American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-09-11
THE AMERICAN CITIZEN

dark, large, flashing eyes, beardless,
with auburn hair, and nervous and
restless manner, who seemed the ,jol-
liest of the party. 1t was John A.
Wharton. a few days after, the
same party dashed into our camp,
taking us absolutely by storm with
their rollicking joility. General,
chen Colonel Wharton, had heard
that we had a fine horse to sell, and
and he came to buy it, according to.
the Ranger custom of getting every
good nag in the country. This was
our first acquaintance With the noble
Texan. TIE party left as suddenly
as They came like Lightning, and III
a wliiIlwind of buStlc-
In 1868, we reported with our regi-
ment to Gen. Wharton, commanding
a division of horsemen under Gen.
Wheeler in Middle Tennessee. We
years. We were with him in many
Il fierce charge, hard march, depress:
ing retreat, savagely contested battle
and weary camp, and we learned to
both love and admire him Endowed
with signal administrative ability, a
popular turn of unusual felicity, and
an almost imperious decision Of char
acter, he stood deservedTy high
among his men. He never forgot
his soldiers Fiery in his pluck, he
was yet cool, thoughtful and cautious;
and he did as few rash acts as any
officer we had.
He was always a boy i'll his socia
relations-frolicsome, generous, hos
! pitable, laughing. Bnt under all he
carried resolute nerve, sharp sagaci-
ty, shrewd foresight, q Strong brain,
piercing Judgment, and very cohsid-
cradle powers of diplomacy. With
constant play of warm sentiment
he was also wary thinker. But he
was above all vaultingly amhit.oEs.
He bore in his almost riotous hilarity
of manner the boldest and loftiest
schemes of personal advancement.
Amid all his gleeful abandon and
impetuous simplicity, lie worked
with astute power and answering
grit to push his daring aspirations.
His common sense was perfect.
The only fault we ever thought he
possessed as a soldier was that in his
reach for higher command, he hardly
respectedeuougA the authority above
him.
He finally left the Western army,
at his own request, to go to Texas, to
command the cavalry of the trans
Mississippi, and he was murdered in
a private difficulty, the incidents of
which we have never learned fully.
Had General Wharton have lived,
his career would have been promi-
nent in politics. His d aring ambi-
ton would have sought the only
channel open to it, and he had the
ability and nerve to have carried him
on top. He was q fervenb and i'm
passioned speaker, and had a strong
native sway oyer others That he
would have brilliantly distinguished
himself and Illustrated The great
Lone STAR commonwealth, we dc
: not doubt.
! We can not better conclude this
sketch than with his manly view OF
e the relation of friend. He said that
5 he regarded the capacity for friend
{ ship, as one of the highest marks Of
/ Il noble nature, and he prided him
$ self upon this trait of his character
! In the intimate association of two
n years service together, a warm at
tachment was built up betaeen the
!. writer and General Wharton; anC
Y we pay this tribute of friendly affec
n ton to tire memory of as knightly /;
It soldier, as good an officer, as arden
G a Southerner, and interesting char
l. acter as we ever knew and we neve
a think of him but we sigh over til,
uutimely death of the noble, chival
d rie Texan, John 4. Wharton.