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Captain LINES was very affectionate toward his family and friends, and unusually thoughtful of them, especially in writing whenever it was possible. A few extracts from the hundreds of letters received from him, are given below, which indicate the current of his thoughts and the character of the man:-- "You must remember there will be a great number of "Eddies" in this war, and some of them must die before our country is again quiet, and if God sees fit that I should be one to surrender my life for my country's good, I shall not complain; pray and trust in God; He rules every thing for good. WABAUNSEE, KANSAS,
October 8th 1861. DEAREST AND BELOVED KITTIE, I arrived in Wabaunsee Saturday evening. They were all glad to see me. Our dear brother Elsworth, I found to be in a dying state.; he knew me but said but Little. You can imagine how I felt, coming home after such a trip to spend a few days with those I love, to find one of them so near the other world. He died last night and was willing to go; his trust was in God. It is a hard blow to us all. But father and mother were so much relieved to know that he had put his trust in the Lord. Dearest Kittie, this is a hard blow for me, I so little expected to find one so loved to be taken from us. I have looked to such a pleasant visit, and to find all so changed, it makes me feel as I never felt before. But it is God's will and I submit. I know it will be hard to go away and part with father and mother; it seems as if it would be a last and a long farewell. But I think it a duty I owe my God and my country. If Kittie were here, it seems to me that I could not again part. But it may be for the best; Elsworth dead, Kittie miles away, and all looks so dark, it seems that I am no longer that Eddie of old, hut a soldier whose life is one of trial and hardships, and but a step from the other world. It is hard thus to reflect, but I can not help it, and we must look at it just as it is, and be prepared for the worst. As I looked at our dear one this morning, cold in death, I could but feel that I should soon follow him to the Happy Land. I have for some time felt that death was not far off, and now it almost stares me in the face. But I fear not; in God I trust, and it makes me happy when I know that Kittie will submit to His will. Dearest and much loved one, could I but see you once again I would be so happy, and if it is possible for me to get to you, I shall, try my best to do so. PLANTER'S HOUSE, LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS,
May 28th, 1862. DEAR FATHER, Ever your ever loving son, ED.
IN CAMP NEAR
MURFEESBORO, TENN.,
September 3d, 1862. DEAR FATHER, I have but a few moments to write. I am quite well, never better in my life. We are on the march for Nashville, Tenn. It is very hot. and we have warm work before us. I think It is about even with the North and South. It looks dark for us. Direct your letters to me, at Nashville, Tenn., care Gen. R B. Mitchell. My love to all.--In haste. Your affectionate son, ED.
BATTLE GROUND,
NEAR PERRYVILLE, KY.,
October 10th, 1862. DEAR FATHER, Your affectionate son, ED.
HEAD-QUARTERS,
S. W. DIST. SPRINGFIELD, MO.,
March 12th, 1863. DEAR FATHER, Your dear son, ED.
After his last visit, in speaking of his babe, be writes: "Our married life has been so pleasant, I can and do think of it every day as bright spot in my life. I hope God in His goodness will spare us to each other, and that long years of Happiness are in store for us. I will be careful and hopeful; how dearly, fondly I love our sweet babe; I trust she may be the may he spared to us. God has been so kind in giving us such a treasure; can we ever thank Him as we should. May God bless and protect her, and give you strength to bear with her, and bring her up as we both so much wish to. ‘I feel so that I have see her and pressed her to my heart.’” NEAR CINCINNATI, ARK.
IN THE FIELD AND ON THE MARCH TO FORT GIBSON, August 19th, 1863. DEAR FATHER, In much haste, your son, ED.
