Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB
[graphic]

LIEUT JOHN I CREBLE ISA

[ocr errors]

JOHN TROUT GREBLE.

[ocr errors]

MONG the events which give a peculiar sadness to the early history of the war, was the ill-advised attempt to drive the enemy from Great Bethel, on the 10th of June, 1861, and especially the fall of the gallant young artillery officer, the sacrifice of whose own life on that occasion saved the main body of the attacking force from entire destruction.

The memory of this brave soldier is now a part of his country's inheritance. His name will hereafter find an honorable mention in every history of the great North American republic. The following brief sketch of his life will show that the deeds which made his end illustrious, even amid defeat, were not the result of chance, but the legitimate fruits of right principles and of long and patient culture.

JOHN TROUT GREBLE, the oldest son of Edwin and Susan Virginia Greble, was born in Philadelphia, January 19th, 1834. The traditions of the family were all patriotic. His great-grandfather on the paternal side, Andrew Greble, a native of Saxe Gotha, who came to this country in 1742, and settled permanently in Philadelphia, enlisted warmly in the cause of the War of Independence. He, with his four sons, joined the American army, and fought at the battles of Princeton and Monmouth. The ancestors of Lieutenant Greble on the mother's side were from Wales. They settled in Philadelphia in 1689. Though belonging to the Society of Friends, and professing the principles of non-resistance, they also espoused actively the cause of independence; and two of them, Isaac Jones and William Major, great-grandfathers of Lieutenant Greble, were in the continental army.

The earliest aspirations of young Greble, so far as they are known, were all in keeping with these early traditions of the family. Though living in a home where all the avocations and interests were peaceful-though delicate in physical constitution, and possessed of a singular gentleness of disposition and manners, which followed him through life-he yet among his earliest dreams fondly contemplated the career of a soldier; and when the time for decision came, he made a soldier's life his deliberate choice.

In tracing the history of one who has given to the world proofs of goodness, wisdom, and valor, it is instructive and interesting to know the influences which contributed to the formation of his character. No formative influences

compare with those which cluster around one's home. A man's father, mother, brothers and sisters, beyond all other human agencies, help to make him what he is. No one could have had even a passing acquaintance with young Greble, without feeling an assured conviction that the home which had nurtured him. was the abode of the gentler virtues. Next to home, in its influence upon the character, is the school. In early childhood, Greble attended for a short time a private school kept by a lady, where he learned the first rudiments of knowledge. With this exception, all his education, outside of his home, was received in public schools; first in those of his native city, and afterward in that of the general government at West Point. He entered the Ringgold Grammar School of Philadelphia at the age of eight, and remained there four years. At the age of twelve having passed a successful examination, he was admitted to the Central High School. There he remained another four years. Having completed the course in that institution, he graduated with distinction in June, 1850, receiving the degree of bachelor of arts at the early age of sixteen.

Up to this point, his education had been conducted without reference to a military career. It had been his father's expectation, in due time, to receive him as a partner in his own business; but when the time for selecting a profession drew near, he was so clear and decided in his preferences, that his parents wisely determined not to thwart him. The decision, when made known, created some surprise in the mind of the principal of the High School, between whom and himself relations of more than usual kindness had grown up. There was nothing in the appearance or manners of the youth to point him out to the mind of an instructor as one likely to choose the life of a soldier; there was nothing in his disposition in any way combative or belligerent. He was never known to have a quarrel with a schoolmate. He was gentle almost to softness; pacific even to the yielding of his own will and pleasure, in almost every thing that did not imply a yielding of principle. His military taste seemed to be the result of some peculiar inclination of his genius, leading him, as if by instinct, to his true vocation.

The Honorable L. C. Levin, at that time representative in Congress from Mr. Greble's district, having heard of the young man's desire for a military life, and knowing him to be a youth of fine promise, generously and without solicitation, tendered him a cadetship at West Point. Having received the appointment, he entered the academy in June, 1850, the very day but one after his graduation at the High School. The letter of recommendation which he bore with him to the professors of the academy is thought worthy of record here, because it shows the impression he had made on the minds of his earlier instructors, and because he himself always set a peculiar value upon it as coming from one whom he had learned to love almost as a father:

"CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, PHILADELPHIA, June 11th, 1850.

"To the Professors of the Military Academy at West Point.

