The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1871-05-12
Che ayarietta SollruaI.
Marietta, Georgia, May IL, 1871.
A BROTHERS BLOOD.
An Affecting Incident tof the Capture
of Galveston.

by a tclegraphlc Item IN your paper
that General j. B. Magruder had
died the day before in Houston,
Texas, and it struck me as coinci-
dence that he should have returned
to die in the very same spot where
many of the most interesting incl
dents of his later life occurred. He
was invited by his numerous friends
in Texas to visit them some months
ago, and their solicitations prevailed
upon him to prolong his stay among
them far beyond his original inten-
ton, little dreaming, perhaps, that
there he was to find his last earthly
resting place. General Magruder
was a gallant officer and an accom-
plished gentleman. Educated for
the army, he early entered upon
military career, to which he adhered
uninterruptedly until the close of the
late war; while he was distinguished
no less for his social qualities than
proves in the field. Whether from
misrepresentation or prejudice on the
part of Mr.. Davis, General Magru-
der was cxiled, as it were, from the
stirring scenes of Virginia to the
comparatively peaceful command of
Texas and Arizona, at a time when
the fratricidal struggle going on be-
tween the two sections of this coun-
try was at its height. The only point
in Texas then in possession of the
Federals was Galveston, which, some
time before his advent, had been
taken by the naval forces stationed
off there, and Gen. Magruder deter
mined inaugurate his new command
by wrestling this gem city Of Texas
from the hands Of the enemy. The
boldness of the design, and the dar-
ing manner in which this expedition
was accomplished, form part of the
history of the late war, SO that it
would be useless for me to describe
how a few ordinary steamboats, were
manned and protected with cotton
bales to make an attack upon a num-
Der of large and duly equipped mem
of-war. Among the many associa-
tons connected with that time and
event is one incident which came to
my knowledge in a direct manner,
and has often occurred to me as per-
haps one of the saddest memories of
that unhappy and tragical war;
Attached to Gen. Magruder'S head
quarters, though not Immediately on
his staff, was a young gentleman
whom | shall designate by the ini-
tial G. He was a native of one of
the Northern States, but had..settled
in Texas some years previous to the
war, where he had greatly endeared
himself to all who knew kim, by his
upright course and amiable qualities,
while his warm sympathy with the
cause of the South led him to enter
the field in the earliest stages of the
war, though he was aware that his
younger brother, the only surviving
member of his family, had enlisted
on the Northern side and was serv-
ing in the navy. Gifted with SUI
perior order of intellect, added to a
nature of exquisite sensibility and
refinement, &. was one of the most
interesting characters | ever met.
The night before the expedition
was to start from Houston, General
Magruder, with his accustomed hos
pitality, entertained a large party OF
friends at his elegant headquarters,
where music, dancing andImirth held
high revel till a late hour. Indeed,
when repeatedly urged not to break
up the dance by leaving, some lady
demonstrated, on the plea that the
General and his staff needed rest for
the next days expedition. "Not
So" replied the urbane General, with
the peculiar lisp, 1--WE will dance
right into Galveston" Among
those present was young G., who did
not seem to enter into festivities that
night with his wonted zeal, and to a
friend, who rallied him supon it, he
explained that vague presentiment
of misfortune weighed down his
spirits, which he could not help con-
Meeting with the morrow's adventure.
He had been appointed to the COM
mand of one of the foremost steam
boats, and at first had entered into
the proposed plan with ardor, SEEM
ing to be confident of its success, but