Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-06-01
Gen. Worth isnn mnreI

lcH uuys hlncet u was announced IN 1 el-
egraPhic Despatch, in the Pittsburgh Gazette,
thar Gen. WILLIAM ]. WORTH died Of cholera
at San Antonia. We had hoped that the news
was Premaiure-Ihat some error had crePt into
the TelegraPhc intelligence; but an order from
the War Department, enjOining the observance
of appropriate honOrs to the memory Of the de-
ceased, no longer leaves room 10 doubt the cor
reclness Of the report.
We would not write an eulogy-nor even a
sketch OF The life Of the deceased; that duty
will devolve upon ablerpens and warmerlriends
upon those who view military fame and blood
stained trophies with more ardor than we do
tits but an act of justice TO the deceased, how
ever, to say that he discharged his various and
hazardous duties with a fidelity, ability, courage
and prompliIude rarely parallelled-that when
ever and wherever his country called him, GEM
Worth obeyed with an alacrity that knew no
bounds and feared no danger. Amidst the car.
mage Of battle, when the missiles of war sped
in every direction, when the groans of the woun-
ded-Ihe shreks of the dieing-aPpalled every
heart, he stood foremost in the field of danger
the first in gaining point, the last 10 de-
ser one. At Monterey aud Buena Vista-Ihose
fields where indomitable courage overcame SUI
perior strength-he was, if we NAV use the ex-
preston, the life Of the army;-none encoun-
tered more dangers nor displayed more courage.
Again at Cerro GOrdo and the City Of Mexico,
where military science and discipline performed
feats which as!enished the world, the gallantry
Of Gen. Worth was not less conspicuous. Ia
the late war with Mexico he was, probably, in
more battles than any other General, in all Of
which bore conspicuous part. He passed this
ordeal-where death lurked in every chapperal,
ambushed in every hacienda, and bivouaced in
every village;-whereit crept from the assassin's
dagger, leaped from the guerla's rifle, and
sprang from the cannon's mouth;-where il rose
with the morning sun, roved with the MONDAY
heat, and scented the evening breeze-without
injury!--only slight wound leaving its traces
on his manly frame. A short year Passes--the
war is closed--the din of battle is hushed-
peace smiles upon the land-the hero anticipates
a rest from labor--a repose upon his laurels.--
But this was not to be; his mission in ''Ihis vale
of tears" is ended-his pilgrimage closed
his battles fought--his victories won. In re-
mote part of the Union, far from home, kindred
and friends, of cholera, died the general who
braved death on many hard-lought felds--who
summered and wntered with it large portion
Of his life!
"By strangers hands his eyes were closed;
By strangers hands the decent limbs composed;
By strangers honored, and by strangers mourned."
Such is the way an ovenullng Providence
manilests His glory-such is the inscrulable
wisdom Of His infallible laws.
The singular occurrences between the de-
ceased and other officers of high standing in the
army, soon after the battles before the City OF
Mexico, have created prejudice against Gen.
Worth in the minds Of many well-meaning in
dividuals,- been TO US an unlathomable
mystery. Notbeingsufficiently acquainted with
the history of the events to speak understanding
ly of the conduct of those concerned, we would
fcrbear expressing an opinion. Whatever may
have been the motives OF Gen. Worh-what-
ever may have been the causes, real or imag-
nary, which led him to act part entirely for
eign to his previous character;-our duty to the
dead requires that we should remember his vir-
tues and forget his errors-lf errors they were.