"I OFTEN THINK IT MORE BLESSED TO DIE ON THE BATTLEFIELD FOR ONES COUNTRY, THAN TO LIVE LONG YEARS IN CIVIL LIFE."
FROM CEMETERY STONE OF SOLON A. PERKINS.
BURIED LOWELL CEMETERY, LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS
(Front) SOLONA A., SON OF APOLLOS AN D WEALTHY PERKINS, BORN DEC. 6, 1836, KILLED IN BATTLE NEAR PORT HUDSON, JUNE 3, 1863.
A DUTIFUL SON AND AFFECTIONATE BROTHER. WELL HE PERFORMED HIS DUTY IN LIFE, AND DIED BRAVELY IN THE DEFENCE [sic] OF HIS COUNTRY AND OF LIBERTY.
(2nd side) HE HELPED RECRUIT A COMPANY OF CAVALRY IN THE FALL OF 1861 AND RECEIVING THE COMMISSION OF I' LIEUT. WENT OUT WITH GEN. BUTLERS EXPEDITION TO THE GULF. HIS CAPTAIN BEING LOST OVERBOARD NEAR FORT JACKSON APRIL '62, HE COMMANDED THE COMPANY FROM THAT TIME TILL HE FELL. HE WAS A TRUE TYPE OF THE CAVALRY OFFICER, DASHING, BRILLIANT, BRAVE AND HIGHLY STRATEGIC AND FOR THESE QUALITIES WAS OFTEN COMPLIMENTED BY HIS SUPERIOR OFFICERS. IN A LETTER URGING HIS PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF MAJOR. GEN. WEITZEL SPOKE OF HIM AS;
(Back) "THE MAN WHO TO-DAY HAS THE FINEST AND MOST SERVICEABLE CAVALRY COMPANY TO WHOM IS DUE THE HONOR OF MAKING IT WHAT IT IS. WHO IS THE BRAVEST AND ABLEST OF OFFICERS, AND HAS ACCOMPLISHED MORE THAN ANY OFFICER IN THIS DEPARTMENT. HE HAD DESERVED PROMOTION (HE SAID) BY HIS ABILITY, HIS INDUSTRY, HIS EFFICIENCY, HIS BRAVERY AND HIS SUCCESS." THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS APPROVED BY GEN. BANKS, AND THE MAJORS COMMISSION MADE OUT BUT NEVER REACHED HIM. DURING THE LAST YEAR OF HIS SERVICE HE WAS CONSTANTLY SKIRMISHING WITH THE ENEMY:
(4th side) HE LED GEN. BANKS' ADVANCE TO RED RIVER AND PORT HUDSON WAS FOUR TIMES WOUNDED AND HAD SEVEN HORSES KILLED UNDER HIM. VERY FEW COULD BEAR HARDSHIP TO THE SAME EXTENT OR WITH LESS INJURY: YET IN A LETTER CLOSED THE DAY BEFORE HE FELL, HE SAID, "I WOULD RATHER LOSE AN ARM THAN ENDURE WHAT I HAVE ASIDE FROM MY WOUNDS, THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS."
THE CHANGES OF WAR HE COUNTED FROM THE START AND IN THAT LAST LETTER HE SAID, "I OFTEN THINK IT MORE BLESSED TO DIE ON THE BATTLEFIELD FOR ONES COUNTRY, THAN TO LIVE LONG YEARS IN CIVIL LIFE."
Update: March 26, 2015 -- https://www.facebook.com/lowellvets/photos/a.660695387330671.1073741827.660652214001655/962288920504648/?type=1&fref=nf
Perkins Flag Rededication
When: Sunday, May 31, 2015 10:00am to Noon
Where: Lowell Memorial Auditorium Home of the Greater Lowell Veterans’ Council East Merrimack St. – Lowell, MA 01852
Remarks by: Mayor Rodney Elliott
Perkins’ History by: Richard P. Howe Jr.
(2nd side) HE HELPED RECRUIT A COMPANY OF CAVALRY IN THE FALL OF 1861 AND RECEIVING THE COMMISSION OF I' LIEUT. WENT OUT WITH GEN. BUTLERS EXPEDITION TO THE GULF. HIS CAPTAIN BEING LOST OVERBOARD NEAR FORT JACKSON APRIL '62, HE COMMANDED THE COMPANY FROM THAT TIME TILL HE FELL. HE WAS A TRUE TYPE OF THE CAVALRY OFFICER, DASHING, BRILLIANT, BRAVE AND HIGHLY STRATEGIC AND FOR THESE QUALITIES WAS OFTEN COMPLIMENTED BY HIS SUPERIOR OFFICERS. IN A LETTER URGING HIS PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF MAJOR. GEN. WEITZEL SPOKE OF HIM AS;
(Back) "THE MAN WHO TO-DAY HAS THE FINEST AND MOST SERVICEABLE CAVALRY COMPANY TO WHOM IS DUE THE HONOR OF MAKING IT WHAT IT IS. WHO IS THE BRAVEST AND ABLEST OF OFFICERS, AND HAS ACCOMPLISHED MORE THAN ANY OFFICER IN THIS DEPARTMENT. HE HAD DESERVED PROMOTION (HE SAID) BY HIS ABILITY, HIS INDUSTRY, HIS EFFICIENCY, HIS BRAVERY AND HIS SUCCESS." THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS APPROVED BY GEN. BANKS, AND THE MAJORS COMMISSION MADE OUT BUT NEVER REACHED HIM. DURING THE LAST YEAR OF HIS SERVICE HE WAS CONSTANTLY SKIRMISHING WITH THE ENEMY:
(4th side) HE LED GEN. BANKS' ADVANCE TO RED RIVER AND PORT HUDSON WAS FOUR TIMES WOUNDED AND HAD SEVEN HORSES KILLED UNDER HIM. VERY FEW COULD BEAR HARDSHIP TO THE SAME EXTENT OR WITH LESS INJURY: YET IN A LETTER CLOSED THE DAY BEFORE HE FELL, HE SAID, "I WOULD RATHER LOSE AN ARM THAN ENDURE WHAT I HAVE ASIDE FROM MY WOUNDS, THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS."
THE CHANGES OF WAR HE COUNTED FROM THE START AND IN THAT LAST LETTER HE SAID, "I OFTEN THINK IT MORE BLESSED TO DIE ON THE BATTLEFIELD FOR ONES COUNTRY, THAN TO LIVE LONG YEARS IN CIVIL LIFE."
Update: March 26, 2015 -- https://www.facebook.com/lowellvets/photos/a.660695387330671.1073741827.660652214001655/962288920504648/?type=1&fref=nf
Perkins Flag Rededication
When: Sunday, May 31, 2015 10:00am to Noon
Where: Lowell Memorial Auditorium Home of the Greater Lowell Veterans’ Council East Merrimack St. – Lowell, MA 01852
Remarks by: Mayor Rodney Elliott
Perkins’ History by: Richard P. Howe Jr.