The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-10-28
Captain John Mitchell.


labored to advance our interests as II his chval-
rors patriotism, baffied and banked III one quar-
ter 1--WE refer, of course, to lreland), had oeeh
irresistibly constrained to manifest ltseli III
anotheri To tho South he has given his best
energies the nobest fruits OF his splended talents
and liberal culture-but more, far more than ths,
he has given us likewise his O,cn Fesh ana Otoou
HIS eldest son was captain IN FORT ouniser; anu
there upon the ramparts OF that mInorI s
some time in the yesr 1854 he laid down hls lie ror
his adopted country. We knew Mitchell well, and
we desire to pay brief tribute to his memory.
It was on bright January morning, IN 1867,
that obeyng orders just received, we left Charles
ton to take up our abode for the time in the famous
fort we have mentioned. Having disposed OF our
si,npedin,enan in quarters so free and airy that
sea-eagle would have rejoiced to keepus company,
we repaired with certain brother officers to the
s'outer walls" where from under the lee OF great
sscolumbiad," we beheld scene, the features of
which are even no,o wonderfully distinct and real
The ocean Tapped the rocks beneath with long,
low, gentle murmur, and 30 profound was the
Tranquility Of wave and sky that one found 1t diff
cult to believe such scene destined for spectacles
of blood and ruin! Multtudes OF gulls and ocean
birds OF every variety skinned the surface OF the
water, or lazily hoated on languid wings thronSh
the deep-blue atmosphere. Far within the par,
and snugly anchored to the sohthward, there were
fleets Of Ashing-boats, manned chiefly by negroes,
and showing like large ink-blots against the wafer
line. The numerous buoys which marked lne
channel stood mohonless, except when the ngnt-
waves and heave their white and green bulks with
a slow sweep, like the sweep OF a pendulum.
single steamer-the smoke from It's chlmneys
rising almost perpendicularly in the air and then
melting into misty clouds-labored towards the
city which had never looked more peaceful-the
grand apire of st. Mchaels Church glitterng with
white radience and suggestive OF faith, concord,
and good will towards all mankindl But as the
eye, returning from these objects, crulsedIso TO
speak-aoross the intervening pillows, while they
gradually passed upon strong ebb tide sea-ward,
ones sight was arrested by the long, black huls OF
no less than Ave blockadiug vessels. Fancies OF
peaoo of household happiness, OF uninterrupted
Christian worship were rudey dispelled, and the
real condition Of things about us forced itself upon
the reluctant mind. Meanwhile IN the ofhng-and,
strange to saw Just above the largest of the block
aders-a single group OF clouds had gathered.
ssI.ook therel" exclaimed one OF our companions
the noet of the garrison-'an omen, boys, on
omen: who can lend me pencil? for the muse,
suddenly descending, demands to be heard" Our
friend was accommodated instantly, and IN ten
minutes, having sienced US by pompous wave
of his hand he tavoured the small, but OF course
discriminating, audience with the following verses :
Across this murmurous ocean tide
see the deSpots vessels ride; .-.
And DER them like frown Of doom.
The blood-red vapours sternly loom.
eIsonebody suggested at this point that the
syapours" were not "blood-red," but quite the
contrary Indignant rown from the poet and
'calling to order" on the part Of the other list
eners.]
Both Gods and Natures kind decree
Ordained: "Jhe ocean waves are free;"
But tyrant hate and tyraIt will
Would battle God and Nature still.
OF minions OF yon brainless fool.
Who apes the wiser patriots rule,
Ye may our ports, our trade control;
Who can blockade nations soul2
-liQ Enthusiastic appa use.l
whers'er the thougots and hopes ofmen
Ascend beyond thy vulgar ken
Wbere'er pure liberty uphold,
Her banner,witb its star-or'gtt folds ;
Thou would'st destroy the patriots trust.
And turn his noblest deeds TO dust
Would'st wiring his heart polpte his shrine
And lower the 6eros faith to thinel
Vain ya;ni thy ships may rule the wave;
Thor canst not awe the true, the brave;
And patriot FASHIONS curbless sea
. shall yet oerwhelnn an knaves Ike theel
"That's complimentary allusion to Monsieur
Lincoln, presumed" said q quiet voice behind us.
