Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1319

Rh of his activity in defense of the Confederate interests at Columbus, he incurred the bitter hatred of the stragglers from Sherman's army, who vented their spite in repeated attempts to destroy his home at Columbus, going so far as to put kegs of powder in his cellar for that purpose. Very soon after the cessation of hostilities Major Warner, who was a civil engineer of great ability, was engaged by the United States government to superintend the removal of obstructions in the Mississippi river at New Orleans. The contract for this important work had been made, and his preparations for removal to New Orleans had been entered upon, when he met his death in the following manner: Some of the troops forming the Federal garrison at Columbus insulted women upon the streets of the city, which was promptly resented by some of the citizens, resulting in the death of several of the offenders. The killing of the soldiers by the outraged citizens precipitated a riot, and after it was quelled the soldiers were confined to the barracks. An aged friend of Major Warner, whose way home led past the barracks, begged his company and protection, and while passing the barracks a volley was fired from the windows, and Major Warner was struck in the knee and leg. Amputation was made, and from the effects thereof he died, in the full flower of his life. He was a man of pure and high character, distinguished and broadly cultured, master of several sciences, fluent in several languages, and beloved by all.

Lieutenant John M. Warren, now a resident and business man of Richmond, participated in the fighting of the Confederate armies beyond the Mississippi during the war, and did gallant service in many a desperate action. He was born at Brandon, Miss., in 1840, but during the next year was taken to St. Louis by his parents, and reared and educated at that city. When the movement was organized to put Missouri in line with her sister States of the Confederacy, he heartily co-operated with it, and entered the military service on May 8, 1861, as a private in Radford's battery, of the Missouri State guard, which went into camp in the western part of the city, at Camp Jackson, under command of Gen. D. M. Frost. On the 10th of May, the entire command of State militia was surrounded and captured by Federal forces under General Lyon. During the proceedings a Federal regiment fired upon the crowd of spectators, and killed about thirty men, women and children. Private Warren was released the next day, and the circumstances of the Federal attack having unified Confederate sentiment, and changed Sterling Price into a hearty Confederate and major-general of the State forces, Mr. Warren joined the forces rallying under his command, on the 16th. From then until the close of the war he continued in the Confederate service, being promoted for gallantry to second lieutenant. He was for a considerable time engaged in blockade running on the Mississippi, making three trips from St. Louis down the river. He participated in the Missouri battles of Boonville, Lone Jack (where he was wounded in the ankle), Lexington, Carthage, Springfield, Pea Ridge, and outside the State in the no less important engagements at Helena, Ark., Little Rock, Ark., Mansfield, La., and Pleasant Hill, La., besides many of the minor conflicts which were characteristic of the trans-Mississippi struggle. At the battle of