‘ [89] do anything to cause you to be sorry for it or ashamed of me.’ These words indicate the thorough manliness of his nature and show his principle of action. The testimony of Abbott's superior officers is full and explicit as to his excellent soldierly qualities. General Gordon, the first colonel of his regiment, says:—
His military history was without a blemish, from his first manly interview with me in my office in Boston until I looked upon his dead body upon the fatal field of Cedar Mountain. Of the fourteen officers killed, wounded, and prisoners out of this single regiment in this action, none behaved with more conspicuous gallantry than Captain Abbott. . . . . He died as a true soldier should, with his armor upon him. I saw him when he fell. I was proud that I had done something to educate him to the profession he so much, so peculiarly adorned.General Andrews, the successor of General Gordon in the command of the regiment, says that
His voice in giving his commands to his men in the thickest of the fight was as cheerful and calm as if on parade. From the commencement of his connection with the regiment, he ever showed himself prompt, efficient, and remarkably faithful in the discharge of his duty. His company was distinguished for its neat, soldierly appearance, and was in every respect fully equal to any that I have seen in the volunteer service.Colonel Russell, then a captain in the same regiment, says, ‘that in drill, discipline, neat and soldierly appearance, and in esprit de corps, Abbott's company was the best in the regiment.’ His men, too, in their turn, respected and were proud of him; and when they saw that the strictness of his discipline was not merely arbitrary, but aimed to make them a model company, and that he was rigidly conscientious towards them,—when they knew that his whole pay and more too was spent for their benefit,—and when they witnessed his coolness and bravery in action,—then respect and admiration ripened into a warmer feeling; and had he survived the battle of Cedar Mountain, there is nothing that they would not have suffered or dared for him. For the profession of arms Abbott seemed peculiarly
