The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-01-30
RICHARD ST0DDERT EWELL..
SKETCH OF MS LIFE.
From the Missouri Republican. -

| From the Missouri Republican, 2s)
On Monday, the 22d inst, news came to
this city that Mrs. r. ). Ewel had died Mt
her residence in Maury county, Tennessee,
and that Gen. Eweli was. fatally ill., On
| the 18th inst. information was received
that he had that day expired. He is de-
| serving u more than passing notice.
At his dccease be was in has fifly-sixtn
year. He was a son Of DR.. Thomas EweU,
physician Of considerable mark and a
1 grandson Of Benjamin Stoddert. major in
| he Maryland line during the war Of
| independence, and alterWarG. fret secrets-
! ~ Of the navy during the presidency Of
John Adams. BY birth Gen. Ewell was a
Virgiuian. Entering the military acade.
my in 1886, and graduating in 1910, he
was attached 10 the Fir,t regiment Of dra-
goons. II served throughou, the Mexi-
can war, and was by Philip kearneys
side when the latter lost al arm at the
gate Of the city Of Me1co--jus, after the
battle Of CherubuscO; and after tie peace,
was mostly stationed on our Western bor-
ders. When Virginia seeded. no acted
rs many other original Union men felt
that they were obliged to act. lie con.
demned the policy O.! secession, but had no
doubt Of the right Of Virginia to decide
that question for herself and he rec0p.
nized his own obligation as one OF her SOS
to stand byhcrto the death. Accordingly,
he threw up his commission
In the United States army, en-
tered the service Of the state of virginia
and did his work thoroughly and efficient
Y throughout the war that followed. lie
was greatly distinguished as the lieuten-
ant OF Stonswall jackson in the celebrated
valley campaign in 1862. He was conspicu.
aus at the hard-iuught and important bat
tie ofGaines Mill (culltd by the cunfeder-
ates the first battle of Cold Hurbor").
where Lee, cooperating with jackson and
Ewell, turned and defeated our right wing
on the left bank of the Chickahomlnv. In
all the other engagements of the week of
carnage he bore his full share, and also in
W the subsequent campaign against
Ven, Pope, up 10 the second battle OF Ma.
| n4s'as where, he was kneeling to use with
poo readiness field glass, his knee and
-, "e,e shattered bya MIME bullet. This
nntntsd S nmn HIM bis leg, which was am
cost b;n, b,s we thigh JOINT, and hearty
lake command Of Jacksor's corn! ,vhon
mat othcer fell ut Chanca,Io.,rI IL
prominence in the Gctty,bMr,s 'a''e' rs
known to every one. In ,,s eanPn'en
hghting known as the battles 90 operate
derness, he was, as always, w" ~
storm was ficrcest. When Hence, 'he
his brilliant ard impctous ass, py
pierced the rebel lines at Spottsylyan,SS
and captured in the grey of the morning nm
entire division, his further advance WA.
withstood by Ewell at the head of III,
corps with which he had served SO long
and after twenty hours Of musae,ry fiT,
which literally cut down large trees
alternating with hand-to-hand conflicts in
which many died by the bayone,, night
and WEAKNESS separated the unhnchlnl
combatants, who after the first surprs,
had neither lost nor won an inch o.
ground. Shortly after this terrible day
owing to the complete breakdown OF hi,
shattered health, he temporarily retired
from active service, but soon reappeared
at the post which he considered The post
OF duty, and shared all the dis.
heartening and unavailng attempts
TO defend the capital Of Virginia
When Richmond was evacuated, he was
entrusted with the command of the rear
guard. With the scanty bend of halt-fam-
ished warriors he had so often lead to VIC
tory, he strove with desperate heroism to
make good the stand ut Sailors creek,
against the overwhelming and admirably