Memoirs of William Miller - Sylvester Bliss

death; he was rational, and appeared to be warned
of his approaching fate; he mentioned his friends in
Poultney; he mentioned your name; regretted that
he could not see you once more; but when he was a
going to mention the name of Charlotte, his speech
failed him. He could only squeeze my hand, and
weep. I pitied him, from my soul. ‘Young man,’
said I, ‘I know what you would say -- endeavor to
recover your health. You shall have a furlough, and
go and see --’ ... ‘Ah! no,’ said he, ‘it is all over
with me. A few hours, and I shall be no more.’ He
hung to my hand; begged of me not to leave him;
but my duty forced me, and, with difficulty, I tore
myself from his grasp. I had him decently interred;
and if any person was a mourner, I was one.
“Perhaps it would not be proper to mention this
to Charlotte. You can do as you think best, as I
believe you are capable of judging as correctly as I
can. The remainder of the soldiers from Poultney
and that quarter are all well.
“I shall send this letter by Elnathan Phelps, Jr. I
have sent to the post-office for a letter this evening,
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