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Charles L. Powell, Jr., the son of Charles L. Powell, formerly of Winchester, Va., has joined the noble army of patriot martyrs who have passed from the storm of the battlefield to the peace of Heaven. At the beginning of this war, his elder brother, Lloyd Powell, broke from the trammels of a lucrative business, in which he was engaged in Il- linois, to hasten to the defence of his native State. He gave but two weeks to the endearments of a home from which he had been separated as many years before, taking his place in the ranks of our army, within almost as brief a period to offer up his young life in its many vigor and rich promise and pour from his bleeding heart the last libation to Liberty, on the plains of Manassas. This younger brother whom he had left behind him, emulous of his example, as soon as he could be released from the enthrallments of business, made his way home through the difficulties which beset him, to take the vacant place among the defenders of his country. By the persuasion of friends, whose fresh grief would not allow them to think that the exigency of the times so soon required a renewal of the costly sacrifice, he accepted the appointment of Deputy Marshal of the Winchester District. His strong convictions of duty would not allow him to avail himself of the exemption conferred by an office to which, from the occupancy of his district by the enemy, no duties were then attached and on the last advance of Jackson's army he attached himself to the Fredericksburg Artillery under the command of Capt. Braxton. He passed safely through the perils of Cedar Mountain to offer up his life for his country in the battle of Warrenton Springs, leav- ing no other brother to follow in their pathway to glory.
In the letter announcing his death, his Captain pays this tribute to his memory: "He was killed by a shell while bravely serving his gun. Al- though he had been a member of my battery but a short time, by his uniform good conduct and con- stant attention to his duties, he had secured the good opinion and esteem of his officers, and had won for himself many friends in the company. - Allow me to say that in your son our bleeding country lost a brave and noble defender. I believe he died a true Christian."
Noble, considerate commander! who knows how to appreciate the lofty heroism and disinterested pa- triotism of the private, and to minister the conso lation of well merited praise to the hearts of be- reaved relatives.
Should this war even close in disaster, (which our faith in God forbids us to anticipate,) there will burst through the gloom a stream of glory from the memories of the youthful martyr heroes who have thronged the ranks of our armies, which will illumine through successive ages the history of our Southern Confederacy.
"How sleep the brave, who sink to rest, With all their contry's wishes blest, When spring with dewy fingers cold Returns to deck their hallowed mould, She there shall dress a sweeter sod, Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.
"By fairy hands their knell is rung, By forms unseen their dirge is sung, There honor comes, a pilgrim gray To bless the turf that wraps their clay, And freedom shall awhile repair, To dwell a weeping hermit there."
