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Pages from an Old Volume of Life; a collection of essays, 1857-1881 by Oliver Wendell Holmes
page 23 of 156 (14%)
deeds of daring, of his capture and escape, and a brief visit home before
he was able to rejoin his regiment, had made his name familiar to many
among us, myself among the number. His memory has been honored by those
who had the largest opportunity of knowing his rare promise, as a man of
talents and energy of nature. His abounding vitality must have produced
its impression on all who met him; there was a still fire about him which
any one could see would blaze up to melt all difficulties and recast
obstacles into implements in the mould of an heroic will. These elements
of his character many had the chance of knowing; but I shall always
associate him with the memory of that pure and noble friendship which
made me feel that I knew him before I looked upon his face, and added a
personal tenderness to the sense of loss which I share with the whole
community.

Here, then, I parted, sorrowfully, from the companions with whom I set
out on my journey.

In one of the cars, at the same station, we met General Shriver of
Frederick, a most loyal Unionist, whose name is synonymous with a hearty
welcome to all whom he can aid by his counsel and his hospitality. He
took great pains to give us all the information we needed, and expressed
the hope, which was afterwards fulfilled, to the great gratification of
some of us, that we should meet again when he should return to his home.

There was nothing worthy of special note in the trip to Frederick, except
our passing a squad of Rebel prisoners, whom I missed seeing, as they
flashed by, but who were said to be a most forlorn-looking crowd of
scarecrows. Arrived at the Monocacy River, about three miles this side
of Frederick, we came to a halt, for the railroad bridge had been blown
up by the Rebels, and its iron pillars and arches were lying in the bed
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