The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1867-01-31

In MAA1MA4kMkhAMNs
Died. on the 27th of December, 1866,
HENRY MARTIN STEWART, in the 22d year of
his age He was born in Wilkinson county,
Mississippi.
rer on the steamer Fashion, destroyed by
fire on tile 9th nit, he having taken pas
sage at Bayou Sara, and was drowned in .
heroic effort to save the life of q young lady
who had embarked at the same place. This
the last effort of an unblemished life, was
worthy of him who had counted his few
years of manhood in duty nobly performed
After she whom he had determined to save
was lost, he too went down, and the light Of
o brave spirit was forever quenched in the
turbid waters of the dark and solemn river
In 1862, young Stewart enlisted in the
Confederate service as private in the Cav
airy Company of Captain Stockdale, (subse.
duently Colonel Stockdale) and served
during the entire war in that capacity with
a modest bravery and unfiinching devotion
that belonfed to q nature so heroic in its
simplicity. Earnest to maintain in all
things whatever he believed to be right, he
followed the Starry Cross through its years
of toll, of triumph. and disaster, and only &C
quiesced in defeat at its last and weary
folding. He was once wounded, in charge
made by his regiment near Port Hudson, at
which time his gallantry was most conspicu-
GUS. He was every inch soldier, without
fear and without reproach, and always ex-
hibited that intrepidity that won for South
ern Soldiers so much of respect, admiration
and love- Young, ardent, noble, true and
fearless, he was deeply attached to the cause
for which he fought and imbued with the
spirit that can only animate heroes. No
Knight who ever Joined the march of the
Crusades to uphold the Cross against the
Crescent, and to maintain the holy priyi-
leges of the weak against the strong, or
lifted his lance upon the field OF honor,
carried in his bosom Drawer heart or more
chivalric spirit.
At the termination Of the war he engaged
in planting in West Feliciana parish, in con-
nection with his cousin, Jones s. Fort. He
entered upon the labors of farmers life
with that energy which was ever marked
feature of his character. The cause for
which he had imperiled all was lost, but he
did not sit down in idleness with an abject
heart, and dwell with gloomy memory on
the past. The same strong spirit and bright
hope which were with him in the hardships
of campaigns and turmoil of battle, were
with him still; and, although all over a de-
wasted land were graves OF his country best
and bravest, and her pride was stricken and
her hopes crushed, he put his hand to the
plowshare, land turned with a bright face and
unconquered' heart to the future. Last July
his cousin, with whom he was planting,
died. He loved this cousin with an affection
rarely to be seen between men. 1t was rath-
er the tender devotion of woman. The one
he loved so fondly having thus, in the morn
ing of life, gone down to an untimely grave,
his home became desolate-even more DESC
| late than it had been made by the ravages
| of war, and he abandoned the plantation and
removed to Bayou Sara, where he commenc-
ed business. His prospects of success in
business were most encouraging, and he had
won for himself the golden opinions OF
worthy men, He was the same man of lofty
honor here that he had ever been elsewhere.
Loved and respected, with bright future
| before him, and in all the vigor of youth
| its sunshine gathering like halo round his
calm, clear brow-it is sad to think that his
career is ended; that he has gone so early,
| and passed forever from the ways of men.
| He was of an amiable yet spirited DISPOSE
| ton, firm in his determinations, and relia-
| BILE in his engagements; devoted to his rela-
| tives, true to his friends, and beloved by all
who knew him. His was character of no
| common cast. There was manhood in him
marked and distinct as the finished outlines
| of form of sculptured marble, and which
simple compliment could not reach. The
elements of his character rarely met togeth-
| er in the same individual; but in him they
had been gathered like jewels in casket.
| Brave, heroic youth Intrepid, unselfish
| and self-sacrihclng to the last What are
the lives of little men, of sordid hearts, of
wealth, or idle fame, to the heroism of q
death like yours The last act of thy life,
| like the last refulgent ray ofthe setting sun,
| reveals to the finite the gorgeous glories of
| the Infinite There is no deed of battle,
even of the bravest, SO brave as such an
Offering to humanity and sacrifice to death.
No praise of honor from the lips of men OF
song of poet were ever given in record of a
nob1er sacrifice. 1t deserves to live as long
as the mighty river, in which he was lost,
rolls its fearful AFaters on to the sea.
He leaves to his family and friends recol-
lection of purity of action and beauty of love
that they will recall with tenderness OF
pride through tears that are not all of sor-
row. While they cherish his memory
locked in their hearts, as if it were sacred
memento that they feel stronger and happier
| for caressing will come again, to
teach them that the warmth and promise of
his life have not gone from them forever
winters, to show that their chill cannot
| always endure.
Rest, then, gallant youth in thy watery
grave. There is, for thee, an eternal re-
| QUEEN in the ceaseless rushing of the waters
above thee; and, in the hearts of men, there
is memory of the, fresh and green, that
will never pass away.