with a company of sharpshooters, and held the position. Here he was wounded in the leg, but continued in active service. After a forced march of forty-three miles through deep snow, in February, 1862, to Blooming Gap, he made a brilliant and successful charge upon the enemy.

Failing health compelled Gen. Lander to ask for relief from

military duties; but before the request could be granted, hearing that the enemy were within reach, he was preparing for a midnight attack, when he suddenly sank into the arms of death at Paupan, Va. The immediate cause of his death was congestion of the brain.

Gen. Lander was a dashing and daring officer, regardless of danger, and glorying in the strife when hottest around him. In sympathy with human suffering, and hating injustice, he was a chivalrous and heroic man, of whose martial career we can only say, his "sun went down while it was yet noon."

GEN. STEVENSON.

Thomas Greely Stevenson, brigadier-general United-States Volunteers, who fell at the head of the first division of the Ninth Army Corps on the tenth day of May, 1864, was born in Boston, Mass., on the third day of February, 1836.

He was the elder son of J. Thomas Stevenson, of that city.

In his boyhood he was beloved and trusted by his companions, acquiring an influence over them, accounted for only by attributing to him the pos session of those remarkable qualities which so fully developed themselves in riper years.

As a youth, he was a leader in manly sports; many of the most promis ing young men of his native city gathering around him as their chief. His manly and straightforward conduct insured their respect, and his sympathetic friendship won their affection.

He received his early education in the best schools of Boston. While still quite young, he evinced a decided preference for the active pursuits of commercial life; and at sixteen he entered the counting-room of one of the most active of the Boston merchants, whose love and confidence he rapidly gained, and never lost.

The first flash of the Rebellion awakened him to a full sense of the duties which young men owed to the nation. He devoted himself with all his energies to his country, and enlisted in her cause. He seemed to foresee the magnitude of the contest, and never indulged a doubt concerning its issue.

In the spring of 1861, he was orderly-sergeant of the New-England Guards, an old and favorite company of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, composed of young men of good position in Boston.

When permission was given to raise another company of New-England Guards, and the two were organized as the Fourth Battalion of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, he was elected captain of one of the companies. The battalion received orders to garrison Fort Independence, in Boston Harbor; and occupied that post on the 25th of April, 1861, under his command. On the 4th of May, he was elected major of the battalion, and continued to command it till he was called to a position of higher rank and greater responsibility.

On the 31st of August, 1861, Major Stevenson received from the Governor of Massachusetts authority to raise a regiment of volunteers for the service of the United States, which he proceeded to recruit forthwith with great care.

Col. Stevenson went into camp at Readville, Mass., early in September, 1861, with the Twenty-fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was assigned to Gen. Burnside's command, and left the State on the ninth day of December, 1861, and proceeded to Annapolis, Md., where it was attached to the brigade of Gen. John G. Foster.

He commanded the regiment at Roanoke Island on the 8th of February, 1862; and in the battle of Newbern on the 14th of March of the same year, where his coolness and intrepidity, under the severe fire to which the troops were exposed, seemed to inspire the young officers by whom he was surrounded, and did much to secure the steady and unwavering conduct which distinguished his men.

Upon the re-organization of Gen. Burnside's forces in North Carolina, in April, 1862, Col. Stevenson was assigned to the command of a brigade in Gen. Foster's division, which he accepted with much hesitation, on account of his youth, and of his apprehension that the chances of war might separate him from the Twenty-fourth Regiment, to which he was ardently attached.

In Gen. Foster's movement towards Tarborough in November of that year, his command had the advance. The official report of the commanding general concludes as follows:

:

"I desire to mention particularly the efficient conduct of Col. Stevenson, commanding the second brigade; and of Col. Potter, of the First NorthCarolina Union Volunteers.

"I recommend that Col. Stevenson, for his efficient services on this march and in the affairs at Little Creek and at Rawle's Mills, as well as previous services at the battles of Roanoke and of Newbern, be promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, to date from Nov. 3, 1862."

He led the same brigade in the movement to Goldsborough, and distinguished himself by the rapidity of his movements upon that march, by the disposition of his troops, and his conduct in the battles of Kinston on the 14th, of Whitehall on the 16th, and of Goldsborough on the 17th of that month.

He was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general on the 27th of December, 1862, upon the recommendation of his commanding officer, for gallantry and efficiency in the field.

Early in 1863, Gen. Foster organized a land force for operations against Charleston, and assigned a brigade to Gen. Stevenson; and in February he went to South Carolina, where his command was attached to the Tenth Army Corps.

On the 28th of March, 1863, in anticipation of the first combined movement by Admiral Dupont and Gen. Hunter upon Fort Sumter, he landed upon Seabrook Island and took possession of it.

The maintenance of this position, in close proximity to the enemy at a point easily accessible to his forces, required great circumspection. On the night