Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-04-13

WE last week noticed the death Of John
Marshall Branum, Of the 9Sth Regiment
Ohio Vol. Inf, killed In the battle Of Mill
Springs, in the State Of North Carolins, on
Sabbath, the 10th day Of March, 1866. -
Our time and space did not allow us at that
time to say oil we desired to say, and We
again refer TO the matter.
In the month Of August, 1882 when the
9Sth Regiment was recruited, Mr.. Brsnum
was attending the Normal School at Hope
dale, Harrison County, Ohio. from where
he wrote TO his parents ''that he could no
longer pursue his studies while his country
was calling for help" On the 9th day Of
August he enlisted ass private soldier in
Go. @, under Capt. John A. Norris, aud
went into camp at Steubenville, Aug. 18th.
When the Regiment was organised Mr..
Brsnum was appointed clerk at Col Web.
ster's Headquarters, which position he 90.
cupied until the promotion Of Sergeant Ma
jor ID. Miner, when Mr.. Branum was APP
pointed Sergeant Major. He occupied this
position until his promotion to Lieuten-
aDcy, about the 10Th Of Oct. 1864; since
when he acted as LIST Lieut.. of Co. G, until
the date of his death.
DR. Branum was favorite in the regi
ment, and braver or truer soldier never en-
tered the service Of his country Whilst
acting as clerk he would always take mus
ket when there WAS an expectation of
skirmish or battle and seek for the post
where execution could be done, aad never,
from the time he entered the service until
the hour Of his.death, was he absent from
his post unless confined to his bed by sick
ness.
his parents, to whom he was ever duti-
ful son, have our sympathy in their Attic
ten, for We know something of their loss
from knowledge Of the, worth Of their boy
acquired by close observance of him in ar
my life, where the true characters of men
are developed, no matter what effsrt they
may make to conceal them.
The following letter from his Captain an
nouncing his death to his parents will show
the light in which he was held in the regi.
ment Of which he was brave and honored
soldier: at,--
CAMP NEAR GoLDsBoRo', N. C.,l
March 10Th, 1865.
MR.. ALEX RRANUM-My Dear Sir: It
is my painful duty to transmit to you the
sad intelligence of the death of your dear
son, John Marshall who was killed at the
battle OF Mill Springs on Sunday, the 10th
inst
Thus the dearest treasure of our hearts is
ruthlessly borne from US by the relentless
hand OF death Youth and manly vigor
cannot stay his coming: the young and the
aged are alike his victims. 80.
Lieut.. was killed at the beginning of the
battle by minnie ball. The ball struck
him near the centre of the.upper part of the
chest passing directly through him. He
was struck, and, though deadly as the shot
was, he did not fall instantly. He turned
to me and said to me II am killed Cap
tain; then made one step toward me and
fell into my arms, saying, take care Of my
things and send them to mother" These
were the last and enly words he said after
he was shot. let him down slowly to the
ground and he was deadj died without a
moan or struggle.
Lieut.. was a class-mate of mine while at
Hopedale. He came into the service with
me, and in the same company with me-
When he received commission he asked
me il wsuld not take him in my company
l. told him he was my choice in the Regi-
ment. We were old school Inmates and old
friends, and it seemed almost like our old
school days again, when We both got into
the same tent together. loved him as
brother. He always was 30 kind and so
cheerful. In dark days he always looked at
the bright side and lent ray of hope to
others more desponding.
We buried him on the battle. field at the
foot Of a large pine tree, and marked the
vault so that he may be found at any future |
time. | laid him and Corporal Gray Of my
company in the same grave. We built
vault Of logs, and in the bottom,we laid pine
bougbs, covering it all over smooth and
nice, then laid down blanket and laid the
dead bodies on that, then put two blankets
over them and covered that with pine again,
then covered them with earth, and building
up the vault and closing it in at the top.
Il