Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Brett Schulte.
DIED.
Killed instantly at Petersburg, on Friday morning December 2, 1864, Brigadier General ARCHIBALD GRACIE.
His funeral will take place this (Monday) morning, the 5th instant, at 11 o’clock, from St. James church.
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TRIBUTE OF RESPECT.
JOHNSON’S BRIGADE, CHAFFIN’S FARM,
Department of Richmond, December 3, 1864.
On hearing of the death of Brigadier-General A. GRACIE, Jr. of Mobile, Alabama from the explosion of a hostile shell, whilst he was inspecting his lines in front of Petersburg yesterday, (December 2d, 1864,) this brigade having been temporarily under his command at Petersburg, we, the undersigned, on behalf of officers and men of Johnson’s old brigade, desire to express our appreciation for the deceased.
It is with much pain that we realise the hand of Providence in the demise of so gallant an officer; one whose coolness and courage had on so many occasions made him prominent; whose gallantry and intelligence had won for him so proud a place in the hearts of his followers and who had so often elicited their admiration. In the hottest portion of the field, where his men were falling the thickest and the missiles of death were shrieking for victims, he was there joining in the carnage, dealing heavy blows upon his adversary and encouraging his brave “Alabama boys” forward. He was ever on the alert and ready to meet the foe, leading his men; the place was never too hot nor his life too precious—We deplore his loss, and join with the members of his brigade in sympathy for those, “his bereaved family.”
Now shall thy deathless memory live entwined,
With all that conquers, rules or charms the mind,
Each lofty thought of poet or of sage,
Each grace of Virgil’s lyre or Tally’s page,
Like those whose genius consecrate thy tomb,
Thy fame shall snatch from time a greener bloom,
(Signed)
JOHN M. HUGHES,
Colonel commanding Johnson’s brigade.
HORACE READY,
Colonel commanding 17th and 23rd Tennessee regimnets.
A. A. BLAIR,
Captain commanding 63d Tennessee regiment.
J. E. SPENCER,
Captain commanding 44th and 25th Tennessee regiment.
R. B. SNOWDEN,
Lieutenant Colonel 25th Tennessee regiment.1
Source:
- “Died.” Richmond Examiner. December 5, 1864, p. 1 col. 1 ↩