Leonard Squire was 24 when he enlisted in Company F on Apr 29, 1861.
In his memoirs, 1st Sgt James Wright, also of Company F, mentioned Squire in a conversation some of the men of the company had in May of 1863, after the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville campaigns had been concluded.
"We considered ourselves very fortunate that we had got off with such slight loss on the last two occasions, and our good luck was frequently a subject of conversation. I recall one occasion when Sergeant Phil Hamlin, who had an infinite trust in the guiding and protecting care of a Diety, expressed his belief that we had been "providentially" shielded from losses and hardships in the last two movements."
"Corporal 'Len' Squire, whose philosophy of life ran on different lines (akin to those of a man that asserted his belief that "what was to be would be and what was not to be was to come yet"), dissented from this opinion, and declared it was all "just luck." He said we had "skirted the edge of hell twice and only been 'singed a little' but, next time, we might be 'burned'."
This Michigan born soldier gave his all, less than two months later, when he was killed at their next battle Gettysburg. He was killed on July 3, 1863, during the repulse of the Confederates in an action which became known as Pickett's charge. As the fighting began Philip Hamlin of Company F was shot several times and died instantly. Shortly thereafter Leonard Squire was also shot and killed.
1st Sgt James Wright of Company F later wrote:
I feel that I ought not to pass on without a word about two members of Company F who gave that "last full measure of devotion" to their country of which Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg. I do not think it would have been possible to have taken two from the company who would have been so generally missed and so sincerely mourned. Big-chested, broad shouldered young fellows, almost if not quite six feet tall, they were a couple of splendid specimens of physical development. Neither had had much in the way of educational advantages, but both were well-endowed mentally. Their standing in the company as soldiers was first class. Men of proved courage and 'plenty of sand' - to be depended upon anywhere and all of the time. As 'non coms' they were a credit to themselves and the company - and a commission to either of them would have been worthily bestowed with no discredit to the State of Minnesota.
I had no acquaintance with either until I met them as members of the company, but I judge their early life had been under very different environments. Squire was the older, 26 years, and he was not exactly a saint - as he sometimes asserted. He did dot always refuse a drink. He would sometimes 'set into a game' and use profanity, but these things were not of a degree to in any way interfere with his duties as a soldier.
The other soldier Wright went on to mention was Philip Hamlin. Both Hamlin and Squire died from their wounds and were buried with their comrades from the regiment. Most were later re-interred in the Gettysburg National Cemetery, when it was established. Corporal Squire is buried in Section A, Grave #11.
In his memoirs, 1st Sgt James Wright, also of Company F, mentioned Squire in a conversation some of the men of the company had in May of 1863, after the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville campaigns had been concluded.
"We considered ourselves very fortunate that we had got off with such slight loss on the last two occasions, and our good luck was frequently a subject of conversation. I recall one occasion when Sergeant Phil Hamlin, who had an infinite trust in the guiding and protecting care of a Diety, expressed his belief that we had been "providentially" shielded from losses and hardships in the last two movements."
"Corporal 'Len' Squire, whose philosophy of life ran on different lines (akin to those of a man that asserted his belief that "what was to be would be and what was not to be was to come yet"), dissented from this opinion, and declared it was all "just luck." He said we had "skirted the edge of hell twice and only been 'singed a little' but, next time, we might be 'burned'."
This Michigan born soldier gave his all, less than two months later, when he was killed at their next battle Gettysburg. He was killed on July 3, 1863, during the repulse of the Confederates in an action which became known as Pickett's charge. As the fighting began Philip Hamlin of Company F was shot several times and died instantly. Shortly thereafter Leonard Squire was also shot and killed.
1st Sgt James Wright of Company F later wrote:
I feel that I ought not to pass on without a word about two members of Company F who gave that "last full measure of devotion" to their country of which Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg. I do not think it would have been possible to have taken two from the company who would have been so generally missed and so sincerely mourned. Big-chested, broad shouldered young fellows, almost if not quite six feet tall, they were a couple of splendid specimens of physical development. Neither had had much in the way of educational advantages, but both were well-endowed mentally. Their standing in the company as soldiers was first class. Men of proved courage and 'plenty of sand' - to be depended upon anywhere and all of the time. As 'non coms' they were a credit to themselves and the company - and a commission to either of them would have been worthily bestowed with no discredit to the State of Minnesota.
I had no acquaintance with either until I met them as members of the company, but I judge their early life had been under very different environments. Squire was the older, 26 years, and he was not exactly a saint - as he sometimes asserted. He did dot always refuse a drink. He would sometimes 'set into a game' and use profanity, but these things were not of a degree to in any way interfere with his duties as a soldier.
The other soldier Wright went on to mention was Philip Hamlin. Both Hamlin and Squire died from their wounds and were buried with their comrades from the regiment. Most were later re-interred in the Gettysburg National Cemetery, when it was established. Corporal Squire is buried in Section A, Grave #11.
