For the Worcester Daily Spy
From North Brookfield
North Brookfield , Oct. 28, 1881

Massachusetts mourns today her gallant dead.  From the heaven kissing hills of Berkshire to the sea goes forth a sound of sadness, and the tear drop glistens in many an eye.  But, though the lip quiver, and the cheek be wet, there is an exultation in the heart which no sorrow can repress.  Massachusetts men are heroes still.  We have buried our dead, but their memory is fragrant.

The Massachusetts fifteenth and twentieth have written their names with a pen of iron upon the heart of every son and daughter of the old commonwealth; and we long to do them honor.  It may well be doubted whether the annals of war record any instance of more heroic bravery than was exhibited by these regiments in the battle which was fought one week ago today.

“Go read the names that know not death,
few nobler ones than theirs are there;
And few have won a greener wreath
Than those which bind their hair.”

North Brookfield shares in the common sorrow and glories in the common joy.  for she has the honor of being represented in that sad yet glorious fight.  Company F of the fifteenth regiment was made up from the Brookfields: North, South, East, and West, each sending its respective share.  It was, therefore, with immediate and personal interest that we awaited the reports of the condition of our men.  We mourn the loss of Lieut. Greene, a gallant soldier, and a most valued citizen and friend.  But we glory in his heroic death.  We mourn for the absent who may be prisoners in the hands of the rebels, but we glory in their undaunted bravery.

It was felt that some expression of feeling should be made.  A meeting of citizens was therefore called on Saturday, the 26^th inst., at the Town Hall.  Charles Adams Jr. was called to the chair, and James Miller was appointed secretary.  Interesting letters were read from H. Emerson Smith, color bearer of the fifteenth regiment, and from John W. Ayres, who visited Poolesville the day after the battle.  It was voted that Rev. C. Cushing, Charles Adams, Jr., and Freeman Walker, Esq., should be constituted a committee to confer with the citizens of the other Brookfields.

They were instructed to send directions for the immediate forwarding of the bodies of our dead, at the expense of the town.  A committee was also appointed, consisting of O. W. Whitaker, rev. C. Cushing, and Hon. Freeman Walker, who should prepare a series of resolutions in accordance with the facts, and report the same at a subsequent meeting.  The meeting was adjourned.  But the feeling of the citizens was too deep for private expression, merely; and the people came together again in the evening.

At this meeting the difficulties in the way of procuring the bodies of our dead were fully stated, and they appear so great that it was generally, though reluctantly conceded, that it would be impracticable, if not impossible, to obtain them.  It was then proposed to send a special messenger to Poolesville to look after the condition of our wounded, and to express to all our men our sympathy, and our appreciation of the heroic conduct which they has exhibited.  The meeting adjourned without deciding whether to send a special messenger or not.  But the feeling being almost universal that some one ought to go, action was taken yesterday by individuals, and it was decided that some one should go.

It seemed especially fitting that a minister of the Gospel should go on this errand; and accordingly, Rev. C. Cushing, pastor of the First Congregational church, started last night, taking with him many tokens of remembrance and affection to the living, and ready to give them words of encouragement and cheer.  He also took with him a large box of hospital stores for the use of the wounded.