Royal, Cedar Mountain, Groveton, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Aldee, Middleburg, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, Nottoway Court House, Ream's Station, Stony Creek, Milford, Kearnyville, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Waynesboro, Cedar Creek, Tower's Brook, and Newton. After the battle of Front Royal his brother Charles wrote, "Nate is here with me and I am very glad he is. The officers call him one of the best men in the company." On June, 18, 1863, he received a bullet wound in his right thumb and was taken prisoner near Middleburg, Virginia. After traveling one hundred and thirty miles on foot in six days and riding all night in a freight car so crowded that the men could not lie down, he passed one night in Libby prison, and the next day went to Belle Isle, where he remained until July 22, when he was exchanged. From the letters and diaries which Mr. Kidder wrote during the war much interesting matter might be given, were it not for making this sketch too lengthy. I quote one incident. "Our Division went out on a reconnoissance on the 17th on the Millwood and Winchester Pike, the 1st N. H. being in advance and Co.'s "K" and "M" being thrown out as skirmishers. We encountered the enemy and drove him back on his infantry supports when we halted and a private and I volunteered to go forward and reconnoitre some woods in our front. We dismounted and left our horses and proceeded cautiously into the woods, but had not proceeded far when we heard our names called and on going to the edge of the wood discovered our skirmishers had fallen back and we immediately started for them across a clearing destitute of brush or tree. The boys supposed we were captured but we made our way out through a shower of bullets that the Reb Infantry poured into us and got back to our command. My comrade was wounded in the shoulder and his carbine riddled with bullets, but I am safe and sound and ready for anything."

During a retreat of our army across the Rappahannock on October 12, 1863, Mr. Kidder lost his horse and after hiding in the woods by day and marching by night, he was finally taken

prisoner near Thoroughfare Gap on October 15, and again was confined at Belle Isle, where he remained nearly six months. Seldom could he be prevailed upon to tell of his sufferings and privations in that wretched place, but his courage did not fail him and that alone saved his life. Soon after his release he obtained a furlough of thirty days and came home. His brother Charles, who had been mustered in for a new term of service, was also at home on furlough, and his younger brother, Selwyn, enlisted in the same company, the loyal and patriotic mother saying if she had a dozen boys she would send them all. Two other sons were in government service but not on the field. After Mr. Kidder's return to the front, his regiment was in constant action. At Newton, Virginia, November 12, 1864, Mr. Kidder was wounded in battle, his left ankle being shattered by a minnie bullet. His foot was amputated at Winchester where he remained for a month. His brother, Selwyn, was detailed by the surgeon in charge to remain with him while there. Three days after he was wounded he wrote, "Don't worry a bit about me. I shall keep up good spirits, for I never was in a place yet where I lost them. When I look around me and see other poor fellows so much worse off, I think it is all for the best. It was lost in a good cause but I have fought my last fight for the good, old flag." He was transferred from Cavalry Corps Hospital, Winchester, to Broad and Cherry Hospital, Philadelphia, then to the South Street Hospital, Philadelphia, and in January, 1865, he was transferred to Webster, U. S. Gen. Hospital at Manchester and discharged June 2, 1865, making nearly six months of hospital life. He helped many a disheartened comrade by his cheerfulness. He was a brave soldier; daring, determined, courageous and utterly fearless.

For several years after the war he was employed by the Amoskeag Company at the gate house. In 1869, at the age of twenty-five, he served one term in the Legislature. He was a charter member of Louis Bell Post, No. 3, G. A. R., and of the Union Veterans' Union. He was Quartermaster General of the

N. H. Volunteer Militia in 1868 and was Assistant Quartermaster General of the G. A. R. Dept. of N. H., in 1871. He was a member of Passaconnaway Tribe of Red Men and a member of the Derryfield Club, at one time serving as its President.

Mr. Kidder married Laura A. Montgomery, a former teacher of this city. Two daughters blessed their home, Eunice, who married Mr. Joseph H. Browr., now residing in Detroit, Michigan, and Florence, the wife of Mr. Austin M. Everett of Chelsea, Mass.

In politics he was a staunch Republican. He was elected city clerk in the year 1877 and held the office for twenty con secutive years. He was a "capable, efficient and faithful official, thoroughly familiar with every detail of the office, ever obliging and the soul of courtesy."

In 1900 he was appointed Assistant Postmaster. While attending his duties at the postoffice he was stricken with the brain trouble from which he never recovered. His immediate family had been conscious that his mind was weakening for some time, but had not anticipated the result. He was taken to the State Hospital at Concord, N. H., for treatment, remaining there until released through death, May 17, 1901. Mr. Kidder was genial and affable; was generous to a fault; a true friend, and he never spoke ill of another. L. A. K.

JOHN M. CHANDLER.

It often happens that the biographer, in seeking antecedents. for the great or good qualities of his subject, is obliged to search far back into the family annals, even to seek collateral branches of one or the other parent. The case before us is of an entirely different character. The immediate and the remote ancestors of John M. Chandler were of a type that was conspicuous for its integrity and ability. They belonged to that class of yeomanry who conquered the wilderness, made the laws, and defended the early settlement from the prowling wolf