Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-11
DEATH OF GEN. H. E. Read.
Sad Fate OF q Noble Nan.

From ths Louisville Democrat. lO.a.
We were inezpressibiy shocked and
panied last evening at intelligence Ofths
sudden taking off cf Gen. Henry E Read
By his own hand This very distressin.
event occurred about FIVE o'clock in the
afternoon. A few minutes before that
time General Read entered the law Office
Of his former law partner, Bryan H.
Allen, Esq on Sixth street ami called
for writing materials. These we're
promptly furnished him, and the apart
ment vacated by all save himself In "a
rcw moments the loud report Of pistol
was heard, aud several persons repaired
to the room. There, To their utter con-
sternation, they found Gen. Read lying
dead upon a lounge, with a Derringer
pistol grasped in one hand while the
other was folded quietly upon his breast
The ball had penetrated theright temple,
passed through the brain and entered the
wall
Upon the table was found the following
note, unfol1ed and unseaied It was
written without the slightest evidence of
tremOr, in unusually free and manly CHI
Biography, and gives no index to the frame
of mind Of the unfortunate gentle man.
The sad, piteous, heart-broken, and vet
bold ut.erances Of the letter reveal how q
brave man can b. reduced TO such a
dreadful alternative. We zubioia the
note
My life has been one of varied suc-
ecsses from the creation Of nv existence
to the present
~ have been the farmers son, the me
chanic the soldier, the ministerial officer,
the professional gentleman, in all Of which
am confident that am entitled 70 res.
peetful consideration
"The pecuniary wan. Of my life has gt
all times been embarrassed, which, Ter-
haps, IS the cause Of my discontinue
at least so m Ich so a. % render mg lite
unhappy
80, with the fresh memory of the
honor Of my native State, and with love
and kindness towards my family, bid
farewell III. T. READ
Intelligence Of the heart sickeuing
catastrophe was soon bruited about, and
hundreds crowded about the premises
Coroner Moore summoned a Jury and re-
! turned a verdict in accordance with the
facts.
Mrs. Read, having been advised Of the
terrible occurrence, repaired with her
children, to the scene. OF the utter over
vhelming grief Of the wife aud her now
fatherless offspring, we cannot speak lt
would be beyond the power Of pen or
pencil to convey the iaintest idea OF their
great and incons0lable woe There Law
the noble form Of the brave, lion, hearted.
tender and true husband and father, and
over him bent in parOxysms of SORROW.
the wife Of his bosom aud the darling5
Of his Preside. Heaven spare IA such
another scene. Not an eye but filed
with tears, nor q heart but beat with
sympatheticity.
Gen. Read served two years rs a rep
resen.ative IN the Legislature In 1861 lie
assisted in raising a regiment for the
Confederate army He was, however.
elected to the first Congress OF the Con-
federate States, and thereafter served
with great fidelity in that body until the
close Of the war. After the cessation OF
hOstilities Gen. Read removed 10 this city
and entered upon the practice Ofhis pro-
iesslOn as lawyer We knew the de-
ceased long and intimately. We have
seen him tested under various circum-
stances. We have seen him tried in
every shape to which it was possible to
subject humal nature. He was invaria-
bly, brave, generous and high. spirited
He scOrned mean and little things His
principles were lofty, his intents noble,
and he failed only at the last bitter hour
in failing to master himself