FORT SMITH, ARK.,
September 2d, 1882, C. B. LINES, Esq. On the 8th day of August we left Springfield, to reinforce Gen. Blunt, then at Fort Gibson. We have been on a Forced march nearly ever since that time. We found the enemy at Briestown or Brierville, in the Cherokee Nation, four days after leaving Fort Gibson; drove them to Perryville,near the Texas line, and burned the town; then we started for Fort Smith. Gen. Caball, with about 2,500 men, undertook to dispute our passage, but finally, after throwing a few shell at us from two howitzers, run. Our command, under Col. Cloud, marched about 17 miles, and were ambushed bythe rebels, Company "C" being in our advance. The enemy formed in a dense growth of small timber and brush, and when our scouts came up, they let them pass through without firing a gun, but when Company C came up, they opened upon them a very heavy volley of infantry in two columns. Your son was killed at that time. He was in the extreme advance, (as was his custom,) and was shot by a minnie ball, through the bowels and liver. He lived about 2 1/2 or 3 hours after the wound, remaining entirely sensible to the last moment. He died as brave a man as ever gave his life for hiscountry. Not a murmur or complaint escaped his lips. He said he should live but a few hours, and that he died where be preferred to die, at the head of his Company, firmly believing he would be better off in the world to come, and sending his warmest love to his wife and father; and mother, and all his dear friends. I cannot write as I would, I am so pained at the loss of Eddie; his Company are almost frantic with grief. I had no idea he was so beloved, except by myself! My heart is too full to write more. Yours, in affliction, J. W. R.,
Ass’t Surgeon 2d Kansas Cavalry. FORT SMITH, ARK.,
Aug. 3d, 1863. CHAS. B. LINES, ESQ., little to the right of the centre and passing out beneath the ribs on the left side of the body. The intestines were wounded, and several small vessels were severed, causing slow but fatal hemorrhage. I was immediately with the Capt. as be he fell from his wounded horse, and never have I seen more nobleness of spirit, more unflinching coolness and bravery displayed, than was exhibited during the last hours of your son's life; his cheerfulness was wonderful, notwithstanding his pains were extreme; he murmured not--not even a groan escaped his lips. From the first, he was fullyaware of his critical condition, and that he could not recover. He often spoke of you and of his own little family. The leaving of his friends being his only regret--of them he spoke freely. He had an affectionate spirit, be loved and in return was beloved by a host of good and brave men, who will ever remember Capt. Lines with feelings of pure respect and esteem. I wish I could say something that might relieve the Poignancy or your grief. I can only point to the God you worship, for comfort, and pray that we all may be prepared for our final departure, whether it shall he amid the din and smoke of battle, as dies the noble brave, or with our families in peaceful homes. I have written in great haste, having a thousand things on hand. Please accept my heartiest sympathy, and believe me, as ever, your true friend. J. P. R.,
Surgeon 2d Kan. Cavalry. the death of Capt. Lines. LAWRENCE, KANSAS,
October 2d, 1863. DEAR SIR AND FRIEND, Your friend and younger brother, L. B.
C. B. Lines, Esq.LAWRENCE, KANSAS
March 9th, 1864. Hon. C. B. LINES, Dear Sir:--You have received a heavy blow, but it does not fall alone upon you. I feel that I have cause to mourn the loss of a dear friend in your noble hearted son, and the State has lost a treasure not easily replaced. Please accept my heart felt sympathy In this affliction. Very truly, your friend, C. R.
NEW YORK,
October 16th, 1863. MY DEAR FRIEND, I have just received notice of the death of your son I must say, in view of the facts of his death and of your well grounded hope of his preparation for change, that I feel like giving you my congratulation rather than any ordinary expression of condolence. It is a great thing for a man to give a son to die as he died, in the assurance of hope for the hereafter. He will live in the affections of all his family for generations; his deeds of valor and sacrifice will be told at the fire-sides of your children's children, for centuries, and the fact and glory of dying for his country is inseparably connected with his name for all time. Do not mourn for him. Thank God rather that you had such a son, and that he gave himself so nobly to the cause of right and liberty. Yours truly, S. B. C.
Mr. C. B. LINES.SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI,
September 19th, 1863. DEAR SIR, Respectfully, O. A. B., Lt. Col 2d Kan. Cav.
C. B. Lines, Esq., Topeka, Kansas.LAWRENCE, KANSAS
December 8th, 1863. Hon. C. B. LINES. qualities, and to know that to many beside myself he endeared himself. Beside your personal loss, the State has lost a gallant soldier and honest gentleman. Will you consider me one who knew his worth and lament his loss. I am, very dear sir, yours respectfully, E. D. T.
NEW HAVEN,
CONN.,
October 24th, 1863 MY DEAR FRIEND, I am, Truly yours, S. D. P.
LAWRENCE, KANSAS.<
Nov., 1863 DEAR SIR:-- I pray that you will accept my deep sympathy for you in this bereavement. The event will not have happened in vain, if it brings you nearer to that cross where alone is rest. Most truly, H. M. S.
NEW HAVEN CONN.,
November, 1st, 1867. Hon. CHARLES B. LINES,
Liberty; But left a deathless lesson,-- A name which is a virtue; and a soul Which multiplies itself throughout all times.” Your son for years sat before me, as I sat where I am now writing. As my eye at this moment falls upon his seat and desk, I recall him perfectly; quiet, unassuming, studious, eminently trusted to do his duty at all times, honored and loved by all who knew him; what else should we have looked for but a life, however long or short, filled out with duty performed. How blind were we not to see in him all this surety for his future. The old Spartans went into battle with their crowns already on their heads. There was that in them which ensured victory in even in defeat. If our eyes had been opened as those of a prophet of old, we should have seen him even in his boyhood thus crowned for life by his virtues, his firmness under temptation, and that perseverance in the right which was the insurance of his success. You have not ceased to grieve, you never will, for the loss to you of solace, of aid and reliance, as life grows old; but your grief is lightened by thought that he wielded just the sword that our Lord came to bring; that your loss has brought gain to the world and to him, too, in that kingdom of God for the bringing on of which it really was, that he laid down his life. Very truly yours, W. H. R.