"GENTLEMEN: Mr. John T. Greble having been appointed a cadet in your institution, I beg leave to commend him to your kind consideration. As he has been for four years under my care, I may claim to know him well; and I recommend him as a young man of good abilities and amiable disposition; punctual in the discharge of duty, and seldom off his post. In these whole four years he has lost, I believe, but two days-one from sickness, and one to attend the funeral of a classmate. He leaves the High School with the unqualified confidence and respect of every professor in it.

"Your obedient servant,

JOHN S. HART, Principal."

The career of the young cadet was not marked by any thing worthy of especial record. At West Point, as at the High School, his habits were studious, while his amiable manners and soldierly conduct won for him the friendship of his fellow-cadets and of his professors. After graduating with credit in June, 1854, he at once entered the army, and was attached to the second regiment of artillery as brevet second-lieutenant. He was ordered first to Newport barracks, and shortly afterward to Tampa, Florida, where part of his regiment was stationed, to keep the Seminoles in order. While there, he made the acquaintance of the celebrated chief Billy Bowlegs. The latter took a great fancy to the young lieutenant, and, in testimony of his admiration, promised him that, in case of war between the Seminoles and the whites, the lieutenant should not be slain by any of his young warriors, but should have the honor of being killed by the chief, Billy Bowlegs himself!

The arduous duties detailed to Lieutenant Greble, in scouring the everglades and swamps in search of the Indians, brought on a violent fever. The disease not yielding to medical skill, he was ordered home, with the hope that a change of climate might effect a cure. From the effects of this illness he never entirely recovered. Having remained with his parents for a short time, and before his health was really sufficiently established to justify a return to active duty, he again took charge of a detachment of recruits, and proceeded with them to Fort Myers, in Florida, in March, 1856. He remained in Florida until December of that year, engaged in the same uninviting duties which had already imperilled his health-searching swamps and everglades for stealthy and vindictive foes, who were 'always near, yet never to be seen by a superior force; hiding themselves in the water, with a leaf to cover the head, or wrapped up in the dark moss of a cypress or live-oak, ready to shoot any unwary white man who might be so unfortunate as to cross their hiding-place. The young lieutenant escaped at length the perils of this inglorious warfare, and was transferred to a field of duty less dangerous and of much more importance.

In December, 1856, at the request of the professors of West Point, the secretary of war ordered Lieutenant Greble to report himself at the post for academic duty. He was made assistant to the Reverend John W. French, D. D., chaplain of the post, and professor of ethics. It became the duty of the assistant professor to instruct the cadets in international and constitutional law, and in the constitution of the United States. He applied himself at once to the task with his characteristic constancy and zeal. Finding that the confinement and sedentary life incident to his new duties were impairing his health, he twice made application to be placed again in active service; but the request was not granted, and he remained in that position until the end of the term for which he had been appointed, a period of four years.

The comparatively tame and inactive life at the academy was not without its compensations to the ardent young soldier. In the refined and cultivated. domestic circle which graced the home of Professor French, the assistant found congenial society. On the 4th of August, 1858, he was married to Sarah B., eldest daughter of Professor French. Two of the happiest years of his life followed this union. In October of 1860, Lieutenant Greble was relieved from duty at West Point, and ordered to join his company at Fortress Monroe. His wife and children joined him in November. In anticipation of their coming, he had fitted up the homely apartments appropriated to their use, in the casemates of the fortress, with that exquisite delicacy of taste which was one of his prominent characteristics, so that the grim old walls looked quite gay and picturesque when the youthful family were assembled beneath their shadow.

About this time a circumstance occurred, of no great magnitude, perhaps, but worthy of record as showing Lieutenant Greble's generosity of disposition, as well as his sincere, unostentatious loyalty to the government. An officer, who had been his friend and classmate, had resigned his commission, with the view of joining the ranks of the rebel army. The lieutenant, hearing of this circumstance, sought his friend, and remonstrated with him with such force and urgency as to induce a reconsideration. But a difficulty existed. It would be necessary for his friend to go immediately to Washington, and perhaps remain for some time attending to this business, and he had not the means necessary for the journey. Lieutenant Greble had himself barely enough for his family expenses. Nevertheless he determined that want of funds should not ruin his friend, and occasion the loss of a skilled officer to the government. He was fond of books, of which he had a fine collection; and he was about to add to their number a handsome copy of the "Encyclopædia Britannica," having already ordered the work. But he now countermanded the order, and, putting the sum which the work would cost into the hands of his friend, saw him off with joy on his repentant errand.

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »