Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-11-30
For the Chronicle.
THE LATE Il. W. MCCLURE, JR.

/
MEssRs. EDrroRs: Wishing to record somt
tribute to the memory of a gallant soldier
cherished friend, and right noble spirit
Deg your columns for this brief mention Of
the late ROBERT W. MCCLURE, in. The be-
ginning of our ill.fated but most heroically
contested struggle for southern independence
found Mr.. MCCLURE just stepping upon the
ihresnhold OF young manhood. All the
glowing sympathies of youthful heart, OF
pest and bravest qualities, were kinded for
MS native section, and he at once enlisted
as private in tho glorious old Fourteenth
tennessee Regiment. With this be served
during all its West Virginia campaign.-
sometime in 1862 he was elected to Lieu
tenants vacancy that occurred in his COM
pany. Shortly after this promotion, the
disease, which finally carried him off--con-
sumplion--developed ITSELF and became so
pronounced as to enjoin his retirement from
the exposures of war. With great reluc-
lance he was induced to resign. After a
brief period OF repose, wholly insufficient to
restore his failing health, he sought and OBJ
tanned the position of aid on the staff OF
Gen. McCown, in the army of the west. In
this capacity he won the warm praises of his
commander and comrades, for conspicuous
fgailantry, during the three days terrific fight
ing at Murfreesborough. Gen. McCown be.
ing relieved not long after, Mr. Mcclure was
lett an officer unassigned to duty. But his
ardent nature, cha6ng at the thought of
inaction, he Immediately offered his services
TO Gen. Bates, which were accepted and he
was placed upon his staff. In this capacity
he served, with distinction, until the close
OF the war, being with the forces surren.
dered by Gen. Jonsonon, at Greensboro. N.
U. During his soldier career he formed the
acquaintance of the lady to whom he was
afterwards united on the l4th of February.
1865. Were it not an unwarrantable intru-
sion upon the deepest and most sacred of
human sorrows, we might relate the inte-
resting circumstances of those days, when he
wooed and won the lovely and accomplished
bride so soon left widow. 'Twoud add a
deeper pathos to his early death and the sud.
den extinction of hopes and dreams 80 bright,
SO beautiful, and alas, so fleeing. That he
died ON the End of this month, suggests
mournfnlly enough the brief period he lived
to enjoy that elysium of earthly life, the
welded union of two hearts, that loved each
other alone. g ' ...
The writer of this sketch has known Mr..
Mcclure at home and ON the tented field, in
peace and war. In the former he was q
quiet, modest, manly nature, the mirror of
all things generous, high and honorable, a
most courteous gentleman and genial com
panion, and wiihal the truest and frmest of
friends. In the latter, both in the bivousc,
upon the march. and in the leaden tempest,
be was brave and knightly soldier, shrink
ing from no duty, hardship or danger. Cut
down in the brightness of young promise,
and torn from darling bride, his many
friends must mourn q fate so sad-none
more than his old comrades in-arms A
husband, a son, a brother, Q friend, COM
rade-in-arms, tenderly loved, has gone from
US forever. May the heaven that has re-
ceived so choice q spirit, bring its gentle
dews as soothing and relieving tears, to
those whose grief is beyond human conso-
lation, Is the prayer of his once
a.... COMRADE-IN-ARMS