The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-08-28
Nor GENERAL .JoHS B. FLoYp.

,ns GENERAL .JoHS B. FLoyp. -
-. ,.;utu news of the death Of this
,'',;agsished officer and statesman was
..oupced in this paper yesterday. lie
r.jns A. NJ, on Wednesday, the e6ti,
-, ,he anniversary Of the battle OF
r.,.s Lanes. in Nicholas county, the
-, d his Western Virginia campaign,
abich the enemy was completely rout-
>, He vas born in Montgomery coun-
e. IL, that part which is now Pulaski
:, ,,n,y in 1905. and was therefore in his
So p.,b ;ear. lie graduated at Columbia
c.lle5c an South Carolina, in 1926, and was
united TO the bar in 1928. After a
'hnr. - residence 4, Helena, Ark, he re-
..'raed ..'r to Virginia and settled in Abing-
@ asn Washington county, where he died.
qS,'' ~. was elected to the House of Dele
~ ats in is47, and again in lSi9, in which
t s,'sr he was elected by the Legislature
Eorprnor of Virginia for the term expir.
ne January lst, 1853. In 80 he was
."a sgsiin elected to the Legislature. In 80
e wa. I Presidential elector, and voted
q, .Isnes Buchanan, by whom he was
...nnin,ed Secretary Of War Of the Z. s.,
ri .PI1 which Office it will be remembered he
rssisned in January, 81, upon a dis
,srfement with the President relative to
gp,sures touching Fort Sumter. His
'nhsenuen, career is familiar to every one:
his appointment as Brigadier General
in The Confederate army-his active cam
n,ion in Western Virginia--his brave de-
irnee Of Fort Donelson--his suspension
from command by the President for the
circumstances of the surrender Of that
fort-his appointment by the Legislature
ol Virginia TO be Major General Of State
forces raised TO protect the Southwestern
Virginia frontier and the salt works-the
transferring Of that force last spring to
the Confederate Government and the re-
i.rement of General Floyd to Washing
t,n county with his health much impair
glby exposure in camp. The serious
,stent OF his constitutional injuries was
.6on developed, and his strength steadily
i.lel under them until he died.
General Floyd was a man of powerful
mind For yigor of intellect he had no
s,prrior in the theatre Of his political life.
Ifr did not rise to his true eminence un-
ii after his Gubernatorial term. I'm his
terra in The House of Delegates after that
he delivered several of the ablest speech
E, ever heard in that Hall, whose walls
have echoed the voices Of the greatest
men that have lived in this country.
Friend and opponent alike accord to him
the fame Of the most powerful deciaimer
If his day. lie belonged to the South
entalhonn chool of politicians, of
sbei he waa one Of the most faithful
,nd consistent members. He entered pro
esgional lie amidst the exciting scenes
Of the political epoch of '32, when his
distinguished father was Governor of
Virginia That venerable man stood
Grnly by South Carolina, and though
personally going little farther than Vir-
mia was willing to go in support OF
South Carolina nnllification, he was sus
laiae,i heartily by this great State in his
determination not only not to allow II
federal soldier to cross her soil to attack
south Carolina; but never TO allow a
Southern State to be by farce ct arms
reduced to submission to Federal author
g. These events had their effect upon
IL. mind and character Of General Floyd,
aa the better prepared him for the i'm
portant part he played inthe great drama
Bow being enacted in this country. We
nay well lament that it was not allotted
u him 10 continue an actor in the great
sFuggle of the South to its conclusion
III iii his ,ieath we lose one of our ableSi,
most far seeing and faithful public men.
While Secretary of War he foresaw
TIE coming event Of separation and war,
and, as far as he could, prepared the
South ior it by such distribution Of
ANS as she was entitled to. For this
all know how he brought down upon
himself the malelictions Of the North
emPeope The hatred they entertained
ior him boretes,imony to his loyalty and
services 10 the South. Nor were they
over estimated, He was the sentinel upon
The watchtower and when the enemy
Vas al The door he buckled on his armor
lnd proved his courage and energy as he
'ad done his lealty to his people and his
country
ten. Floyd was distinguished for his
feeaste. He vas the first 10 warn us 10 |
nope nothing from recognition; to foreteil
us exactly what England would do; TO
eogare Us 10 rely on nothing but our
eSh courage and constancy. and to hope
oE nothing save that we could achieve
'y hard lighting. In the field he was
r,iergellc, and shared the fate of the sol
Aer-never shrinking from exposure to
Weather or battle He was brave, gener-
'Is, and loyal. His granitic strength Of
character, while it fitted him for great la
O'is, rendered him capable of sustaining
aahaly great reyerses, and, in the Ian
:a'se oi coteinporary, communicated
~ lorlltude and noble humor to every
'Fhuinent and recollection connected with
hh."