The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-16
From he NeU York Epening Post.
The Death OF General Worth.

From The Ne1 York Evening Post.
The Death OF General Worth.
The following interesting letter, from member
OF General Worth's family to one of his kindred,
the Hon. John w. Edmonds, of this city, has been
kindly furnished to for publication. 1t will be
read with peculiar and solemn interest at this time,
when the people of New York are about to pay
their last respects to the remains of the deceased
hero:
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, May %, ls49.
MY DEAR JUDGE: have not had the energy to
put pen to paper for near month. The dreadful
and most desolating dispensaton of Providence has
undoubtedly this reached YOU and have no
doubt you and your family have felt the wound
which is still bleeding around me. We came here,
surrounded by crowds of friends, whom the Gen
era had selected to aid him in the discharge of his
duties. Our own private family felt that the time
had arrived when he, whom they had followed over
the fields for two years, would be surrounded
by domestic ties, and his declining years made
happy by the most tender affection In sixteen
hours, these worldly hopes and anticipations were
blghted. He who had dined with his family on
Sunday, at o'clock, was cold and lifeless Mon
day at | o'clock. The fact that Sin the midst OF
life we are in DEATH" came upon us with fearful
reality, and l looked around inquirngly and
eagerly, asking myself the question, who does this
awful malady strike next
At New Orleans we met the General. He had
midst of cholera. The day we were to start, he
was indisposcd-so much so, We concluded to re-
main. The next day we took steamer TO Calves
ton, thence to Lavacca. Here took stages TO
this place, one hundred and sixty miles. The
General was harassed by business crowding upon
him. The unsettled state of the frontier, and the
alarm existing among citizens in regard to In
dams, caused the General great uneasiness. Every
day he complained of indispostion. Before reach
ing San Antonio, heard the most affecting ac-
m he avn res of no ri we
pushed onward. What could doa If we re-
manned at the miserable dwellings route,
we were without comfort or medical attendance,
and liable TO the disease, for negro boy, OF
our servants, died suddenly with the disease.
At San Antonio, though in the midst of pesti-
lence, thought the advantages there far better
for our health and lives than remaining on the
road. On we went our entire party consisting OF
six ladies and some ten gentlemen, and eight chill
dren. happy band we were. All with one ac-
cord said let go with the General His duties
were such, he determined to come alone. To
this no one would consent. One week from the
day we arrived we followed him to his grave. ]
wish could draw veil over the past, and erase it
from my mind. No! this cannot be done. 1t is
one of those events in life which marks period in
our worldly career, and makes young man think,
teaching lesson not to be forgotten--one which,
in the wisdom Of Providence, is undoubtedly for
our good.
On Sunday, the 9th instant the General dined
with his family, and feeling indisposed, eat rice
and milk for dinner. That morning he received
intelligence that the cholera had broken out in the
camp of one of the regiments in our immediate vi
cinty, and that ten men had been buried that
night. This weighed heavily upon his mind.
This regiment he had been preparing for march
of six hundred miles to Ell Paso del Norte, the
Rio Grandc and was all in readiness for start.
About o'clock, the General lay upon the sofa,
conversing upon the movements of this regiment,
he remarked that he had upon him most distress
ing diarrhea. From his description | feared the
worst, and Immediately sent for physician.
When he came the General had retired, but not
relieved from these frequent and most distressing
discharges from the bowels The doctor said at
once they the fatal rice-water discharges;
vomiting soon came on, followed by cramps. In
four hours from the time he was converting with
me he was beyond all human skill. At IL O'clock
that night his pulse ceased to beat; by daylight the
paroxysms of the disease had passed, and he lay
perfectly Frustrated.
During all this time his mind was as firm as ever
He knew his condition, and remarked to those
around him, "Jesus will have mercy on my soul.'
With that wonderful camness and self-possession
belong cling TO his character, when others quail, he
quietly breathed his last. His family were around
him. You can, better Imagine this last scene than
can describe it. The members of his staff crowd
ed the room. The doors, windows, and piazzas,
were crowded with anxious citizens and strangers,
eager to get the last look at him TO whom Texas had
looked with pride and confidence as her protector
upon this savage frontier The Sth regiment, his
own, took the remains, and inferred them near the
camp. Mrs. Worth designs taking them with her
when she goes North, in July or August.