The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-11-22
MAJOR GEN. S. D. RAMsEUR.

citizen of that county when Col W. z. Bynum,
formerly of the I'd N. c. T., arose and said
GA recent reverse to our arms in the Valley of
Virginia, causes to deplore loss, greater than
that of asbatte, the loss of noble, brave and
mplished officer, Major General Ramseur. This
! large and spontaneous meeting evinces the deep
hold which he had on the public confidence as
military chieftain and the profound sorrow which
peryades the country on bis sudden but heroic
| death. Assigned to the command in which
served, knew him WELL He succeeded the Ia
mented General Anderson, an officer of great abi-
tiles, and we'll skilled in the art Of war, command
ing the love and confidence of his men His was
"a place not easily filled.
Gen. Ramseur came to the Lrigade stranger
from another department of the service ;-but he at
once disarmed criticism by his high professional
attainment aud great anability of character, in
spirug in his men, by his own enthusiastic nature
those lofty martial qualities which distinguish the
true Southern soldier.
The loss of such man is a national calamity
and calls on US to commemorate his great virtues
and to nlingle our sorrow with the general grief"
In concluding, Col Byuum moved that his
Honor Judge Osborne be called to the chair and
that Ambrose Costner and ". A. McBee, Esqs ,
act secretaries; and the meeting organized
following resolutions, as expressing the sentiments
and feelings of the meeting:
Whereas, have heard with deep regret Of the un-
timely death of the brave and chvalric Major General
Stephen DodSon Ramseur, who fell MORALLY wounded
while nobly leading his DIVISION with great galantry
Cedar Greek in the Valley of Virginia, the 18th
October, 1864,
We the citizens of this his native county, feeling a
profound interest in his memory and an exalted pride
in his numerous heroic and brilliant achievements in
arms from the very beginning of struggle for right
and independence, deem it sad privilege well O
sacred duty to unite with fellow citizens of this
,1Of tha
irreparabe loss of him. than whom sister State has
lost purer, nobler, Drawer son. Therefore be it
Resolved, That while we bow with humble submits
sion the nscrutabe will of God in this affective dis
pensaton forced to feel the pail of gloom which
has been thrown whole Confederacy by the
sudden fall of so vaCable officer in the midst of his
brilliant career.
Resolved That we tender to his afflicted wife and his
fond father and relatives, most sincere
coincidence in this their bereavement.
Resolved, That a copy of these proceedings be sent
to his wife and his father and be transmitted for pub
LEGATION TO the papers CT this State.
Mr. Lander remarked that he did not arise to
pronounce eulogy his deceased friend, whom
he knew from childhcoj to his death, but to make
some brief statements of his history. In May,
1887, in the town Of Lincolnton, in three days of
each other, were born two children, who one
day 10 shed lustre on their countrys history, and
to win for themselves an immortal fame. In boy
hood they were warm and devoted friends. and were
noted for their sacred obedience to their parents and
their pure moral character. They came to manhood
the member Of the Episcopal, and the other of
the Presbyterian church. For awhile they were sepa
rated, until the mighty struggle for pendence
came, when again they found side by side for
three of bloody strife in the defence of rights
and liberty-now alas must sever their history
General Ramseur Hes in his grave, noble sacri
fee to the glorious which General Hoke still
lives to defend
General Ramseur entered West Point in 1855 and
graduated in 1862 when he assigned to duty in
the artillery of the United States army When Lincoln
issued his Proclamation he resigned his commission
and appointed Lieutenant in artillery but while
at Montgomery he received the commission of Captain
of the Ellis Artillery Raleigh and chose to resign
his commission in the regular army and aid in organ
izng State forces, which then being called to
the field He present with his battery and fired the
salute in Capitol square which announced that had
seeded from the old Union. lie promoted
to Major, and ordered to Smithfed, on the James,
where he remained until the Peninsula campaign. He
then assigned to the command of the artillery in
General McLaws division. While so acting he was
elected Colonel of the 49th North Carolina Troops and
FASTENED to organize them at Raleigh He as
signed to General Robert Ransoms brigade, and soon
called to the defence of Richmond He participated
in the attacks Mcclellan and at Malvern Hill while
acting with conspicuous galantry severely wound
ed in his arm and was disabled for duty. While at
home he received from President Davis the commission
as Brigadier General, and assigned 10 the COM
mand of the lamented Anderson. At Charlottesville
he under Jackson in his celebrated flank movement
and won for himself imPorishabe glory in of the
most brilliant charges of the war, which at marked
him as of the best Generals of the army. AT
Gettysbu by most skful movement on the battle
field by which he recaptured many of prisoners,
and first enter the town, lie again added greatly
to his reputation. At the Wilderness and Sposy vana
he participated largely and for bis heroic conduct
the bloody salient where General Edward Johnston
captured, he was promoted and assigned to the COM
maud of Eary's division which was soon ordered to
the Valley. While there, he, for moment, suffered
from the false aud licenous charges made upon his
conduct at Winchester, where his division suffered
rout, Notwithstanding his fearless and dangerous ex-
posure of himself in attempting rally his troops but
this was dssipated by the voice of truth
which exonerated him. and placed blame where ii be-
longed On the death of The lamented Rhodes, he
ceeded his position in the division to which he had
formerly belonged, and while leading his division vic
toriousy against the enemy, fell morally wounded by
shot through his right lung. Mr.. Chairman. this is
his hstory-the history of one of tho most amiabe
and brilliant soldiers that has yet offered himself his
countrys altar. He my FRIEND intimately so, and
| weep for him. He country's friend, and we
should all sorrow for him.
Major Magruder then paid most beautiful
tribute to the memory of Gen. Ramseur, sketching
his social character.
Col. VIM j. 1oke also reviewed his military |
history as it came under his personal observation
in the campaign, and related some touching Incl
dents of his bravery iu battle, bis kindness in
camp, and his sympathetic care for his wounded
and sick
J.. E. Thompson, Esq, remarked:
1t is with a melancholy pleasure, Mr. Chairman, that
respond the resolutions that have just been read
1t is melancholy, sir because they inform me oil the
untimeiy death of one whom had long regarded as
friend | bad known him well and intimately and had
watched him he passed the current of time from