GEN. WILLIAM R. PEASE.
A Noble and Gallant Soldier Passes
Peacefully Away.
A brave and gallant soldier passed to his
reward Staurday last when Gen. William
R. Pease died at his home in Wallingford,
Conn. Gen. Pease was known throughout
the State as the organizer of the One
Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment, N.
Y.V., which he likewise commanded until
forced by sickness to resign.
Gen. Pease was born in Utica in 1831
and was graduated from West Point in
1855. At the breaking out of the war he
was stationed in Utica as mustering and
disbursing officer for central New York.
When Lincoln issued a call for 300,000
volunteers in 1862 Oneidacounty set about
raising a regiment and general, then Col.
Pease, was made its head. He worked
hard to get the men together and by
August 20, of that year, 1,100 men were
on hand ready for the field. Two days
later the regiment left for the front. It
was knwon as the One Hundred and
Seventeenth New York Volunteers
and also as the Fourth Oneida.
Col. Pease commanded it during its stay
at Tennallytown and Fort Alexander and in
the raid on the Peninsula. He obtained
leave of absence on account of sickness
when the regiment went to Charleston and
soon after he resigned. Col. Pease, on
resigning, was breveted brigadier general
and retired as lieutenant colonel.
No one is remembered with fonder af-
fection by the veterans of this section
than Gen. Pease. They speak of his kind-
ness, good humor and generosity in the
highest terms. While with the regiment
he was especially anxious to keep his
men in good health and do everything
to promote their comfort. Gen. Pease
for his part, felt a great affection for the
One Hundred and Seventeenth. Time
and again he has been heard to declare
that he never came into contact with a
finer and better company of soldiers than
they were.
