The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1863-07-14
THE DAILY REBEL.
THURSDAY #ioRNING. JULY is, 1909.


The news of the great success of the Confed.
crate Army at Gettysburg, is alleged with the
painful iidiugs of the fall Of many gallant
soldier but Of ueae who had more signally
evinced in all Of the struggles through which
he had passed, that patriotic devotion to the
cause, which so distinciivey charaoterizes the
spiritof our soldiers in this Revolution.
Gen. BarksdaIe was, we believe, born in
Rutherford equity, in tbis State. In early
manhood he emigratOd 70 Mississippi, and
entered upon bis career as a public journalist
lie was strong and vigorous writer, aud drew
to himself that attention which bold indie
pendent journalist will always attract, when
as in his case he was moved by 10 other con.
viction than that Of the right" He was also
a forcble and pointed public speaker, and was
prominent in all Of the party discussions for
which that State was so noted, maintaining the
dogmas Of the Democratic school of which he
was votary. During the Mexican war he
served as Captain. 10 1853, Gen. Barksdale
was elected to Congress from Mississippi by
the State at Large. He was three times re-
elected from the Columbus District During
his eight years service in that body, no man
maintained a more yigant opposition to the
constant aud aocumulating aggrandizNuents of
the Northern power than he did, nor was there
any member more exact in the discharge Of his
representative duties, and more watchful Of
the public interests than him. Though he sci,
dom appeared in debate, when he did, he
brought to the discussion all tho warmth and
earnestness Of his nature, the information of
his well stored MUD, aud tho terseness and
Vigor which characterized his speech. He was
discovered TO possess rare talents as a presd-
ing officer during the stormy times attendant
upon near approach to final adjournment of
Congress, and upon such occasions, during the
last few years of his service was frequently
called to preside over the House. In the ceIe.
brated personal rencouuter in the House known
as the Keitt and Grow difficulty, which occurr.
ed in January 1858, the mendacious insolence
Of the Black Republican members provoked
Gen. Barksdale into an active personal particia
patton in the scene which enseed, which cans.
cd him ever afterwards to be conspicuous
object of Black Republican hate, as he was the
Indifferent recipient OF the contumely and rid
icule which the anonymous scribblers of the
Black Republican Press poured out upon him.
An ardent aud consistent advocate of separa.
ton he was prominent in bringing about the
withdrawal of Mississippi from the Federal
Union, and upon the happening Of that event,
he formally vacated his seat in the Federal
Congress. Appointed Brigadicr General in
the Army of Mississippi he devoted his euer-
gics to rapid organization and equipment Of
the State forces to resist its invasion ny the
Federal forces. Virginia promising quicker
and more active field for the ardent nature of
this soldier he resigned that higher grade, and
accepted the Coionecy Of the 18th Mississippi
Regiment. lie led these gallant troops in the
FIRST battle of Manassas at Seven Pines,
through all the battles before Richmond, Sc
cond Manassas, Antietam, Sharpsburg, and all
the sanguinary conflicts Of Lees last Summers
campaign. Promoted to the rank Of Brgadier
Generajn the G. S. Army, at some period du-
ring these trying times, he was fifty acknowl-
edged to possess military abilities, which be
had OH every occasion shown. Of his conduct
at Fredericksburg in the great battle of De-
ceuiber last and the later and blooder one of
Chapccllorsville, there is no need to speak.
Barksdale's Brigade is prominently historic in
those two carnivals Of desperately won and
important successes TO the Confederate arms.
There the post OF honor was the station Of that
apparently doomed brigade, aud It's heroic
leader. Where necessity disposed OF the few
est of the most valiant oil the troops to do the
greater proportion OF important fighting was
assigned Barksdales brigade. History will
record how well they discharged the perious
but noble duty
In the last fight made By tho great army tc
which he belonged be fell pierced with bullets
at the head Of his gallant band, with his face
to the foe. He fell administering to the pee
pie of Pennsylvania asso Of invasion. Not
the low mean invasion which illustrates the
march of the Black Republican columns upon
Southern territory, but invasion such as an ar
my Of Southern Cheyaliers mark their transfer
Of hostilties from their own soil to that of the
enemy, terrible enough in ITSELF but which re-
siricted by all the rules Of civilized war is dis
tinguished by no petty action or pllage, no
war upon women aud non-combatanss, no muir
ders, in a word, none Of the black aud damn
ing attributes of the Abolition Invasion Of the
South. Well does the North describe him, a,
they glOat over his DEATH as that "ouce PROUD
and naughty REBEL His was proud and haugh'
y. lie had pride which taught him to dosps,