Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-06-08
Extraordinary Romance.
A SCION OF NOBILITY IN THE UNITED
STATES ARMY-FACTs CONCERNING
HIS LIFE. MARRIAGE AND DEATH.
rFrom the St. Louis Republican

TFrom the st. Lons Republican,
There died in the hospital in the ar
senal on Sunday, a soldier named
James G. Fisher, about whose history
there is somewhat of mystery. He
was extremely reticent, but it is evil
dent he had Sc. better days. He was
a man of culture, and connected with
family of birth and distinction in
Scotland. Of his recent history it is
known that he served during a portion
of the war for the Union and honOra
bly, discharged.
He was married while stationed at
Forth LeavenwOrth, to sprightly, in
telligent girl, who was an inmate OF
the house of General Easton, of thn
United States army. At the marriage
ceremony he gave his name as Henry
George Gordon Murray, which name
is in the marriage certificate in posses
sion of his wife. He seldom alluded
to his past history, or to his parents
or kinfOlks, even to his bosom CON-
panions, and weight and a mystery
seemed to enshroud his mind when
ever the subject came mp.
After his discharge from the army
he was employed in General Sheridan's
office as clerk, until his habits of dissi-
patton were such as to lead to his dis
missal. He came to st. Louis in
search of employment, and failing i'm
securing q position, he re-enlisted in
the army i'm December last. His wife
and child, the latter handsome,
promising girl, less than two years of
age. resided at Belleville short time,
and she is now with Mrs. Gibson at the
News Boys Home. Upon the ap-
proach of his dissolution he was visit
ed by the wife. who told him she was
i DESTROYS of knowing whether her name
was Murray or Fisher He answered !:
" AS certain as there is a God in
heaven your name il Murray" Before
his death he called DIR. Purcell, the
surgeon at the arsenal, to his bedside
and informed him that his name was
not James G.. Fisher, but Henry
George Gordon Murray, and that he
was a member of the Aberdeen family,
the head of which was supposed to
, have been drowned at sea several
yerrs ago. In another conversation
Ihe manifested anxiety that the inter
ests of his child should be hooked after.
Shortly before his death he dictated a
letter commencing, "Dear mother,
and directing that it be sent to the ad-
dress of. Mrs. Agnes Fisher, Dunkeid
House, Scotland.
In the letter to his mother he writes
, that as she knows more about the
property than he DOES. it is his dying
| request that she shall give. 1t to his
, child Agnes and dear wife Ellen. Sew
, erai letters directed to Fisher are in
! possession OF bis wife, bnt they contain
r matters of triAiag Importance, and
| throw very little light on the subject
r of his Scottish connections. One, writ
ten in February, purpOrts to be from
. his sister, and is signed "Agnes Fair
5 greve" 1t is dated from Duncril
3 Garden, Dundrub, Perth, Scotland
e The letter mentions Nellie, Davie
: Peter and several pet names of tht
e family. The writer states that SHE
= went to Dunkeld and saw mother
a who is getting old and losing hel
a strength. a letter states that "th'
t duchess" (sfpposed to refer to hi
; mOther) SIS quite unwell, and affecte,
o with bronchitis, "The gentry 81
!, the letter goes on to state, |" are all il
o England for the winter season.
o A letter from Mr.. Fairgreve, :
/, brother in-law of Fisher, dwells on tn,
: pleasant ASSOCIATIONS at home, an,
e revels in the labyrinths of the grove
g and parts resplenent with flowers
ii which he would name had he space
The most anxious inquiries are mad
o as TO his prospects, and congratulate
ing his departure from Chicago befOr
!, the great fire. The differences from tn
e posthumOus correspondence are tina
}" Mr.. Murray or Fisher was a scion of
e noble family, and that he left hOm
o very young to see the world, lived
s fast life, fell into habits of dissipation
a and that his pride prevented his re
/, turn. and he was forced to become
q soldier as the readiest means of OF
o tanning subsistence. He was abou
thirty years of age, with striking
:, features, prominent forehead and man
e ner evincing culture and well bre
y man of the world. AT Fort Leaven
y worth he was General Sheridan's chic
y clerk, position with he filed wit
e. credit.
o His remains are laid at rest in til
e old burying ground at Jefferson Bal
p racks.
" The people of Wyoming, Penn, don
j, know whether TO call their femal
!, Judge justicess of the peace OF