The Avoyelles pelican. [volume] (Marksville [La.]) 1859-186?, 1861-11-30
WILLIAM Il. MiRNHALL.

The subject Of this notice was born in
the parish Of Avoyelles OH the lst day Of
April A. ID. lS44. LIE was the eldest
son of our fellow citizen Thomas ID.
Marshall by his marriage with Miss }.
Hockett, both Of whom survive to
mourn the untimely death Of their gal
liant boy. In 1860 bis father entered him
az cadet in tie Military Academy near
Alexandria in this State. He remained
there until the close of the year, having
passed two sessions of five months each.
During this period, his progress in all
the branches of his studies was very
commendabe and gave great satisfaction
to his parents. At the expiration Of the
session lie returned home, having cult
waited strong desire fora military career.
The occasion was not wanting for al
ready it had become evident from the
drift Of political affairs i'll America, that
war was inevitable. In the meantime, 10y
order of the Governor, the militia Of the
State was organized. Onr people was
entirely unversed i'll tactics as Il mass
and the services Of thosc WHO cElanced to
he at all familiar with military matters
were at once called into requisitlon. VIII
liam had basely reached his seventeenth
year Wien this field Of usefulness was
opened out to him. With all the ardor
and buoyancy which youth ,aione can
boast, he seized upon the opportunity,
and in the capacity Of Drill Master de
voted himself to the instruction Of the
community in w.tlcn he had lived ali bis
life.
His usefulness was highly appreciated
by all the bcnchciaries of his regular
instructions and many, rery many We're
the Communications aud e',IoYiums that
were pronounced upon him. T,e good
citizens Of HolmesvIlle will long rrmen
Der with pride the manly bearing OF this
gallant buy But another field OF useful
ness was soon opened up TO his patriotic
ambition, in the rapid progress oi events
and accordingly, on or about the 10Th
day of june last he enlisted as a private
in the Company OF the Stafford Guard,
aud took leave of Il comfortable hnn, to
share in the tolls and dangers Of grim
>isaged war" The Stafford Guards
formed d part Of the 9th Regiment Of
Louisiana Volunteers, W ici was coIn
mandel by Col. Richard Taylor. Not
long after reaching his destination on
the Northern borders Of Virginia. he
was taken with the measles and renal
ned off duty for nearl y one month. liz
recovered however and returned to camp
to resume the duties and hards Ups ot a
soldier. lie was not permitted to renain
there great while, for t e affecting an
gel smote aim again and drove han liom
the post of duty to which he chung With
SO much fondness and devotion. He sut-
fered for a while at the Hospital and was
finally removed to the private house
where he was confined and kindly cared
for during his first illness. But it was
100 late, for in tNenty four I.ours after
he reached that hospi5ableroof the strug-
sle ended, and tie generous spirit of The
youthful soldier winged his way to the
.land of the hereaiter.'
lie ceased to breathe on the evening
Of the lUh day OF October last, having
reached the midheight of his eighteenth
year His remains were buried at War
rentown, Va, with as much care as if a
fathers hands had done it. They We're
removed however, as soon as practicable
and brought to his native Stare and Pa
rish, and were finally inferred at the
Evergreen Cemetery on the 9Th day OF
the present month of November. Here
the Stately Magnolia waves lis verdant
foliage, unchanged by revolving seasons
whilst among its lofty branc les the pas
sing winds sigh an eternal requiem over
his grave.
The people owe debt Of lasting res
pect and gratitude to the memory Of Will
liam II. Marshall for lis devotion to our
bleeding Country's sacred cause to which
he fell, and comfort and console the
hearts of his surviving kindred and friends
with bright and abiding hopes of again
meeting nim, III that ''house not made
with hands eternal in the heavens.
IL