Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-09-14
I'm Memefiam.

SIDE ihe ~sTIn,tson Of John Boona, form
erly OF Mecca. ;.nd Mas s., 'ho fIIue al his
death, about twenty-five Year odd.
or the large number Of young men
from this county, who impelled lay a sense
OF duty 10 their country, have gone into
the army, aud been swept Ia their graves,
during the pIesent war. no Que has fallen
who was imhued with a purer patriotism,
or whose fall will he more deeply or lon
ger mourned by those who knew him, than
Capt. John b. Irwin. All vino knew him
will bear cheerful testimony TO the fact
that he was a young man of more than
ordinary mental endowments. Both in
school and college he stood among the
6rst; in scholarship, equally proficient in
mathematics and languages, quick TO
learn and apt to teach. Kind, true, and
generous as a companion and friend, he
was d~eservedly popular among all his &C
quaintances. His sense of right and JUS
tice was active and strong; he had the
keenest appreciation for all that is lovely
in nature, or beautiful in art, while his
affections were as strong, and his emotion
al nature as sensitive as the affections
and emotions of g woman.
At the breaking out of the rebellion
against the government, he was a mem
Der of Farmers College, Cincinnati. He
returned home in Aug, 1861, and after
spending the Fall and Winter in teach
ing, in which he was successful, he com
menced the study of the law with Hon.
Matthew Richard, of Warren, and had
his life been spared, and his energies Civ
en- to the profession of his choice, his sue
cess as a safe and thorough lawyer would
have been marked. But the peril of the
nation was eminent; the country called
for help, nor was the call unheeded by
him; he served in the Saith three months
regiment in Maryland, in the summer OF
1862, as Lieutenant, and when the at
tempt to r~eorganize it as a three years
regiment, failed, he went into the
l24th, which was then forming at Cleve'
land, and obtained ~lieutenant's commits
sion; since which time he has remained
steadily at hispost; Sinking no duty, and
shrinking from no danger, but every
where fully and faithfully discharging
his duties to his country.
The l24th Reg. left Cleveland about
the LIST of January, 1868, for the front,
and wherever there was hard fighting tC
be done, danger to be encountered, ol
victory and glory to be won, there ha!
been the l24th. In the desperate battle
at Chickamauga, Capt. Irwin richly won
the promotion ne received; his forgetful
ness of danger to himself, in his anxiety
for victory to our armies. and in his effort
10 do his entire duty in that terrible con
test. seeming eve to his superior, like
recklessness. Col. Payne in a letter dat
ed Nov, following, notifying him of his
pro motion to a Captaincy, says:
81 have beer much pleased to learn from
all parties of your bravery and fine act
ions during the engagements of the 18th
and Doth of Sept, and as a mark of my
esteem and appreciation, send you here
with a commission of Captain. | car
wish no better success for the future
than that you honor your Captains com
mission rs you nave your lst' Lieut., OF
which | myself have no fear; though
-.,,& aansrOn rnN1 oNnanlasn Of unui
recklessness when under fire. Bravery
and recklessness are entirely different,
and an officers life if not valuable to him
self, is to his command, and nov
that you are made the father of a larg,
family, you will probably appreciate il
and only require a suggestion from me
on the subject 9
In the action of the 9th day of May
near Dallas, Ga, and proceeding its occu
patton by our forces, where fell man.
brave and true men, also fell Capt. Irwin
with q wound, from the fatal effects O
which no care or skill could avail ant
save him. He got back to Chattanooga
where he fingered until the Dist day O
June, when the silver cord was loosened
and John B. Irwin was no more. Mr.. Roy
al Taylor, whose kindness in this behal
will ever be remembered and duly appre
ciated by the friends of the deceased
procured his remains TO be suitably en-
balmed, inclosed in a metallic coffin anC
sent home. A large of peopl,
met to attend his funeral at Mecca, OF
the LIST of July; an excellent sermon wa
preached by Ed. Excell, and he was bu
ried in Greene, his native town. with ap
propriate military Donors.
The following of letters, from his com
RAIDS in arms, received since his death.
by his father, show how he was esteemed
in the army. Says Lieut., Col. Pickands
in a letter dated Aug.6.
al want 10 say to you in your affection
you have lost a noble on; we have lost
one of our bravest officers. / was will
your son in the three months campaign
in Maryland. In trying o reorganize the
84th Reg, we were thrown mnch togeth
er, and afterwards transferred to the sam
regiment, where we have for the last
eighteen months served side by side, and
l knew him well. He was one of the
brayest of the brave. By his kindness
of heart he endeared himself to all who
knew him; by his dauntless courage and
cool Judgment, he won the confidence o.
his officers and men. He fell while 10
advance of the line, seeking shelter for
his men. He was an officer of rich prom
Use; so noble, so true a friend, so patriotic
a soldier the country could lily afford the
Capt Coe, in a letter dated near Allan.
ia, Ca, Aug. Is. says: G lA -.9inpsH
/ cannot close this short ncte without
expressing TO you how deeply we sympa
thize with you in your loss, a loss though
Incompatible with yoursi is great 10 us; for
his many noble qualities had endeared