Published His Own Obituary

Attorney G. R. Williams, of Milan, son-in-law of Jonathan Sprague, of this city, was in the office of the Milan Leader one day last week and handed to Editor Sruith a letter whioh is soruetbing of a relio. It is a letter written Mr. Williams' father in 1863 by a comrade in arms - 11. Srnith Schuyler, Ist Duty Serg., Co. I, 3rd Bat., Ist Wisoonsin Cav. - informing Mr. Williams, sr. , of his son's untimely death aud the circumstances relating thereto. With Mr. William's permission the following extract is published : "Helena, Ark., Aug. 5,1802. "To Gen. A. Williams, Chelsea, Mich. "Dear sir: - Circumstances and the fortunes of war combined, have oaused a melancholy duty to devolve on me, ! one which I am now abont to discharge, and I trust in a íaithíul manoer. Your son George is numbered witb the 'Noble Slain.' He feil on the morning of the 2nd inst. at Gainsborough. He died like a patriot and hero, manfolly and bravely struggling to maintain the flag of onr country, her dominion and her integrity. George was one of the 20 picked men who were detailed for speoial service under command of Lieut. Porter of squadron I. They were sent back from Madison with orders to gather our siok and wounded who were seattered along our line of march, and proceed with them to Bloomfield. Everything in our rear at the time was quiet, and the service was net supposed to be unusually hazardous. We had several small detach ments of troops aloug the line at different points, and two or three days' mareb would enable them to reach the outpost. I have no authentic information of the particulars, bot will give them when informed if yon request. A Gernuaa boy, who reached camp last evening, was one of the ill-fated party, and is the only known survivor, says they were encamped just outside of the little village mentioned and ascertained through means of a secret reconnoisanoe that there were armed rebels there; but the force was not believed to be of much strength and the Lleut. resolved to dash into the place at an early hour in the morning and confldently expected to drive or capture whatever might be found. The attack was made accordingly, and early, but our brave boys were surprised after fairly entering the village to find themselves surrounded by an overwhelmiog force, their retreat cut off and themselves exposed to a destructive and murderxius flre from fences and buildings at all points. The enemy were on the alert and fully prepared to pursue the advantage. The boys fougbt well and bravely. My informant says from the flriug that continued fter he escaped he thinks they gave our men no quarter. The enemy were Guerrillas and Missouri ruffans of the Kansas stripe, and tbe very ones to commit acts tbat make humanity shudder to contémplate. My informant says he was close to George when he feil, and he feil dead the firsc fire; thinks he was shot in the head as he did not speak after he feil. George and myself were intímate friends. WeekB ago we mutually agreed to do for each other what I am now doing for him. Had given me a card with your address and I had given him one with my father's address in exchange. George by his bravery and good conduot won a high position in the esteem of his ofïicers and the affections of his messmates; and if he had but survived the perils of a soldier's life for a little time longer he would undoubtedly have been promoted to that rank to whicb his courage and good behavior entitled bim. We, his brothers in arms, feel his loss; feel and know that in him his father loses a noble son, his messmates a true fiiend and bis squadron, regt. , and country a true, faithful and brave soldier. It is not often that a man is ahle to publish an obituary of himself, but such io Mr. Williams' good fortune. The gentleman has many friends. in Ann Arbor and throughout the country.