COL. CHARLES OSBORN GRAY.

Immediately after the retreat of General Foster's forces to Newbern, it was announced through the journals of the day that one who had but recently left us had fallen in the defence of his country.

Charles Osborn Gray entered the Institute in the fall or winter of 1857, and remained until the summer of 1861, when, we believe, he was called home on account of sickness in his father's family. While here he enjoyed the confidence of his teachers and fellow students, and was generally admired for his manly conduct by all who came in contact with him. Many of his former associates were deeply affected when they heard he had fallen, and so nobly too, at the head of his regiment cheering on his men, wounded and dying in the arms of his officers, after having planted the regimental colors so noble and valiently on the Kinston bridge.

It will be remembered that his remains passed through this city on their way to their last resting place, in a neat little cemetery planned and laid out by his own hands,—and now his battered and well worn sword, the tattered and mutilated flag of his regiment, pierced by many bullets, borne so nobly through the strife of many battles are all that are left to remind us of his heroic demeanor in the cause of his country, and that he served it faithfully, by laying down his life in its cause.

Charles Osborn Gray, was born at Warrensburgh in this State, on the 24th of March, 1839, and was killed on the 14th of December, 1862, being in the 24th year of his age.

His regiment, the 96th N. Y. V., was organized at Plattsburgh, N. Y., and was mustered into the United States service February 20th, 1862, at which time he received the commission of Lieutenant Colonel, and command Colonel, October 13th, 1862.

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The following list of his engagements is inscribed upon the window: Yorktown, Williamsburgh, Fair Oaks, Seven Days' Battle, Blackwater, and Kinston.

LIEUT. OTIS FISHER.

Otis Fisher was born at Newport, Me., December 5th, 1840, but at the time of entering the Institute, was a resident of Trenton, N. J. He came to the Institute in the Fall of 1859, and remained until after the commencement of the war, in 1861. The first gun of Sumter set fire to his patriotism, and the desire to serve his country grew stronger as every appeal for soldiers came from our Capitol. He talked, dreamed, thought of nothing but the army until he received his commission. A letter written home, making known his desire, brought his father to Troy. Never can I forget the morning they came together to my room. The aged father, quite infirm, his head bowed, and his face speaking louder than his words the deep sadness of his heart, told me that, while one son was in the navy, it seemed too much to give another for the army. After stating all the case, he raised his eyes, full of anguish, and said, "Oh! can you not, by the affection he bears for you as well as for me, influence him to remain at home, at least until the need of men is greater than now?" And then came the answer that neither of us could well meet: When will the need be greater than now, and if it is the duty of any one to go now, why is it not mine? Father I must go.'

He soon after sought an appointment in the regular army, and by the influence of Hon. John C. Ten Eyck, U. S. Senator, received a commission as lieutenant in the Eighth U. S. Infantry. He was for a time on duty at Fort Columbus in New York harbor, and recruiting at Scranton, Pa. His regiment being ordered to Virginia, he joined them. Being desirous of more active service, he sought and obtained a staff appointment.

About the time of the second battle of Manassas, he was taken prisoner by accident. Being sent with an order, and returning to the position of his brigade, he found himself surrounded by rebel forces, who captured him and took him to Richmond, where he was confined for several months in Libby Prison. Upon his release he returned home, with

very evident appearance of privation and suffering from his treatment in captivity. When he had sufficiently recovered he joined his regiment in Virginia, and was afterward put upon the sraff of Gen. Wilcox. At the battle of Gettysburg, Gen. Archer's brigade was captured by our army, and the Eighth U. S. Infantry were detailed as a guard of prisoners. Gen. Archer had captured Lieut. Fisher, and his regiment were much inclined to return in kind the severe treatment their beloved young lieutenant had received from his troops.

In the advance of Gen. Grant upon Richmond, he was in all the battles, and constantly under fire, commanding the praise of his superiors and the respect of the whole corps with which he was connected, by his gallantry. He received a slight wound, which did not disable him, and continued on duty.

