Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-12-10
rms GALLANT RrnGrLY.

- 80 80 A%&A 1E4NahAhfRA "th
the melancholy accident TO this officer, we
did MT announce it in the Bulletin Of yester-
day, as the information was not perfectly sure,
and we FELT a reluctance 10 give currency to
such a report which might be ~unfounded-
but further adviees yesterday fully confirm the
distressing detail, with the additional fact Of
his actual death. He was always noted for a
desperate and fearless nder, and II appears
that he was going from the quarters Of his
regiment, which were picketed on the outside
Of the city, 10 dine in Monterey, and was
mounted on a vicious Mexican horse who. in
going over a spot Of loose stones, stumbled in
fall speed, and threw his rider with great yio-
@lenee, and whose head struck a stone wall.
We learn there was no fracture Of The skull,
bnt the concussion was so severe. that the
blood started from his eyes and mouth, aud
soon proved fatal.
"1hus has persisted in the full bloom Of
youth and usefulness one Of the most gallant.
meritorious and rising officers Of our army,
and who will prove a loss to the service, not
easily replaced. Peace and honor to his ash
es."
The following notice Of the early life and
subsequent career Of Capt. r., which we find
in the New Orleans Delta of the 18th instant,
is, we believe, strictly correct. The article
possesses a melancholy interest at tnis time !:
CARR. RAEpoLPH RIDGELY.-We perform
ed a painful duty in announcing in our num-
Der OF frlday last, a melancholy casualty at
Monterey, which would probably terminate
the mortal career Of the cAiyalrous and &C
complished RIDGELY. To day il is our sad
office 10 chronicle the death Of this cherished
son Of the Republic, who was the "soul of
nonor. the rose of chivalry." fIe brsa,hed
his last at Monterey, on the 9th ult., surfoUn-
ded by his gallant comrades, who were over
whellned with grief, the tears streaming down
their manly cheeks. May not n beautiful
WOLFE. a little altered, be appositely applied
in this case2 We think so. We would then
say to his brother officers, the privates Of his
command, and the numerous friends, whose
hearts have been stricken by this calamity:
Brave men fofbcsr, not a sigh or a tear
For RIoGKLy, deserrcti!Y iovsd
Your tears shall be turned into truiSphs of Joy,
For he il. not dead, bot remostd.
Capt. RipcELY sprung from The oil MARY
land Llne"of revolutionary patnots. The Ran
dolphs of Virginia. and Ridgelys of MARYLAND,
were his honored ancestors. In early youth
the subject Of this notlce was distinguished for
personal daring and inlrepidity. SO much so
that his father, Gen. STERaErr RIpGELY, who
survives him, plainly dlscerned, from the de-
velopements Of his genius. that the profession
of arms should be his. lie was educated at
West Point Military Academy, where his
JtudiouS habits, rapid progress in acquiring a
knowledge of his profession, and amlableDcss
Of disposition, endeared him to his professors
and his tellow-students and gave promise Of
his name being associated with the shining
sons Of the Army On the roll OF fame, The
preceptors Of the youth RIBGELy did not ms
calculate. What was then in the womb Of
time" has since become history.
After leaving tie institution, the Govern
ment, Proposing confidence in his patriotism
and valor." commissioned him a lieutenant
in the Artillery service Of the Army Of the
United Stgtes. His career as an accomplished
a~rtllerist IS well known 10 our readers and the
country al large. The blood stained feeds Of
Palo Alto, Ressaca de la Palma and Monte.
rey, and the graves Of the MeXicans on those
grounds, which vii become classic in history.
give unmiStakeahle evidence OF his yalor and
skill. AT Palo Alto he was the Lieutenant OF
the command of the brave and lamented Ring
gold, for whose death a nation ulourned.-
Upon the fall OF RIE0GoLD, the Lieutenant as
sumed the command OF the corps, and the ac-
counts Of his g~allantry and proves are fresh
in the memory ofall. AtEsesaca de Ia Palma,
the guns from RIp6ELY's Battery carried the
swift messengers OF death 10 the ranks Of the
enemy and al Monterey the stone ioruesses
crunhled aud yielded under the rapid and cE-
iective discharges OF his pieces:
"The vide mouth cannon there did bellow forth"
The subject ofthis imperfect notice, as we
have before lntumaied, was a great taycrte
with bfe hra fhcr NfTaare and s.ag fl.ltspI 10
his men. A gentleman recently returned from
Monterey, informs US that Gen. TAYLOR held
the deceased Captain in the highest esteem
in proof Of which he was heard to say, with
great emotion, his feelings almost choking his
utterance. "RIDGELY's place cannot be filed"
This noble spirit has left one who cas the
''partner OF his cares and his JOYS" as well as
one pledge of their mutual affection. The
widow and the child will be cared for by the
nation-RipGELY's loved one and mis- darling
progeny will be cherished BY the Goyernmen:
and all the people.
The subject of this affective dispensa,ion of
Providence, which has filled so many hearts
with grief, grows upon our hands. Our nigh
appreciation of the worth Of the gallant sol
der, has led US 10 say more than we designed
when we took pen in hand"
There is no section ofour wide spread coun-
Try in which intelligence OF the death OF this
brave soldier will be receired with other than
feelings ofthe deepestregret. The Charleston
Patriot says:-
"We do not know when We have felt more
shocked at a personal calamity than at this
RANDOLPH RDGELY was as brave and gallant
a soldier as ever uod the earth. Atthe battles
of Palo Alto aad Resaca de Ia Palma he dis
tinguished himself by prodigies OF valor, and
at Monterey he was among the foremost IN the
attack. The death Of such an officer at any
time, or under any circumstances, would have
grieyed the public heart, but 10 be struck down,
as he was. while yet the laural wreath which
a grateful country had entwined was fresh up
on his brow, while yet the flush Of the siofi-
Gus victories which bis heroic daring and cour-
age aided to achieve, was full upon him-adds
more than mere words can adequately express
TO the nations sorrow"
The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Of yester-
day STYLES the deceased the "Alurat OF the Ar
my" and adds
ITO have escaped Undesirable dangers
and to fall at last by an ordinary casually, on
~ serves to increase the feeling which deplores
his melancholy fate. Peace to his ashes!o
II is said that the Secretary Of the Navy Is
about to ill up the Navy with the full compile