Salem, October 6^th 1864.

 

Mrs. Wheeler,

                       

Madam,

      At a meeting of the City Council of Salem held September 26^th 1864, the following Resolves were unanimously adopted. Sickness has prevented me from copying and transmitting them at an earlier period.

                                                                                               

Your obedient servant,

Stephen P. Webb City Clerk.

 

            Resolved, That the City Council lament the frequency with which it becomes a sad duty to refer to the sacrifice of precious lives in the present struggle for the maintenance of the Union and of our free institutions.

 

            Not many weeks have elapsed since the decease of Lieut. Richard P. Wheeler and Lieut. George C. Bancroft caused deep sadness in many hearts, and evoked the mourning sympathy of the whole community as exhibited in many public testimonials of grief.

 

            These young men were among the choicest spirits of our people, and their departure was no common loss in / the many circles with which they were associated, for in their characters were blended the highest virtues of the citizen and the best qualities of the soldier.

 

            And more recently we have added to the list of our dead and lamented youth the name of Lieut. Col. John Hodges Jr. a gallant and true soldier, a fearless and impetuous leader, whose superior military abilities gave promise of constantly increasing usefulness. Among the earliest of those who repaired with patriotic ardor to the support of our imperilled government, he rapidly acquired distinction, and by the exhibition of his manly qualities gained the confidence and applause of his comrades and his superior officers. He fell in the gallant discharge of his duty during the advance upon the Weldon Railroad near Petersburg, and his early decease was as sincerely mourned in the army as among friends and acquaintances at home.

 

            Resolved, That the City Council join in doing honor to the memories of these patriotic young men, and rejoice that the cause for which they fell inspires the feeling that their lives were not given as a vain and useless sacrifice, but as an honorable and priceless offering to their country. 

 

            Resolved, That copies of these Resolutions shall be sent to the families of the deceased."

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