Feb. 23. 1905. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



141 



Gettysburg campaign an order was sent to the command- 

 ing officers of the army to report to the Secretary of War 

 the names of such officers and men as had distinguished 

 themselves for bravery and meritorious conduct during the 



Capt. Hetherington during War Times; the position of hand and 

 sword when strucls by the bullet. 



Before an engagement, an officer transfers to his darkey or servant 

 all luggage — retaining only his rubber blanket and haversack, for use 

 in case the aforesaid gentleman fails to put in an appearance after the 

 fight. His blanket is made into a small roll and tied at the ends, then 

 carried across his shoulder and breast as a sash is worn. In hot 

 weather this is oppressive ; and for temporary relief, although in the 

 midst of a hard fight, the captain had thrown his rubber across the 

 hilt of his sword, and that across his shoulder. 



campaign. The name of J. E. Hetherington appears in 

 this list, and furnishes the best of proof that his promotion 

 was well earned. 



While in the army the Captain was in all the principal 

 battles of the Army of the Potomac, and since, when he 

 joined the Comrades of the Battle-Field, the affidavits of 

 others revealed the fact that he had been under fire 114 

 days, thus exceeding the requirements of this strictest of 

 strict organizations by 24 days. He was discharged from 

 the service Sept. 20, 1864, by reason of disability from 

 wounds received in action. For two years after it was a 

 question whether he would live, but he gradually regained 

 the larger part of his former vigor. The chronic army dis- 

 ease from which he suffered never fully left him, and at 

 last, after extreme prostration from the grip, ended his life. 

 In personal appearance the Captain was tall and com- 

 manding, and looked every inch a soldier. But for his 

 youth, undoubtedly higher rank and still greater honors 

 had come to him while in the army. Had his health per- 

 mitted him to remain in the service at the close of the war, 

 and take a West Point course, as was suggested, he could 

 have filled with credit any position in the army. He had 

 resources to meet any emergency ; executive ability to 

 carry through any undertaking ; will-power that would not 

 be defeated, and a comprehensive mind that grasped the 

 entire situation and strategic points of a battle-field. His 

 description of the battle of Gettysburg clearly showed that, 

 young as he was, he comprehended the situation and move- 

 ments of the two armies. As a commander he gained the 

 confidence and enthusiastic support of those under him. 



The bee-keepers of this country may feel honored that 

 they have had enrolled in their ranks one who as a citizen, 

 bee-keeper, and soldier has contributed so much to the wel- 

 fare of his fellowman. The world is better for such lives. 

 Good deeds live on forever in continual multiplications, 

 hastening the glad day when all evil shall be overcome by 

 good. 



True heart, that beat bo brave, and true and strong. 



Then failed him first who never failed his friend; 

 True hands, that always could their succor lend 

 Where Need was born of Want or cruel Wrong; 

 True lips, that gave the courage of a song 



To fainting souls who would the Right defend, 

 Throughout the way until he found its end ; 

 Farewell ! And if the way, perchance, be long, 

 Dnlighted by his loving, genial smile, 

 We still may walk it, weary mile on mile, 

 With surer Faith, and always willing feet, 



Because of heart, and hands, and lips, that went 

 So far with us, and such rare presence lent, 

 And wait. Somewhere, our coming soon to greet. 



—A. A. Hopkins. 



A Few Tributes to the Hemory of Capt. Hetherington. 



We wish to give, in addition to what Mr. Elwood has 

 told so well, several appreciations of Capt. Hetherington 

 from personal friends and those who valued his efforts iu 

 different lines. One of them, from Maj. Chas. J. Buchanan, 

 was sent to us by Mrs. Hetherington, who accompanied it 

 by the following note : 



Mr. George W. York— 



Dear Sir : — Among the letters of sympathy I received 

 was one from an army comrade who had been a member of 

 the same Company during the entire time of my husband's 

 service, and with whom there has been a warm friendship 

 ever since — Mr. Charles J. Buchanan, a well-known lawyer 

 of Albany, N. Y. It expresses such a true and just appre- 

 ciation of my husband's character that I thought you might 

 like to include a portion of it in your memorial number. I 

 send you a copy which you can use at your discretion, or 

 not at all, as you think best. Yours sincerely, 



Eva B. Hetherington. 



A portion of the letter referred to by Mrs. Hetherini;- 

 ton reads as follows : 



From Major Chas. J. Buchanan, of New York. 



So passes away my most intimate friend and comrat.c 

 of the Civil War. Our acquaintance commenced in Novem 

 ber, 1861, and continued unbroken until liis death. He was 



a soldier by instinct. Manly, courageous, brave and hon- 

 orable, he easily met and sustained himself through all the 

 vicissitudes of army life. No demand was ever made upon 

 him to which he did not render more than full equivalent. 

 There was a charm and dignity in all that he did. 



He was always kind and generous to others, even to the 

 detriment of his own self-interests. His high sense of duty 

 was never lacking in any conviction or emergency. He 

 never demanded of his associates as much as he exacted of 

 himself. His theory and practice were to do just what he 

 believed to be strictly right, always leaving to those with 

 whom he came in contact to act from the same standpoint. 



Any one who gained his confidence, was always his 

 intimate. 



I always knew, without asking, where he would stand 

 upon any question where the facts involved were undis- 

 puted. 



He would go out of his way to benefit his surviving 

 comrades, never waiting for his assistance to be solicited. 



Take him all in all, he was one of the noblest specimens 

 of manhood that I ever knew. He could, when necessary, 

 reprove as well as commend, but such censure, when he 

 gave it, was to admonish rather than to reproach. 



There was no guile in his nature. Frankness and the 

 utmost sincerity characterized his every action. His mo- 

 tives were always pure. His line of conduct through life 



