Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-11-15
cor. W. $. HAWKINS. OF rESsEssEE

COZ. W. 5. HAWKINS. OF TESSESsH-k
We have already announced the sud
den death Of the young and gifted w. $
Hawkins, Of Tennessee. Cob Hawkins
as our readers remember, has made e
the Journal numerous contributions o
rare merit. We deeply and painfully
lament his untimely death, In th'
Nashville Repu5lean Bannerof Wednes
day, we find the following beautiful
tribute by the editor to the deceased:
Col. William Stewart Hawkins, one Of
4 the most gallant officers who served in
/ the Confederate army-one OF the most
I gifted and genial of cur fellow-citizens-
1 died at his residence IN this city on
! Monday evening. The announcement
will carry regret to many heart IN Ten
nessee: for few men possessed wider
circle of fond and admiring friends.
With him is flushed an eloquent voice,
and in his grave viii repOse great learn
ing, genius and manly purpose.
The career Of Col. Hawkins as g soldier
was full of adventure, but his best
achievements were those Of peace. He
was sweet poet, a noble scholar and
the best imprOmptu speaker we have
ever heard.
For the last two years Of the war, he
was held in close confinement in a mill
tary prison. He devoted his leisure during
this period TO pursuits purely literary and
classical, contributing from his cell a
number of sterling and timely poems to
both the weekly and daily press When
the war closed and he was released, he
returned to his home in this city, and en-
tered at once earnestly, actively and sim
cerely into the new order of affairs, re-
alizing in its fullest extent the RESPONSE
bilities of the hour He had always been
a man 0fenlightened and liberal opinions
on political questions, and lent his ex-
ample, his personal influence and his
ability 10 the restoration Of law and order.
Like most OF those who had done their
duty during the fight, he shirked no part
Of his duty when the fight was over, for
having performed his part Of the contract
as best he could, he was able to aeeePt
the result without chagrin or reerimina-
ton.
1t was his purpose to devote himself to
the study of the law, for which he was
designed when the war swept over the
country and disturbed the plans Of young
and old and at the moment of his death
he was preparing for issue from this Office
a little volume Of verse entitled "Behind
the Bars This collection Of his prison
leisure embraced a discriminative selec-
ton and was destined to receive in our
Judgment, its share Of popular considera-
ton.
The illness which produced his death
was brief, and we can scarcely realize
that the hand which but a few evenings
ago was busily engaged with the pen
which we are using % chronicle his de-
cease, is still and cold that the brain IL
that the heart is numb; and
that our brave and brilliant friend will
never again tighten the gloom Of this
lonely and venerable chamber. He came (
here frequently before the war and since.
He loved to dwelIoverthese ancient files. I
and to trace through their dim and an
.iquated columns the political history
and personal tradition Of Tennessee. II (
was always a pleasure TO listen to his ,
Tesh and genial reproduction Of
I'D times and to note the interest /
le took in their habits, their inhab- /
tants, and events, We shall never +
orget an amusing reneounter-it is sad /
enough now to think Of (which :
occurred between himself and Gov. Foote (
n this very room, four years ago, pre- Z
'eding the evening on which he died. I
The two gentlemen were unacquainted, /
md were engaged examing the same file. I
The elder CHANGED 10 use a Latin quota
ion, the younger corrected him in the .
ame language, and quite an animated
iispute arose without the use Of 4 syllable
# English. The circumstance which
night have otherwise resulted in anger.
made fast friends of the two scholars, and
vas often referred to by both as a striking
Illustration of the chastauing effects Of /
Ulture.
We cannot be expected, at shis mo-
nent and in the presence Of an hundred
memories which crowd upon US, 10 do
ull Justice TO the dead, nor TO pay that
Tlbute Of respect and manly grief 10 a
Omrade who foughtwith us q long, disas-
routrous, and losing cause, and whose
esire for peace, whose acceptance Of the
esUit, and whose recognition of the new
ra, we know to have been as full and
iucere g. our own, He was brave and
latieut during the fight, and when he
aid down his arms il was in good faith
Of a brave and honest SOL
Of the spirit which animated I
he hravest and best of Southern r1eu
g is loss TO any country when such men
IS he are taken from it for courage and /
whether they are displayed on /
he one side or the other, mean precisely 1
he same, ana are % beequaIy esteemed. /
Peace 20 the dead. He has fought his .
asst battle; he has spoken his last word. 4
But his many virtues of head and heart /
viii Dot be forgotten by those who loved /
i'm passing well.