Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/184

 172 Southern Historical Society Papers.

death at Big Bethel, fighting his guns to the last. Fourteen of that class, including Custis Lee, cast their fortunes with the South. Of these fourteen, four served on the staff and rose only to ''field rank/' while ten became general officers.

Of the ten, eight (think of it!) yielded up their lives for hearth and home and country.

'Tis a glorious roll, and we, the lingering few, whose humbler part it was to follow where these captains led, like Harry's veter- ans on "St. Crispin's day," still "stand a tip-toe'' when that roll is called.

"Jeb" Stuart, of Virginia, barely thirty-one, yet ]\lajor- General and Chief of Cavalry of the "Army of Northern Vir- ginia," mortally wounded yonder at Yellow Tavern, while stay- ing with a handful of troopers the enemy thundering at our gates.

William D. Pender, of North Carolina, Major-General, though still in "the twenties," mortally wounded, while leading in, with all the fire of youth and skill of age, the "Light Division" on the third day at Gettysburg.

John Pegram, of Virginia, "as full of valor as of kindness, princely in both," commissioned Major-General, though the com- mission had not reached him when he fell at the head of his Division at "Hatcher's Run" in '65.

James Deshler, of Alabama, Brigadier, who died in the van of his cheering Texans on Chickamauga's crimson field.

"Archie" Gracie, born in New York, but adopted son of xA.la- bama. Brigadier, who ever held his front with grim tenacity, instantly killed in the trenches of Petersburg.

Horace Randall, of Texas, Brigadier, whose "vigor, energy, and daring" (to quote the words of Dick Taylor's official re- port), were everywhere conspicuous, mortally wounded in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, Arkansas.

John T. Mercer, of Georgia, Acting Brigadier, who died sword in hand at the head of his stormers in the victorious as- sault on Plymouth, N. C, in '64.

One other name there is — that of John D. \^illepigue, of South