."Right, sir" replied the poet and hope that
Won second well-pot the motion but the prophecy"
"Ohi Of course" said thalast speaker, who had
quietly joined US during the recitation OF the
verses. "only (smilinglthe gentle nan you auude
TO ia bound to be shot, not drowned"
Hs who made the halijesting remark was
Young man Of about twenty-seven or eight; OF
slieht. but remarkably compact and agile ngure
his face. although its features were somewhat
irregular struck the observer as beng full OF quiet
power and resolution. Nothing conld 6e nrmer
than the closely compressed outh-and notwith-
standing the delicate palor " the complexion,
there was fire in his royinf, gayish- blue eyes,
an almost naughty -poise OF Il Q head and generS
air Of repressed but indom. .ble vgW IN nis wnole
organization, attitude and bearing which bespoke
the man of ready resources, keen perceptions, an5
an ardent but iron will. One hand as ne $1,000,
restedcarelassly upon the muzzle OF the coumblad,
and We could not fail to remaak that though thin,
small and white almost as womans, IL was yet
frll Of muscular strength.
Snsb was the appearance Of John Mitchell, cap
tain in the Provisional Army OF the Confederate
States, as we first saw him. Subsequent com
munications placed Us in possession Of; the fact
thas, before thewar, he had been own engineer,
prosecuting his profession with fair chances OF
success in Eastern New York No business, per-
hans affords 30 many opportunitieso OF adventure
as this, and often We have listened to Mitchell,
over the evening fire In quarters, as with quiet,
sly humour peculiarly his own, ne mas detailed
the circumstances Of many abackwood's encounter
with Yankee aspeculators and the small railroad
oaoias OF ambitious villages and pufed-up corpora
tons But there can be no doubt that Providence
destined Mitchell to be soldler-and above all,
p,oned TO serve upon the great theatre Of the war
in Virginia, We feel convinced that ne would have
ann reputation not inferior to that OF Pendeton
or Pelham. As it was, both officers and men soon
learned lin Sumter) to regard him with particular
confidence and respect. he was no martinet. IN
the offsnsiye sense OF the term; yet his subordi-
mates knew that the slightest willful disregard OF
duty would inevitably be detected and punished.
His senseof the responsibilities Of the service was
most lofty, and il he did spare others, assuredly
he never spared himself Universally respected
and admired, there were "select few" who de-
votsdly loved him.
One of those gallant young officers who had
materially assisted Beauregard in the reduction.
of Sumter under Anderson, within the walls OF |
hstiortrsss, he was fted to- live, act and die. 1t
Syss partly due to his ceaseless vigilance and judi
cious discipline that the garrison there became so
effective body OF men.
found him ever at his post. Day or night it
was always the same. Whoever might despond, /
he never despopded-yhoeyer might waver, he
never wavered. At last, while discharging his
of A Federal SHELLY smote him down. He was car
ried, sadly mahgled, to his quarters From the
frat ha knew that his wound was mortal More
over, it inflicted upon him the acutest agony. |
Truly, he could Justly have said to his comrades,
varying the words Of Addison, come and see
how soldier can dieI2 .
Houts Of untold, undreamed-of pain, the tom
muscles racked, the qulVer1nS ne5n On nue, ana
them. those precious ife-drops exhausted, the
youIiy hero passed quietly to his rest.
Within. the bounds of Magnolia Cemetery
near the city he died in defending, they buried
him. while strong men grievei, as only strong
men can, and many tears from gentle eyes were
shed over his remains.
News FROM OUR RUSSIAN POSSESSIONS
Treasury Department has received dlspatchesrom
the steaner Lincoln, sent to the waters Of the
new territory OF Alaska. Leaving San Francisco
on July @tn she proceeded by way Of Victoria and
Fort Rupert, vancover's Island, to Fort Simpson.
Three attempts were made to take observations to
fix accurately the boundary between British Colum-
bia and our new territory, which were, however,
on account Of ram and fog, though
six days were consumed in the trial. Thence the