The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-10-10
Ben McCarty.
sALLERsvILLE, MAaorFIS CO., KY,

o., Y.,
September l6, 1852.
Mr. Icins: Permit me, through your paper, to
pay last tribute to the worth of departed |
friend. The 43d Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, |
which is for the present attached TO Gen. Hum.
phrey MarshalPs Brigade, having for nine days
marched over the heights and down the depths of
the mountains and ravines of Eastern Kentucky,
weary and foot-sore, pitched their encampment,
on the evening of the 18th inst, along a narrow
de6le between two tall mountain spurs on Middle
Creek, ten miles above Prestonsburg, and station
cd pickets above and below the encampment to
ing, about three o'clock, the camp was aroused
by the pickets firing off their guns and running
into camps aud announcing that cavalry attack
was being made upon us. This being tho FIRST
thing of tho kind that had ever taken place in
the regiment, Of course great excitement and
confusion prevailed. The men had carried their
guns Tor several days exposed to the rain and
dew, without an opportunity Of rubbing them up
Some Of their guns had been loaded for guard
purposes, and these they began to discharge for
the purpose Of re-loadng them, and others burst
cd caps to dry out the tubes of their guns Some
one unfortunately held his gun carelessly and
shot Lieutenant Ben McCARrr, of Captain Nc
Kamy's Co. Q,) through the head an ounce ball
and two buck-shot piercing his temple and killing
him instantly. 1t was soon learned that the
alarm was false, the pickets having mistaken
come moving objects for an enemy; but the sad
the whole regiment, for Ben McCarty was with
the regiment rs he was wherever he was known,
n favorite. We placed his body in a wagon and
sent ii to Prestonburg for interment and the regi-
ment moved on in silence. No laughter or hal
looing disturbed the Quot of that Sabbath morn
ing. The silence and thoughtfuness of eight
hundred men paid last sad tribute of respect to
the worth of their departed friend. have seen
many of the evils of this unholy war, and much
of the suffering that it has brought upon our de-
voted people, have seen our brave soldiers
struck down by disease in camp. have seen
them struck down in action, and have seen them
waste away in hospitals but have never wit
messed a scene SO sad as the death and burial of
an old friend among strangers, in the mountains
Of Kentucky Many of our bravo soldiers have
fallen by the hand of disease, and many have
been killed By tho accidents incident to the care.
less handling of firearms, but to these no loud
peans are sounded---no newspaper articles are
devoted to the praise Of their gallantry; and yet
none the less have they fallen in the service of
their country. The Republic may not find room
In its big heart for praise and gratitude to the
man who is struck down by camp disease, or BY
an accident while doing his duty as soldier,
but none the less sad are the hearts of his COM
rades and friends than IL he had fallen amid the
roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry in
battle. And although he whose death now
chronicle never met the enemy in deadly conflict
and signalized his devotion to his country by
deeds of arms, knew him as the true soldier,
the high toned gentleman, and kind hearted
friend aud our loss and the loss of his frinds in
East Tennessee is none the less than If he had
fallen in battle. INA