New Haven, Conn.
A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY.
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After having escaped the dangers of the many military campaigns, Colonel
Barber was finally killed, 1783, by a most peculiar accident. Just after
peace had been declared, General Washington summoned all his officers to
meet him at his headquarters in Newburgh. Colonel Barber was on his way
there, and but a few miles distant, when he came upon a gang of men
chopping down trees in a piece of woods. One of the men called to him in
a warning tone to stop his horse, just as a tree had started to topple
over in his path. The chopper thought the tree was going to fall another
way, but it struck and killed the unsuspecting officer, who realized his
danger too late to save himself. Had he been allowed to go on without
stopping, a life of such inestimable value to his country would without
doubt have been saved. He was a fine scholar, a skillful and brave
officer and rendered great and important services to his country.