The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-11-24
S3 90 PER YEAR
COMMUNICATED.

General William F.. Brantley. on the 2nd
day OF this month. while driving on the
highway toward his home in Greensboro.
Miss In open day, and within half a mile
ofthe town OF Minona. was fired upOn and
instantly killed by assAsslns concealed on
the roadside.
Who were the authors OF the dark deed :
aud what tho cause OF lts committAl are
Questions which have bred much discussion,
with no definite result In the public mind,
beyond the conclusion, reached BY many.
that the murder was attributable TO the act
i've efforts made by General BrRutley. 10
bring 70 justice, through the instrumentall-
ties OF the law, the parties who recently as
sasinated his brother when sitting In a
crowd or ladies at \ public entertainments.
de seems himself To have considered IL not
unlikely that the efforts he felt called on to
make for the apprehension and punishment
OF his brothers murdercrs might result In
the sacrifice Of his own life, but IL was
principle with him never TO deviAte from his
course through fear OF his enemies: aud but
short time before bis death, when warned
by friend that there was dam
ger TO be apprehended at their hand II he
should travel the usual route in a Journey
which he contemplated, his Characteristic
reply was, whenever il is so that cannot
go wherever my business calls me, then
4 tcdnf them 20 kiH fls."
General Brantley has been misunderstood
by many and by some harshly Judged, bur
IN the remark just quoted the public may
ind an index To the character Of "A firm, de-
cided man, whose misfortune Il was, In his
checkered life. 10 make many enemies be-
cause IL was against his nature TO Weld even
70 save himself when he believed he was
right. It fell to his lot 70 be often embar-
rassed by troubles, which grew into serious
personal complications, from causes which
more directly concerned others than him
self; and thus he incurred ill-will which
might have been avoided or appeased, had
he been willing 70 cast responsibility from
himself TO other parties, or 20 offer cOncilia-
ton, or TO accept IL, To the injury OF those
on whose account he was involved In his
Intercourse with the world. though modest
he WAS yet self-reliAnt and claimed what he
conceived TO be his rights. In all things. His
Judgment which was remarkably sound.
pointed his course for him, and when once
adopted, no dangers ahead turned him 10
the right or Left. Men whom he had tried.
and whom he knew TO be AT heart his friends.
could influence him greatly, but these aside.
no fear of man or of public ceusure ever
varied his purpose in any matter II bust
ness or principle when once deliberately
formed. This WAS his course as a lawyer.
a soldier and citizen, and IL Is not surpris-
ing that he should have had some decided |
as he had many devoted friends
reference has been made 20 the subject /
here, that the general public. should the |
of that enmIty which should /
have died with this brave man, reach their |
Ears, may know the real truth, and may see |
hat qualities, admirable In themselves, bur !
With him perhaps sometimes In excessive /
iegree, have chiefly cngendered the ill-will |
If which he Was the object.
But whatever may be found In General /
3rantley's life. about which men may differ
all disappears before the light Of tile many
xcellencies Of his character when present. Il
ID. View him as a man of honor, aud we
ind him sensitive and immovdble. A. a
riend, he was steadfast and unwavering.
nd many friends he had who knew him a.
he outer world could not know him, and
owed him for his many manly virtues. As
husband and father, this man. whom the
world called stern. was all Tenderness and
Election, with no bounds to his indulgence |
nd liberality. As a brother hc filled the
ull measure Of his duties; and as acitizen,
e was enterprising, substantial and useful.
sut in mono Of these relations was lac more
onspicuous for the full discharge Of every
uty incumbent upon him, than In his ca
acity rs "A lawyer, and Confederate sol
Ter. No clients cause ever fell into the
ands OF a more earnest or more faithful
dvOcate. And as a soldier, the writer feels
hat the facts, fully support him in the as
ertion, that no man connected with the
confederate service, from the highest 20 the
)west, was more constant, faithful, unscli-
IA and devoted, than he was, from the be-
inning of the war TO the surrender of
army al Greensboro, North Caro-
ma.
General Brantly had reached his forty
rst year, when lac was cut OF in the midst
his profession and successful career.
orn in Alabama, but reared mainly In Mis-
ppi, his home at the time of lis death. was
! the town where much of his bOyhOod
as spent, and where he made his humble
as a lawyer in 1852. With but
Moderate education aud no influential
lends to aid him, but with strong natural
overs and extraordinary energy, he grad
D. IfaI.s "A
egun he was lawyer OF fine standing and {
Ill practice.
Though he had never given his attention
} politics, he consented to become "A candi-
ate for the Secession Convention in 1861.
nd was elected, and made for himself a /
record in that body which was ,
lade up of the first men In the land. As
BON as the war began he entered the service /
) Captain of company In the 10Th Miss.
segment, and soon was promoted TO the
ank Of Major, and as such commanded that /
regiment with great credit TO himself IN .
ne battle of Shiloh, where he was severely ,
rounded. In the spring OF 1862 he became J
he Lieut.. Colonel OF the 29th Miss. Regi-
lent and in December following was pro- |
noted TO the rank Of Colonel, and comman-
ed that Regiment In the battle OF Murfrees-
orc where he distinguished himself - an
ficer of great skill and daring. In that I
attic he was captured, but made his escape |
efore the battle closed aud resumed hiss,
ommand though suffering from wound !.
,hich temporarily disabled him al the time [
I his capture. From Murfreesboro down
D the operations around Atlanta In July
S64, he was with his Regiment IN all the
attles in which the Army OF Tennessee was
ngaged, and then the Government signi-
ed It's appreciation of his services by pro- I
noting him 70 the rank Of Brigadier Cen |
ral-which he had as fairly won as any
IAN who ever wore that honor. As |
'rigade Commander he proved himself, IN
he subsequent campaigns of the Army Of
ennessee, quite as efficient as he had pre-
iOusly done In subordinate capacities ;
ever forsakinR his command or faltering
4 his duties. he surrendered With the rem {
ant of his Brigade at Greensboro. North [
arolina, In April 1865. No officer In the
Army OF Tennessee left the service with
etter reputation for courage, fidelity and
ficiency than did General Brantly.
When the war closed he resumed the prac-
ice OF his profession and met with wonder I
al success-and made himself one Of the Z
est lawyers in the section OF the State {
here he practiced. Since the war, as be- .
1re, he has shown himselfin all things true
D his State and her people.
Such Is a meagre outline Of the life OF one 7
tho was never known TO rale or waver be- ,
1re any foe in private life or on the field OF
attle-but for whom IL was reserved 10 fan
Y cowardly and brutal assassination
He left 10 mourn his loss a devoted and
wife, who was made his hap
y bride but three years since-a bright aud
little girl, the child ola former
larriage--a sister and brother, all crushed I
nd broken-hearted by the terrible shock /
RIch has been dealt them. But it l. not
lese alone " no mourn, for with their tears
re mingled those of many warm personal
lends Of the deceased-and OF many citi-
ems and soldiers who knew his worth and
eplOre his tate. 80
November, 1870.
4
OrrOws OF the People under Rad ;
IcnI Taxation.
South Carolina Is grooming under the bur- :