Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-01-23

tlclncHt vi HIS Idtltr large estate, were
pally confded to him, with other trusts but
the duties Of al have been discharged in man.
ner satisfactory to those concerned, and at the
same time so quietly, and with so much human
ity, as to have left the stronghold, which he has
so long had upon the public regard, undimn-
ished in strength, and to have given rise to no
murnurs and complaints.
In politics, he was a firm, consistent, but
modest and lInassumng member of the great
conservative party OF the country; a lover OF
peace, and of the Union, and utterly opposed
to the cxtremisln, North and South, which has
resulted so dIsastrously to the whole country
Until forbearance ceased to be virtue, with
al the frnness Of his firm manhood, but in his
quiet and noiseless way, he opposed the revolu-
tlOnary movements which ushered IN the terri,
bic scenes through which we have passed but
when war became ineyitable ana he saw his
beloved South about to be overrtln by $4,000
men, and that no terms of compromise Or ad-
justment would be entertained, true to the IL
stincts of his manly nature, his brave heart res
ponded to the call of his oppressed and wronged
people, and their God, their wrongs, their cruso
became his own. His age, and the care of a
large family, imposed upon him the position of
non-combatant, but his heart and services,
within the sphere Of his operations, were deyo-
ted to the Southern cause.
But though, In common with his neighbors,
subjected to the hardships and privations conse-
quent upon the war, and ruthless and merci
less invasion, his christian and manly virtues ney
er forsook him. After the battle of Lewisburg be
was to be found among the first Oh the bloody
foe, the Offices of the good Samaritan, and his
christian charity and Virginia hospitality would
not suffer him to withhold, from the hungry
wretches destined to become his murderers,
such fare as his table afforded. As an instance
of the chiyalric honor and noble generosity OF
the man, the following anecdote may be cited
While Gen. Crook, with his Army, was
camping at Meadow Bluff, in the county Of
Greenbrier, in the year 1862 a friend of Mr..
came to him and told him that Crook had per-
mitted his men, rlidely and grossly, to insult
his wife and daughters, and that he was de-
termined to waylay Crook as he passed along
the turnpike and pick him off, with his truSty
rifle. Dir. Creigh tried to dissuadc him from
his purpose, using such arguments as he thought
most likely to change'his determination, but he
found his friend inimoyable, knowing the de
! termned character OF the man, and confident
that he would carry out his intention if not pre-
vented, Mr.. Creigh then urged upon his friend
| to remain with him few days and accompany
him upon some trip he was about to take. The
friend unaware of Mr. Creghs intention, and
of Crooks anticipated departure, consented to
do so. In the meantime, Gen, then Col. Crook,
left Meadow Bluff with his for forces, and thus
! Mr.. G.. succeeded IN all probability, in ga
wing the life Of the very man by whose. order
be was subsequently arrested, and to whom ana
General Hunter the family Of cur deceased
friend are indebted for their irreparable, loss,
/ and our community for the death of one Of its
most estimab'e, most valuable, and most beloved
citizens, and the civilized world one of the most
execrable and detestable crimes committed du-
ring this war Of horrors.
/ T. n,
said above, that Mr.. Creigh, in the various 70
lati5ns Of life, could not have been otherwise
than exemplary. His virtues, as a man. and
as 9 gentleman, and as a Christian, eninently
| fitted him to fill every domestic and social pQsi.
| ton incident to life; and consequently, we find
| him, as a husband as father, as son, as d
brother, as master, as citizen and as neigh
/ bor beloved, respected and lamented. ga
~ From the time Of his arrest and departure
| from Lewisburg as a prisoner in the custody Ct
| Gen. Crook Army, the deepeV anxiety was
/ felt in his behalf by the people of Greenhrier
! Conjecture upon conjecture was INDUCED in, as
| to his probable fate; but the idea, that such u
man as D. S. Creigh could be sentcnced to All
ignQminious death, and executed, by gentlemen,
for having tried to protect his wife and daugh..
ters. in.his own house, from the insults of rutc
! fan, and his house from plunder by the same,
was toe horrible to be entertained With Gen
I Crook, our community was acquainted, and,
from their previous knowledge of the man,
could draw no such inference, as to his proba-
! bic course. But alas! their hopes were destined
to bitter and cruel Disappointment! When
the intelligence Of his barbafous- execution
reached the county, : the whole community
seemed shocked Never have known the
1 death of one man, even in time of profound
peace, so senslbly to affect whole people II The
! writer conyersed with many, and every man
seemed to feel the blow as if it had fallen inlme
! diately within its own domestic circle.
/ In accordance with his request. his remains
having been disnterred from the grave, .iHwhich
they had been deposited, in Kockbridge eoun-
/. Of July, 1861 and having been watched over,
I for three days by his devoted family, were, on
Sunday morning, July 3lst escorted BY a funeral
procession of Elore than a mile In leagth, taken
I to the Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg.-
! In this venerable old church, whose services he
! he'd regularly attended, from early childhood,
the funeral obsequies were performed ItoAfter
/ singing by the choir and prayer, his, reyered
! old Pastor, Dr. McElhenny, who had known
/. him from childhood hour, in words, which
/ drew tears from eyes unused to weep, portrayed
| his manly virtues. The funeral sermon was
( preached by the Rev. j. c.. Barr, assistant Pas
tor, from Acts, 9th chapter His subjeet-The
| Christian Martyr The services being compile
ted, his remains were deposited, by the side of
MS ancestors anu relatives I'm the grave yard
adjoining the church) there to remain, until the
resurrection morn As the throng retired from
the grave, an old and highly respectable citizen
| of the coanty, remarked, THAT the State nev-
| er lost q better citizen; nor the grave received
nobler man. y u 9..y s.o,ss-sd.
i lie has gone to his last resting place on earth,
but the spot, consecrated by his remains, will
not soon be forgotten. Proud of the name he
has left them, hallowed, as it is, by so many no
bic virtues-so many sacred memories, his
e1ds ms rnaan RELATIVES and M s from gen.
commemorative of departed worth, and sug-
gestive to all who may visit it, of nebleexam-
pie of manly and heroic virtue chastened and
/ purified, by the holy influence of the Religion
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. i.