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Show B0ZEMAN. The Funeral of a Gallant Soldier. (Correspondence Intermountain Catholic.)' The funeral of Major W. Dreunan, late of the First Montana volunteers, took place on Sunday afternoon, and his remains were buried in the Catholic cemetery with all military honors and with befittins solemnity. The services ait the opera house were most impressive, and were witnessed by a large attendance. Rev. Father Gallagher of Kalispel, an old-time friend of the deceased soldier, read the beautiful and impressive services ser-vices of the Catholic. Church, and besides be-sides gave a short and brilliant address, ad-dress, recounting the many brave dcedV? and heroic conduct of this gallant soldier. sol-dier. Governor Smith and Chaplain Stuil also spoke. The funeral procession then proceeded to the Catholic cemetery, ceme-tery, where the final ceremonies were held. The funeral was one of the largest larg-est ever seen in Bozeman, and was a mile in length. Major James W. Dreunan was born at Charleville, County Cork, Ireland. In the early 40s. While still a young man, like many of his countrymen, he came to America to better his condition. On the breaking out of the civil war he joined (he famous Irish brigade, under ihe leadership of General Thomas Francis Meazher. He took part in all the battles participated partic-ipated in by the brigade, and was present pres-ent at the storminz of Mary's Heights and the battle of Fredicksburgh. At the close of the war his poldierlv instincts in-stincts led him to choose the military life ae a profession. He took part in numerous campaigns j in the west, and fouglit with marked distinction under Generals Custer and Terry in their various Indian campaigns. cam-paigns. From the rank of a private he rose to be captain of the Ninth cavalry U" S; whlch rank he retired at Fort Ellis in eastern Montana about the year 1SS83. On the inauguration of Governor R B. Smith in November, 1S9C his first act was to appoint Captain J. W Dreunan Dreu-nan the brilliant American soldier and Irish patriot, adjutant general of the ! Montana state ' militia, and it was through the efforts of this gallant officer of-ficer that the Montana volunteers was the first reciment mustered into its country's service. Old aa he was, he accepted a lower position, as major, and started with his youthful comrades to the seat of war He took part in the battles of Caloocan Paco, La Loma, San Jacinto. Though exposed to much suffering m the trenches, he never spared him-pelf him-pelf whenever and wherever duty called. call-ed. He finally succumbed to an attack at-tack of Bright's disease, July 2 1S99 fortified by the rite3 of the Church he loved, and dying as he wished, in the faith of his fathers. His loss was regretted by all his comrades-in-arms, irrespective of creed or nationality. His body arrived last week at his old home in Bozeman where it lay in solemn state until it was consigned to its last resting place in the Catholic cemetery by his old-time friend, Rev. Father Gallagher of Ka-lusnel. |