At the explosion of the mine before Petersburg, among other dangerous duties, he carried an order from the Fifth to the Ninth corps, crossing the space between them, which was swept by the artillery and musketry of both sides, and narrowly escaped with his life, a bullet passing through his hat. When the last advance was made, on Friday, September 30th, below Petersburg, he volunteered to take command of a battalion of the Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery, under Major Randall, and was wounded in the charge of the regiment, but kept command until they came out of action. For this gallant act he received the praise of all who witnessed his bravery, and the warmly expressed admiration of the soldiers he had led. The wound was in the head, and although serious, it was hoped he would recover; but on the evening of October 3d he died in hospital, and his body was forwarded to his home in Trenton.

His disposition was kind and affectionate; his manner modest and unassuming; his will firm and courageous. With such qualities, it was the fond anticipation of his many friends that he would attain the highest military honHe has, however, fallen young, but not without leaving his record as a true soldier and patriot. Such is the brief sketch of his military life.

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LIEUT. HENRY W. MERIAN, C. E.

Henry W. Merian was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., December 31, 1839. He entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1856, and graduated in 1858. On returning to Brooklyn he entered the engineer department of the Ridgewood Water Works, in Brooklyn, and was actively engaged in surveying, &c., until the beginning of the civil war, when he joined a New York volunteer regiment for three month's service on the upper Potomac.

After his return he was admitted to the U. S. Navy, engineer's department, in 1862, and after some service in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, was appointed Third Assistant Engineer to the U. S. Monitor Weehawken, and left in her for Port Royal, S. C., on the 19th January, 1863; thence for Warsaw Sound, Ga., where, on the 17th of June, 1863, the Weehawken had the good fortune, single-handed, to capture the rebel ram Atlanta. In July, 1863, she proceeded to Charleston harbor, and for four months was actively employed in shelling Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie, &c. On the 6th of December, 1863, while at anchor in the bay, she foundered, and three of her engineers then on duty in the engine room, lost their lives, one of whom was Henry W. Merian. He died in the service of his country, at the age of 23 years and 11 months, universally regretted by all who knew him. In 1872, some of the remains of the lost ones on board the Weehawken were recovered, brought by order of the Navy Department to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and there committed to earth with military honors.

MAJOR ALBERT METCALF HARPER, C. E.

Albert Metcalf Harper, born at Pittsburgh, Pa., April 22d, 1843, was the second son of John Harper and Lydia Electra Metcalf, of Pittsburgh. He was an under-graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in 1861-2. He was appointed by the Governor the first Adjutant of the

139th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, August 25th, 1862. He was severely wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, May 5th, 1864. He was appointed by the President as Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers, with the rank of Captain, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, August 17, 1864. The President conferred on him the rank of Major by brevet, "for faithful and meritorious services," May 21, 1865.

In the month of September, 1865, he recommenced his scientific studies at the Institute, where he graduated with the degree of Civil Engineer, July 2, 1867. Subsequently, he devoted nearly a year to the faithful study of analytical chemistry. Afterward he assumed the management of a large oil refinery. In the month of October, 1869, he entered into mercantile business, as a partner in the firm of Dilworth, Harper & Co. He was unmarried. After an illness of four weeks, he died of typhoid fever, at the residence of his parents, on the evening of December 10, 1871. Duty we know was the rule and law of his youth and manhood. What was right, what was his duty, that he would do. No engagement or allurement drew him aside from a recognized obligation. No companionship would succeed in persuading him to break a rule of good morals and correct life.

It is but a little while ago that our country was beginning its agony of contest for its very existence. May days so dark and perilous never come to her, nor to any of us, for her sake, again. Then, in those days, this brave boy was at his college of science. He felt the call of duty and wrote home begging permission to do that duty. He alone of his home circle had the years and physical vigor for the toil of war. He must represent his home in the ranks which were filled with so many prime youths from all our homes, rich and poor. It was not a romance, nor wild impulse; it was duty calmly measured that brought the boy home to become a soldier. The same principle carried him through three years of his service. No toil, nor peril, nor responsibility was avoided. Wounds, and their danger and suffering, were.