The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-08-01
DEATH OF COL. DUNCAN.
The death Of Col. james Duncan, Inspect,

General Of the Army, is announcedin IN the Mo.
bile papers. He died at the Mansion Hanse
in thar city, on Tuesday evening. The Ad-
vertserof that ciiy, states that he arrived there
about afortnigh siace,on a tour of inspection
to the Southern military posts and arsenals:-
lie had been to Eopisiana, and returning
through Mabile, took a haat for the arsenal at
Mount Vernon, on the Mel,iis.i .iRyer, from which
hesret,,rned about a week since in a wagon
much fa,igned and indispasesl. His friend; soon
found him aIarmingiyili i'll with fever, probably
engendered during his absence IN Louisiana.
From this sickness he never recovered. "nh
the hest medical aid, the Kind care and nursing
of,ass;duonss aud devoted friends, he fingered
until Tuesday morning, when ne expired.
His remains were put in charge Of the militia
ry,and conveyed underiescortto the arsenal IN
the city. They remained there mill p. NJ.
the artillery firing halfhour guns upon the city
SQUARE. At FIVE he was buried with military
honoes. s a.
Col Duncan was one of the most gallant,
accomplished and popular officers in the army.
Among the Youngest of those whose remarkable
qlalinAsweres brought out 10 the public eye by
the. Mexican war, he had achieved proud dis
and The most skliul soldiers in the service
As an ariillesy officer he had no superior, and
We have heard that at the time OF his death, his
merits had directed upon him the attention OF
foreign republic, which was solicited him to
take a high Command in its service Whether
Duncan would have .abcepted this offer, we
kpowgnot. We only know that it would have
been ashriiliant prospect of good service on the
side of republican, faith that would have tempt,
ed hin, frotrhis native land, tnr he was devoted
~, almost passionately America, in all his i'm.
pnlses and aspirations. He was but about
thirty eight years of age, having besn born in
lSl2,eand dies unmarried "Whoms the gods
love die Young" He,livcd long enough to Sc
cafe bright placerin the history ofthose who
hayasfought well for their country but died too
soo1 for his country and his friends.
,sTCol. Duncan was New Yorker by birth,
bort, we believe, in the neighborhood Of New
bursh,iu oranges county We have read that
bis name was properly Dmcanson, but tha,
being enteredIat West Point, by mistake, he al.
waysretained the shorter name. West Point
isswithin a half dozen miles of his birth place.
Hegraduated at the Military academy in 1882
and enteredthe army as Lintenant OF the 4th
Aartillery in which capacity he served against
the Seminoles. in Florida. He was on The
Whhlacochie with Gen. Gaines. and was there
Slightly wounded. In command OF a battery OF
hight Artillery, he Joined the army under Gen.
T'aylorat Corpus Christi.s AtPalo Alto and at
Resaca de La Palma, with Rinsgold and Ridge.
Lev, he was foremost in Illustrating the efficacy
of an arm previously but little appreciatee in
our country, and secured that victory which es-
tablishee the prestige of our arms, and laid the
Foundations of future success Alas! all three
haeesdiedin the prime of life. Ringgold was
killed in battle. Ridgely. an unsurpassed
shorser,an, pcrisbed by the lall from his horse
inthe streets of Monterey; and Duncan now
falls victim. to disease. Already promoted to
asCapiaincy, his'excelcnt service here raised
Duncan ioIhesbreyet rank of Lieut.. Colonel.
His conduct; shortly alter al monterey again
displayed bis usefulness again reward followed
and he-.ras rudyanded TO the rank ol Colonel.
When Gen. Scott made Gallon Gen. Taylor
for portion of the army under his command,
Col. Euacan sxas included in the requis:tion.-
Atyera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Churubusco, Mo.
finothl Reys aud the gates of Mexico he was
presents In the first 1.-TWO attacks his arm was
not called into action, but from Churubusco to
the gates of Mexico his service were in constant
requisition, and as opportunities presented them
selyesfor distinction, they were seized with his
usual ayidity and turned to the benefit OF his
country. sa
On his1eturn, after the closing Of the cam.
paign, the death of the Inspector General,
Col. Croehan, afforded The President an opPor.
tunity OF melting ont a substantial reward TO the
useful soldier lie was appointed to fill the va.
cancy, and was engaged in the duties OF his
office ween arrested by the disease that result.
edin his desih. ,y ~
Col. Duncan's death will be deeply regret.
ted in The army. Heswas not only an accom-.
plished soldier, bu,a man Of high talents, aud
accomplished scholar, and courteous and
compaaionable gentleman.
80 - ". o. Crescent.
LETTER FROM GEN. SCOTT ON THE
~ y ANNEXATION OF CANADA. a..
= We find the following letter from the hero OF
Lundy's Lane, in the Phladel phia News OF
Monday last.
~ $Ess4sss WEST POINT, June 90, l649.
ssFsMy Dear Sir:-The news from tbe Pariia.
ueilt of Great Britain, this morning, m,'st,
think, increase the discomfort of our neghbors
ssr the Other. side OF the St. Lawrence and the
lakes not a little; and these discomfort of our
nsightors on fhe other side ofthe ST. Lawrence
and the lakes ND, little; and That these discon.
tents will in q few years, lead to a separation
softhe Canadas, New Brunswick, &C., from the
mother. country, seems equally probable.
sz.sWill these Provinces from themselves into an
independent nation, or, seek a connection with
our Unionl think the probability is greatly
in favor of the latter. In my Judgement the