Tag Archives: William Dehon

Letter – Charles Loring, 17 December 1862

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Condolence letter from Charles G. Loring to William Dehon upon the death of his son Arthur Dehon, who was killed at Fredericksburg.

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My Dear Friend,

I cannot forbear [???] of my heartfelt sympathy with you in this time of affliction – Altho we seldom much, – my heart always beats warmly towards you, – & can never be forgetful of your many kind & self sacrificing services in days long gone by.

I had not the pleasure to know Arthur, but I could not doubt what the son of such a mother & such a father must be; & every where hear that he was all you could desire.

You have therefore this font of consolations, in his character & honorable life, – that it will ever be delightful to remember him as your child, – & a cause of gratitude that he was given to you even for the brief period of his life. To this you haved added the hardy [???]

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reflection of his noble & honorable death; – that he fell in defence of the highest and holiest cause in which a young man could die; – and that death at such a cause sacrifices a life however short is of far higher value than a long one, as ordinary [???].

I too, as you know, have a son in the army; & my mind was, as yours, full of anxiety during the battle, with knowing that the telegraph might not, at any moment, announce his fate. But I felt & in the future conflicts in which he may be engaged, shall feel that if he must then lose his, I had rather have my dead son, thus dying nobly in defense of his Country & freedom & law than any living one insensible to his duty.

May God bless & comfot you my Dear Friend until reunited with those you so dearly and most justly loved.

Ever with great affection

your friend Charley Loring

Arthur Dehon was William Dehon’s son and a 2nd Lieutenant in Webster’s 12 MA Infantry. He was killed in action at Fredericksburg.

Letter – James Oakes, 19 December 1862

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Condolence letter from James Oakes to William Dehon upon the death of his son Arthur Dehon, who was killed at Fredericksburg.

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49 Long Wharf

Boston, December 19, 1862

My dear Mr. Dehon:

I beg that you will not think that I could rudely invade the sanctity of your overwhelming private and domestic sorrow, by addressing you in this, the stormy hour of your life. No, a different motive prompts me to offer you my deepest and most sincere sympathy – the sympathy of my whole heart! in the great bereavement that must so heavily weigh your very soul to the dust!

There is no philosophy for the heart: therefor words of consolation to the ear of one whose bereavement is so intensely crushing as yours, would be but mockery, and tend to divest the mind from the mournful enjoyment of its

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own sad bu absolving reflection, which I believe to be the natural and, therefore, the best solace to a wounded heart: consolation, the, I will not attempt to offer, but again assure you of my inmost sympathy with your soul in its desolation! Having had little else to for for some months than to brood over private calamities, I am keenly [aware?] to the sorrow that is now making furrows in your heart.

There is, my dear Mr. Dehon, a melancholy satisfaction in the knowledge, that your son fell nobly in the discharge of a must sacred duty, which consecrates his name forever among the defenders of the Union of his Country. He died a hero in the truest and broadest sense. His name will illumine a

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prominent page in the history of this unnatural and bloody way, which has widowed and unchilded so many, and carried desolation to so many households, and wrecked thousands of hearts!

Let us not however sorrow like men without hope – but implicitly cherish the consolatory and reasonable trust that we shall meet again hereafter, – that this life is but a wretched segment of the Eternal circle of our Being. Yes, my friend, it is in God’s Justice that those who love one another truly and sincerely here, shall see and know Each other in a brighter, happier sphere; yes, our very longings after immortality, are the imperishable seeds planted in us by the hand of God himself, and

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their fruition will be Everlasting Life!

I am confined to my bed, when the remains of Col. Webster were “laid away” in the dark cold chamber of the pulseless dead, or i should then, have called upon you, and offered to you my heart’s sympathies. He, too, was a brave man, and a gallant soldier. Poor Fletcher! Peace to his ashes, and Eternal renown to his name!

How applicable are the words of the immortal bard to nearly every household, at the present hour, “One woe doth tread upon another’s heel, so fast they follow!”

May God bless and strengthen you, my friend, and all those who are dear to you on Earth, in this hour of your soul’s desolation, is the Earnest desire of the heart of your friend and obt. sevt.

James Oakes

Arthur Dehon was William Dehon’s son and a 2nd Lieutenant in Webster’s 12 MA Infantry. He was killed in action at Fredericksburg.

Letter – F.L. Papanti, 26 December 1862

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Condolence letter from F.L. Papanti to William Dehon upon the death of his son Arthur Dehon, who was killed at Fredericksburg.

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Boston, Dec 26th, 1862

My Dear Sir

Allow me to express to you my deepest condolence for the loss of your brave and dear son – None but a Father can feel the sorrow of such a loss – Having known him since his boyhood, and from the attachment conceived for him make me feel more

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keenly the sadness of his too early departure.

