Wayne County, Indiana
BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCH OF GEORGE WASHINGTON LENNARD.
COLONEL 57TH INFANTRY
REGIMENT, INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
Colonel George Washington Lennard, the subject of this sketch, was born
near Newark, Licking County, Ohio, March 5, 1825. Deprived by
circumstances of early educational advantages, he reached the age of
sixteen years without having learned to read or write. By determined
energy, which so highly characterized him in later life, he made such
use of his meager opportunities that in1847 he was prepared to commence
the study of medicine, a profession to which he then expected to devote
his life. In March, 1850, he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine
from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Medicine of Cincinnati. He
located at New Castle in 1851, to engage in the practice of his
profession. Though young in years he became from the first a successful
physician. He soon discovered that the practice of medicine did not
open to him the field in which to gratify his ambition so he retired
from it at the expiration of two years, and purchased the New Castle
Courier office, and was connected with this paper
as editor and publisher for some eighteen months. He next studied law
and graduated with honor at the law school of Cincinnati, in 1855. In
this profession he became a successful practitioner. He was married
June 10, 1852, at the residence, in New Castle, of Samuel and Vienna
(Woodward) Hazzard. parents of the author of this History, to Miss
Clarinda Woodward, a noble lady, youngest child of Asahel and Catharine
Woodward, the first white settlers of Henry County. She was a sister of
Mrs. Samuel Hazzard. In 1861, when the tocsin of war sounded through
the land, he was one of the first to respond, and his energy and
influence were thrown at once into the cause and his labors from that
time forth were earnest and untiring in behalf of his country.
He was among the first to volunteer as a private soldier. On the
organization of Company C. Thirty Sixth Regiment, he was elected its
First Lieutenant, from which position before the company was mustered
into service, he was called to the Adjutancy of the regiment. His
gentlemanly bearing, prompt attention to duties and fine soldierly
qualities soon attracted the attention of his superior officers, and he
was tendered by General Thomas J. Wood, a position on his staff with
the rank of Captain which was accepted, and for some time filled with
such a degree of credit as won for him the unanimous and hearty
encomiums of his brother officers. Because of his prompt and manly
discharge of every duty. Governor Morton. December 2, 1862, gave him a
commission as Colonel and assigned him to the Fifty Seventh Regiment.
In all the varied and responsible positions to which he was assigned,
his career illustrated the highest type of our citizen soldiery. His
duties were performed with skill, bravery and success. In all the
engagements in which his regiment participated he was conspicuous for
his gallant bearing and was highly complimented. At the battle of
Stone's River. December 31, 1862, he was severely wounded in the right
leg by a musket shot which resulted in a tedious confinement, but from
which he afterward sufficiently recovered to rejoin his regiment. He
afterward led his gallant regiment in the hard-fought battles of
Missionary Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge
and Resaca. At the battle of Resaca, May 14, 1864, he was struck by a
shell which shattered his right knee and inflicted a shock from which
his system never rallied. Asbury L. Kerwood, one of his soldiers, in a
well-written history of the regiment, gives the following account of
his death:
"death of Colonel Lennard."
"There were probably few officers connected with the army who were more
solicitous or took a deeper interest in every movement in which their
command should participate than did Colonel Lennard. Immediately after
the last change of position, the Colonel advanced to the open ground in
front, dismounted, and was engaged for several minutes in conversation
with General Newton and other officers, concerning the disposition of
the regiment. The consultation over, he turned to go back to the
regiment; and just as he was in the act of mounting his horse a shell
from the enemy passed through his right knee, shattering it to pieces
and mangling it horribly. The horse, much frightened, dashed on toward
the regiment, and in a few moments a pair of stretchers were provided
on which to bear away the body of the Colonel. Gloom and sadness took
possession of every man as he was borne back to take his farewell of
the men who had almost learned to love him. 'Now, take good care of the
boys, Major were the last words he ever said in hearing of the command.
General Wagner, when he heard of the fall of the Colonel, was deeply
moved, and was afterwards heard to say
he had lost his best man. Soon afterward the Colonel was carried to a
house three-quarters of a mile in the rear, and a member of the
regiment, Sergeant W. Sims, remained with him until after his death.
"At his own request a pallet was laid on the floor, and on that he was
placed. The wound produced a wonderful shock on his system, and as yet
there was no reaction. From the first he seemed to realize his true
situation, and when in conversation with the surgeons spoke coolly and
calmly of his wound. He was anxious that amputation should take place
just as soon as the system revived. Several hours elapsed from the time
he was wounded until the attending surgeon discovered that instead of
reviving he was growing weaker. In the meantime he was engaged in
conversation on various subjects. He spoke of his experience in the
army, and especially since he became connected with the regiment; of a
conversation he had with General Whipple about the campaign, and his
reply that the enemy would be very obstinate. Then his thoughts would
turn toward his family. He requested that his wife might be sent for to
come and take care of him; wondering if his little children would
always be good children. He spoke of the
tender affection which always existed between him and his companion,
and talked only as a brave man could, who was so near the hour of
dissolution.
"Night was now fast approaching, and a fire of pine knots was kindled
on the hearth. About 7 o'clock the surgeons informed the Sergeant that
the Colonel would probably never revive; that he was even then sinking;
and that he had better speak to him of his danger. When told that he
could hardly survive, and that he might die at any moment, his pale
features lighted up with a smile as he calmly said, 'What, so soon?'
Continuing, he said: 'It is necessary for me to make 'the sacrifice,
and I make it cheerfully, though here I am in Georgia, away from my
pleasant home, away from my wife and dear little children. Tonight they
don't know that I am dying by the fire of these pine knots.'
"He had given up his regiment. Now he gave up his family, and began to
talk of the solemn realities of death. He remarked that he was never a
believer in death-bed repentance, and that it was the duty of every one
to prepare for death in time of health. One of the surgeons, a pious
man, prayed with him, and told him that Jesus died to save him and
would hear his prayer. Up to the last moment, the colonel continued to
speak of his soul's salvation, and entreated those around him to not
postpone the greatest duty of their lives. Before he died, he gave
evidence to those around him that he was willing to go, and that he
should pass from labor to reward. To the last he was calm and
collected. Even the terrors of death did not move him. and he met the
grim monster without a shudder. Noble man! Green in our memory will be
the remembrance of his name. Encomiums we need not add. We have dropped
the tear of sorrow at his untimely death, and we wait in hope of
meeting him in a better land. Peace to the ashes of George W. Lennard.''
Kind, courteous, and affable with all, one of Nature's own gentlemen.
Never was man more popular among his neighbors and acquaintances than
was Colonel Lennard. His friends were warmly attached to him and no man
ever lived in Henry County who made a deeper impression upon her
people, or whose death was more sincerely mourned. He was about five
feet and ten inches in height, well proportioned, always appropriately
appareled, dark hair, dark gray eyes. a handsome man. Just prior to his
death he had been nominated to the State Senate and it was confidently
predicted by those who knew him that he would have been transferred
from the Senate to a seat in Congress. Hallowed indeed must be the
cause which demands the sacrifice of such noble men. It is to be hoped
that God in his infinite mercies will never again permit the day to
come when our common country shall be divided, section against section,
in terrible war. His widow remained single and died of brain fever at
her home in New Castle, June 1, 1879, highly respected and loved by all
who knew her.
Source: Hazzard's History of Henry County, Indiana, 1822-1906 by
George Hazzard 1906
Transcribed and contributed by Larry Wells
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