A letter to the Commercial Advertiser, contains the following particulars of his fall: “As Cloud's advanced guard, led by Captain Lines, approached, the rebels fired, and he fell from his horse, shot though the bowels. The ball entered his loins on the left left side and passed entirely through his body, coming out near the right hip. He survived almost four hours. In death his face wore the same expression of constant courage, and of calm and dauntless energy, that marked it in the discharge of all his duties, in camp and battle.” The funeral of the late Capt. E. C. D. LINES will be attended at the North Church on Thursday, at 4 o'clock, P. M. Captain Lines was a native of Connecticut, in which State he received his early education and made his home, until the commencement of troubles in Kansas. He came to that young territory with his father and brother, together with a large and respectable number of friends, and formed the beautiful little town of Wabaunsee, on the Kansas river. When the ballot-box was trampled under foot by an invading force, and Free State men were murdered in their own houses and fields, Captain Lines was one of the first to resist tyranny and form a company for the protection of the people, of which he was elected Lieutenant, being then scarcely twenty-one years old. This was, probably, the first Sharp's rifle company in Kansas. He was in many of the fights and skirmishes during the trying times of ‘56. As soon as the South signified her determination to sever the Union, by firing upon Fort Sumpter, Captain Lines was the first man from his county to offer his services to his country. He entered the army in 1881 as a private, but was elected and appointed a Lieutenant. The first important engagement in which he took a part, was the battle of Wilson's Creek, where he acted as Adjutant to the old Kansas Second. He was in all the actions which occurred in Missouri and Arkansas, until Col. Mitchell was promoted to a Brigadier, when he was placed upon his staff and sent to the trans-Mississippi army. Here he served with distinguished honor to himself and his country, and went though all these weary forced matches and desperate engagements without receiving a wound. Last autumn he was transferred to the Kansas Second again, and promoted soon after to a Captaincy. The Fort Scott Union Monitor, Extra, brings us a report of a skirmish between part of the troops under Gen. Blunt, and the rebels, in which Capt. Ed. Lines was killed. A meeting of some of the officers of the 2d Kansas Cavalry was held at Springfield, Mo., September 11th, 1863, to pay tribute to the memory of Capt. E. C. D. Lines, who was killed at the head of his squadron while leading a charge against the enemy near Fort Smith, Arkansas, September 1st, 1863. There were present, Lieut. Col. Owen A. Bassett, Maj. Julius G. Fisk, Capt. Hugh Cameron, Lieut. John Johnston, Lieut Elias Stover, Lieut. J Carey French, Lieut. Barnett B Mitchell, Lieut. John B. Dexter, Lieut. Samuel K. Cross. There were also present, by invitation, the following officers of the 2d Indiana Battery: Captain John W. Rabb, Lieut. Hugh Espey, Lieut. James S. Whicher, they having been with that battery during the last year, serving with the 2d Kansas Cavalry. WHEREAS, It has pleased Almighty God, in his wisdom, to remove from our midst, our much esteemed and beloved brother officer, Capt. Edward C. D. Lines, “C.” Co. 2d Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, who died as he lived, brave, true, kind and generous; an accomplished gentleman and honorable officer, whose bearing during his long service, has secured the love and esteem of all his brother officers; Therefore, The Secretary was to furnish these proceedings to the relatives of the deceased, and for publication in the "Topeka Tribune" and “New Haven Palladium." J. CAREY FRENCH, Secretary.
LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS,
November 11th, 1861. The bearer of this, Lieut. E. C. D. Lines, has been an officer in our Regiment ever since its organization, and participated in the battles of Forsyth, Dug Springs and Springfield, in all of which he displayed the most admirable coolness and courage. At Springfield, he was acting Adjutant of the Regiment, and exhibited the most absolute and utter disregard of danger in the discharge of the manifold duties of his position, riding about in the storm of round shot, rifle balls and shell, with the same coolness and self-possession which characterized his conduct on parade or drill. ROBT. B. MITCHELL,
Colonel.
CHAS. W. BLAIR, Lieut. Colonel. W. F. CLOUD, Major. IN CAMP NEAR CRAB ORCHARD, KY.
October 18th, 1882. MY DEAR SIR, Very respectfully, your obt servt., P. S. P.
To Lieut. E. C. D. LINES,Col. Comdg. 30th Brig., Army of the Ohio. Staff of Gen. Mitchell, 9th Division, Army of The Ohio. |