Please extend my sympathies to Miss Dehon, and Master Henderson.

Very respectfully

Your devoted Friend

and Servant

L. Papanti

Arthur Dehon was William Dehon’s son and a 2nd Lieutenant in Webster’s 12 MA Infantry. He was killed in action at Fredericksburg.

Letter – Helen Wyman

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Condolence letter from Helen Wyman to William Dehon upon the death of his son Arthur Dehon, who was killed at Fredericksburg. She speaks of Arthur joining his mother in heaven.

My dear Mr. Dehon,

The Cross is laid heavily upon you – my heart weeps for you, but God alone can & will help you to bear it.

You brought me, sympathy & comfort; but in this dark hour, I can only you the former.

His life was short, but beautiful; & you have given him back to his sweet mother, as unsullied as she left him; if you have lost him, she has gained him, & together they wait & watch for you; it will be but a little while, when you can say to them – “All is Well.”

With deepest loving sympathy,

Helen D. Wyman

Arthur Dehon was William Dehon’s son and a 2nd Lieutenant in Webster’s 12 MA Infantry. He was killed in action at Fredericksburg.

Letter – Seth Gage, 21 December 1862

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Condolence letter from Seth Gage to William Dehon upon the death of his son Arthur Dehon, who was killed at Fredericksburg. Gage also inquires how Mr. Dehon would like for some items his son ordered to be disposed of.

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Washington Dec 21 1862

Wm Dehon Esq

My Dear Sir Yours I have received and shall attend to the lost packages and shall hold for disposal to your order. The sad news with the remains of your son the brave Lieut Dehon is no doubt with you. My sympathies are with you in this bereavement for I have also lost a good Friend. The Packages marked to Capt Coxe I shall forward to him in a day or two. I have on hand a pair of pants which I was unable to deliver

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to Lieut Dehon. They were made to his order and I will return them to Dolan the maker for sale or make any other disposition you may think proper. Please advise me how [I] can [dispose] of the packet

Respectfully Yours

Seth Gage

Arthur Dehon was William Dehon’s son and a 2nd Lieutenant in Webster’s 12 MA Infantry. He was killed in action at Fredericksburg.

Letter – Francis Boyd, 23 December 1862

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Condolence letter from Francis Boyd to William Dehon upon the death of his son Arthur Dehon, who was killed at Fredericksburg.

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My Dear Sir,

Had I been in the city yesterday, I should have attended to the funeral services of your late son Arthur and silently mingle my sympathy with you in your bereavement. – from old military association, I am confidant you will excuse me in writing, even to simply assure you, of a deep and heartfelt sympathy, in the loss of your son, while in the service of his Country; perhaps, I feel it the more keenly, in the fact that my two eldest born, are now absent in like duty & exposed to peril, & it may become my lot to experience the same pains of affliction, under which I now know, you are suffering.

While we cannot see with our own eyes, why our Country

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is thus called upon to pass thro the fiery ordeal of today, or why we should be called upon thus to give of our sons, whom we so cherish, let us have faith, that its not done by an overruling Providence, without end, or object – to accomplish this, the cultivated, well from blood much mingle with that, not so [???] , that sacrifice you have been called upon to make.

Again I assure you of my own & I know of many others sympathy, among our old associations of the military in this city praying for Divine Aid in this your hour of trial, and with sentiments of utmost respect

Remain your friend

Francis Boyd

Dec. 23 62

Arthur Dehon was William Dehon’s son and a 2nd Lieutenant in Webster’s 12 MA Infantry. He was killed in action at Fredericksburg.

Letter – J.C. Palfrey, 12 January 1863

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Dr. J.C. Palfrey to William Dehon, expressing his condolences upon the death of his son Arthur Dehon, who was killed at Fredericksburg.

Post Office

Boston, Mass, Jan. 12, 1863

My dear Wm. Dehon,

I saw you just now, but the sun was in my eyes, & I did not recognize you til we had passed each other. If I had, I should not have returned to stop you, for I could have found no words to accost you with, but – God comfort you [???]! is in my heart for the death of his.

J.C. Palfrey

Arthur Dehon was William Dehon’s son and a 2nd Lieutenant in Webster’s 12 MA Infantry. He was killed in action at Fredericksburg.

Cadet Resolutions – Independent Corps of Cadets, 20 December 1862

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Cadet Resolutions from the “Independent Corps of Cadets” expressing sympathy to the Dehon family upon the death of Lieutenant Arthur Dehon, who was killed in action at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Whereas we, the Independent Corps of Cadets, have heard, with sincere sorrow of the death of our late comrade Lieutenant Arthur Dehon, who fell while gallantly discharging his duty on the field of battle; therefore

Resolved, that by his decease, the Corps has lost a valuable member, and each of us, who knew him, a loved and honored friend.

