Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1860-08-02
Tribute OF ReSDect.

Tribute OF Respect.
At a meeting of the Mounted Volunteers, held
on Saturday, 26th, Sergeant STONE arose and
said:
Comrades: Since our last meeting, death has sent
his first summons into ranks and called from
among US ~ brave and efficient officer, dearly
loved conradc, and an accomplished gentleman
The manly form of Quarter Master GRANT
HARRIS viii no more BE- in our ranks. His
generous heart has ceased to beat, and his brave
spirit has returned to God who gave it. He was
among the first to join He was always first
in the performance of every duty and every honor
able cnterprzr and truly believe he wasS1irst in
the hearts of his comrades
The tragic circumstances Of his death were these:
GIANT HARRIS and MORGAN HARRIS, together
with Miss NANN1E and URsrLA HARRIS, were sail
ing on the Potomac when sudden flaw capsizcd
the boat As the boat went Morgan cfasped
his sister Ursula and Grant Miss Mamie and all
wGnt down. On rising to the surface and still
holding on to his sister, Morgan much the feebler
man OF the two, came up the boat and seizef
it; but the part he had hold of being very slippery,
tn ns waves hlgh ana the tide running strong, he
was washed away from the boat and his sister torn
from his grasp and he again sunk. second time
he came to the surface and near the rudder and
selling it he enabled to hold on but his sister
Ursula had then disappeared beneath the water and
he saw her
Grant, whose great strength would likely have
enabled him to save himsefand Miss Mamie ould
he have reached the boat never touched it
The last time he seen he was holding on to Miss
Mamie and making desperate efforts to reach the
boat These efforts were in vain, and they sank to-
gether. Both gentlemen seemed to have had but one.
idea to save their precious charge or die with Them
No word was spoken during the struggle Manfully
and nobly the men struggled to save. Silently,
and am sure prayerfully, did these fair ladies'
meet their untime y fate; and nevar did the wa
tiers OF the broad Potomac close three who left
more sad hearts behind them. Of these ladies this
Is not the place to speak but this must and will.
say that had it pleased God to have given me Sis.
ter, would have wished from the bottom of nv
heart that she would have been like Mamie or Ur-
sula Harris. would have wished no more.
The soldier who marches up to the lannon's
mouth has gain. glory, the worlds applause to urge
him on;-ruin, disgrace and shame are behind him
The coward and the brave have each borne the
brunt of battle alike. But he who in the stormy
water, when there is eye upon them except that
of the All Being, no help near except in his own
stout arm and brave heart, will cling to feeble.
and helpless woman till she is torn from his GRASP
by force he cannot resist or his hold loosened by
death, that man has the heart of hero
!, He was my friend, and standing by his grave
there came across my mind these words: "Do un-
to others as you would they should do unto Won :,
remembered that the last act of my friends life
was performance of that Divine command, a per-
tormance of it in its highest and hottest sense for
it was an unsefsh effort to fellow being. l
remembered too that in that last trying hour most
ikely-yes most surely-earnest prayer assembled -
from him to the throne on high. Remembered too
contest to thy kingdom" uttered in the hour of
death, did secure to him who uttered them a place
in Paradise; and remembering all these, a lively
hope and l-grounded belief arose in nv heart
that my friend is at peace.
Sergeant STONE then offered the following
resolutions
Resoyved, That by the death of Quarter Master
HARRIS, this company has lost brave and efficient
officer, dearly loved comrade and accomplish
ed gentleman.
ResoIued, That we deeply deplore his untimey
fate, and although his manly form will no more be
seen in ranks the memory of his generous heart
ready hand and brave spirit will live in our hearts
till they have ceased to beat
Resolved, That by his desperate but vain efforts
to save perishing woman, by his refusal even
to death to abandon her, he proved that he possess
ed the trucst courage, and that his death in such
cause was worthy of Christian soldier and gen..
tleman.
Resolued, That, as tribute of respect, this COM
Pany will wear Grape upon the left arm for thirty
days.
Resolved, That copy of these resolutions be en-
closed by the Secretary of this company to the
family of our larnented comrade; and also, that
they be published in the Port Tobacco Times.
[REMARKs BY PRIVATE W. H. NrrcHELL-1
The resolutions upon your table, Mr.. President,
with the tributes rendered, touch me to the heart.
should be silent, sir, but impulsively come with
the sorrowing, to drop upon the grave of Worth an
humble garland, but an honest tear. Would +
had language-would to Heaven had ability,
sir, to do justice to the memory and character of
GIANT HARRIS. How weak words, how dull
the choicest eulogy, before this purest of ALL which
throbbng hearts around me. Mr. President, we -
have lost man, staunch and noble trooper
citizen and friend. But yesterday, he with
us in the fresh vigor of manhood. To-day! Sad
upon your arm will tell tits solemn thought, as
well instructive commentary upon the muta!>
bility of tn. Our Quarter Master is gone. But,
sir, look at his record He died. and left no stain
upon his shield. In all those manly attributes that
GO to make up pure and splendid char acter, who,
who was before him, either within without this
brave-frank, affcctonate and true-a perfect gen.
tleman, and an honest man. Moving in first cir
cles-with fine intellect, attainments and sensibili-
ties, he honored, he would have adorned, position.
died with him, speak not. Upon the sacred pri-~
vacy of homes bereft, forbear to tread. the hand
of the Father is there. As it has afflicted, will
it soothe. Bow and trust on. twlnkling star led |
wandering shepherds to the manger of God. A
Lamp, brighter than stars and truer, will in it's
own good time, lead the faithful and the meek to
s'gone, sir, but you know-we all know-from his
unselfish nature, ho,c he died. His gallant
DEATH If he fell not the battlefield, bathed in
blood while striking for the flag we love, thank
Cod he died in cause just noble, just as heroic.~
Beyond doubt, he could have saved himself. but
Oet it brighten the dreams of his kindred) he died
for others. We miss the cordial grasp of his hand,
ms merry laugh and manly form The is
the crushed flowers of memory will
linger around it, sweetly, faithfully to the last -
Let US 90 home, fellow troopers, warm with the
scene of to-day. Let this sad afction fall upon
us lesson of humility it chasten, purify and
reform. He, who was an ornament to our Cavalry.>
an ornament to society, ornament to all-he of
whom it might be so fifty spoken, "None knew
him but to love him-none named him but to
praise,-he has fallen in midst in the bloom of
his promise and usefulness He the first to go.
Who next? Gentlemen, is this not worth thought
Think of his untimely death, and do not soon for
get him. As for myself, Mr.. President, having
been his bosom friend from early boyhood, when
cease to cherish the memory Of GRANT HARRIS,
shall have for gotten EARTH shall have forgotten
heaven. Earth held no nober SOUL Its briny
waves never stled the pulses of better man.
Truly, sir,
ssHs life gentle
And the elements so mixed in him,
That Nature might stand up
And say to the world, this acas man"
[REMARKs PRIVATE J. W. MITCHELL
Mr. Chairman Had never known Mr.. HARRIS
previous to his connection with company,
should deem it duty not to permit this occasion
i'm and tn