Leonard Squire was 24 when he enlisted in Company F on Apr 29, 1861.
In his memoirs, 1st Sgt James Wright, also of Company F, mentioned Squire in a conversation some of the men of the company had in May of 1863, after the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville campaigns had been concluded.
"We considered ourselves very fortunate that we had got off with such slight loss on the last two occasions, and our good luck was frequently a subject of conversation. I recall one occasion when Sergeant Phil Hamlin, who had an infinite trust in the guiding and protecting care of a Diety, expressed his belief that we had been "providentially" shielded from losses and hardships in the last two movements."
"Corporal 'Len' Squire, whose philosophy of life ran on different lines (akin to those of a man that asserted his belief that "what was to be would be and what was not to be was to come yet"), dissented from this opinion, and declared it was all "just luck." He said we had "skirted the edge of hell twice and only been 'singed a little' but, next time, we might be 'burned'."
This Michigan born soldier gave his all, less than two months later, when he was killed at their next battle Gettysburg. He was killed on July 3, 1863, during the repulse of the Confederates in an action which became known as Pickett's charge. As the fighting began Philip Hamlin of Company F was shot several times and died instantly. Shortly thereafter Leonard Squire was also shot and killed.
1st Sgt James Wright of Company F later wrote:
I feel that I ought not to pass on without a word about two members of Company F who gave that "last full measure of devotion" to their country of which Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg. I do not think it would have been possible to have taken two from the company who would have been so generally missed and so sincerely mourned. Big-chested, broad shouldered young fellows, almost if not quite six feet tall, they were a couple of splendid specimens of physical development. Neither had had much in the way of educational advantages, but both were well-endowed mentally. Their standing in the company as soldiers was first class. Men of proved courage and 'plenty of sand' - to be depended upon anywhere and all of the time. As 'non coms' they were a credit to themselves and the company - and a commission to either of them would have been worthily bestowed with no discredit to the State of Minnesota.
I had no acquaintance with either until I met them as members of the company, but I judge their early life had been under very different environments. Squire was the older, 26 years, and he was not exactly a saint - as he sometimes asserted. He did dot always refuse a drink. He would sometimes 'set into a game' and use profanity, but these things were not of a degree to in any way interfere with his duties as a soldier.
The other soldier Wright went on to mention was Philip Hamlin. Both Hamlin and Squire died from their wounds and were buried with their comrades from the regiment. Most were later re-interred in the Gettysburg National Cemetery, when it was established. Corporal Squire is buried in Section A, Grave #11.
In his memoirs, 1st Sgt James Wright, also of Company F, mentioned Squire in a conversation some of the men of the company had in May of 1863, after the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville campaigns had been concluded.
"We considered ourselves very fortunate that we had got off with such slight loss on the last two occasions, and our good luck was frequently a subject of conversation. I recall one occasion when Sergeant Phil Hamlin, who had an infinite trust in the guiding and protecting care of a Diety, expressed his belief that we had been "providentially" shielded from losses and hardships in the last two movements."
"Corporal 'Len' Squire, whose philosophy of life ran on different lines (akin to those of a man that asserted his belief that "what was to be would be and what was not to be was to come yet"), dissented from this opinion, and declared it was all "just luck." He said we had "skirted the edge of hell twice and only been 'singed a little' but, next time, we might be 'burned'."
This Michigan born soldier gave his all, less than two months later, when he was killed at their next battle Gettysburg. He was killed on July 3, 1863, during the repulse of the Confederates in an action which became known as Pickett's charge. As the fighting began Philip Hamlin of Company F was shot several times and died instantly. Shortly thereafter Leonard Squire was also shot and killed.
1st Sgt James Wright of Company F later wrote:
I feel that I ought not to pass on without a word about two members of Company F who gave that "last full measure of devotion" to their country of which Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg. I do not think it would have been possible to have taken two from the company who would have been so generally missed and so sincerely mourned. Big-chested, broad shouldered young fellows, almost if not quite six feet tall, they were a couple of splendid specimens of physical development. Neither had had much in the way of educational advantages, but both were well-endowed mentally. Their standing in the company as soldiers was first class. Men of proved courage and 'plenty of sand' - to be depended upon anywhere and all of the time. As 'non coms' they were a credit to themselves and the company - and a commission to either of them would have been worthily bestowed with no discredit to the State of Minnesota.
I had no acquaintance with either until I met them as members of the company, but I judge their early life had been under very different environments. Squire was the older, 26 years, and he was not exactly a saint - as he sometimes asserted. He did dot always refuse a drink. He would sometimes 'set into a game' and use profanity, but these things were not of a degree to in any way interfere with his duties as a soldier.
The other soldier Wright went on to mention was Philip Hamlin. Both Hamlin and Squire died from their wounds and were buried with their comrades from the regiment. Most were later re-interred in the Gettysburg National Cemetery, when it was established. Corporal Squire is buried in Section A, Grave #11.
Inscription
L. J. SQUIRES.
CO. F. REGT. 1.
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