Resolved, that we can never cease to remember his uniform kindness of disposition, his rare talents and his perfect bravery, the bravery of a true gentleman, not undervaluing danger, but ready to meet it, simple, un-ostentatious and never failing.

Resolved, that his career in arms has reflected honor on The Corps, on his State, and on his Country.

Resolved, that we deeply sympathise with his family in their loss of a son and brother who never, except by his death, could have made them feel a moment of sorrow.

Resolved, that these resolutions be entered upon the records of The Corps, and that a copy of them be sent to the family of the deceased.

December 20th 1862.

The Independent Corps of Cadets is also known as the First Corps of Cadets. It is a Massachusetts institution founded in 1741 as a volunteer militia and has since operated as an officer-producing organization.

Arthur Dehon was William Dehon’s son and a 2nd Lieutenant in Webster’s 12 MA Infantry. He was killed in action at Fredericksburg.

Letter – Thomas Searingen, 9 March 1863

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Letter written by Captain Thomas Brent Swearingen, Captain and Assistant Adjutant General, 3rd Brigade, P.R.C., to William Dehon from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Searingen collected the personal belongings of Dehon’s son, Lieutenant Arthur Dehon, after he was killed in action during the Battle of Fredericksburg. Searingen is returning the belongings to Dehon, and expresses his sincere sympathies at Dehon’s loss.

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Pittsburgh Pa. Mar 9/63

William Dehon, Esq.

Boston, Mass.

Dear Sir,

On the battlefield at Fredericksburg I found the body of your son, the late Lt. Dehon, and had it moved to the side of my Genl. (Jackson) [Brig. General Conrad Jackson] who was killed about the same time. I took from his person all that I could conveniently carry, but being wounded & taken prisoner shortly after I regret to say everything except a gold watch & chain & two hdkf’s [handerchiefs] were lost or stolen. I was released a short time ago, & have not ascertained

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your address to which I have this day forwarded (express) the articles mentioned.

I knew your son but a short time, sufficiently long, however, to become very much attached to him, & to learn his many manly virtues. He was brave, generous, & patriotic, & fell in the discharge of his duty. Although a stranger, I cannot withhold an expression of my sympathy for you in this bereavement.

I am sir,

Your Obdt. Servt.

T. Brent Swearingen

Capt. & Asst. Adj. Genl. 3rd Brig, P.R.C.

Thomas Brent Swearingen, from Ohio and Pennsylvania, was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant of the 38th PA Infantry on July 27, 1861. He became captain, acting assistant adjutant of volunteers on August 8, 1862, and served on the staff of Brigadier General Conrad Jackson at Fredericksburg, where Jackson was killed and Swearingen captured. After returning to duty, Swearingen was breveted major on March 13, 1865 for his service. He was mustered out on October 11, 1865.

Arthur Dehon was William Dehon’s son and a 2nd Lieutenant in Webster’s 12 MA Infantry. He was killed in action at Fredericksburg.

Letter – Jedediah Baxter, 18 December 1862

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Letter written by surgeon Jedediah H. Baxter, U.S. Volunteers, to William Dehon, from the National Hotel in Washington, D.C. Baxter is writing to express his condolence for the death of Dehon’s son, Lieutenant Arthur Dehon, who was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Baxter praises Arthur, and refers to him as a “brave, kind hearted man.”

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National Hotel

                          Washington, D.C. Dec. 18th 1862

My dear Sir:

     I have this moment taken my farewell look at your brave boy, and I cannot remain silent. I must write and assure you that in myself you have one sincere mourner, and who, if he were able, would comfort you in this your deep affliction.

     Your son was my friend! I welcomed him to our regiment last winter, have watched with pride his brave career. Every one loved him, and in this war of jealous feeling no one for a moment withheld the name he had so justly won; “a brave, kind hearted man.”

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I cannot attempt to offer you consolation; the grief of a father’s heart is too sacred.

     I pray you pardon me for even writing you at this time.

     I loved your son and felt compelled to write you.

                   Sincerely your friend,

                          J. H. Baxter   

Jedediah Hyde Baxter, age 28, from Boston, MA (born in VT), was commissioned on June 26, 1861 as a surgeon in the 12th MA Volunteer Infantry, the “Webster Regiment.” He was transferred as a surgeon to the U.S. Volunteers on April 4, 1862, and served as such until July 30, 1867. He had a very prominent career in the army’s medical department, and rose to col. chief of medical purchases, June 23, 1874, then finally to brigadier general, surgeon general, August 16, 1890. He was breveted three times during the Civil War. Baxter died on December 4, 1890.

Arthur Dehon was William Dehon’s son and a 2nd Lieutenant in Webster’s 12 MA Infantry. He was killed in action at Fredericksburg.