Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-28
RETROSPECTIVE.
The Terrible Death in Mexico Of
Col. Archibald Yell, a Ma
tive OF Tennessee.


A Birdie Won at Cards that Proved an
UnIucky Present - History OF the
Deceased-His GraVe-Interesting 30
the Masonic Fraternity.
Special Correspondence Union and American:
NEAR FAYETTEVILLE, Ark, April 5,
1S72.-
-''oft let me range the gloomy aisles alone,
Sad luxuryi TO vulgar minds unknown,
Along the walls where speaking marbles show
What worthless form the hallOw' mold below;
Proud names, who once the reins Of empire held,
In arms who trtumph'd, or in arts eXcelId;
Chiefs, grac'd with scars, and prodigal Of blood
Stern patriots who for sacred fresdOm stood;
Just men, by whom impartial laws were giveni
And saints who taught, and led the way TO HeaV-
en-
The magnitude Of the late civil warts
terrible conflicts, literally drenching the
land In blood and clothing its people in
mourning for slaughtered kindred, has al
most entirely erased from our memory the
recOlectiOns Of the Mexican war, where
once we lamented the death and hOnored
the memory of many brave men who fell
on the bloody fields Of Mexico, or died by
disease contracted under her burning sun
and in her miasmstic atmosphere, far from
their kindred and native land, is now found
the shadow of the greater and more recent
grief for the dead heroes of the ''lost cause"
and our hearts are so much occupied in do
ing homage TO their valor and the
cause for which they died, that
we have almost forgotten the brave spirits
that gave up t,deir mortal existence in their
country's Battles, twenty-five years ago.
\ ct there, were heroes in those days; and
thoogb was then but small boy, can
remainder now with what a glow Of pride
Al I oF Ia ioraf
fighting of our soldiers at Monterey, Palo
Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Buena Vista,
Cerro Gordo, Cherubusco, Contreras,
Moline del Rey, Chapultepec, etc, etc.
/ distinctly remember with what
a vail of grief was received the
news that upon the bloody and
hard contested field of Buena Vista had
fallen such men as Yell, Clay, Hardin and
Mckee. remember then being told that
Col. Yell was formerly from Tennessee,
though then a resident of Arkansas, and
Colonel of an Arkansas regiment. These
things seem TO me now as a dreams Yet
these men fought and died for their country.
1t was of the dead heroes from the battle
fields Of Mexico, that the brave and gifted
O'Hara wrote the immortal lines:
"On flames eternal camping ground,
Their silent tents are spread;
And glory guards with solemn round,
The biYOusc of the dead"
Lines that have been ofiener quoted in
tributes of respect to the memory of the
Southern heroes who fell in the late war.
THE GRAVE OF COL. ARCHIBALD YELL
is here at Fayetteville, fact Of which
was not aware till quite recently. As soon
as l learned the fact determined to visit 1t,
and on the Both of March / went 10 Fay
etteville principally for that reason. Gov.
Yslls former residence, where his remains
are now reposing, is on beautiful and
commanding eminence, nearly half a mile
south of Fayetteville, and is separated frem
the town by considerable swag or valley
through which courses a small branch.
Gov. Yell gave his place the name Of
''WaxhaWs," but why, no one could tell
me; and am left to infer that 1t was either
an Indian name, or taken from some Of his
Tennessee recollections. The place is now
owned and occupied by a Maj. Hunt-a
veg clever, courteous gentleman, whom /
found on the day Of my visit busily engaged
in gardening. In company with friend,
j. B. RaiRwater, Esq, about two O'Clock p.
NJ on the Both Of March, started out from
Fayetteville 10 see the grave Of Gov.
Yell. Almost Immediately after leav
ing the Public Square Of the town We de-
of which stands the town, and crossing the
valley and branch above mentioned, as.
cended the opposite hill upon which stands
"Waxbaws." The residence is q neat,
p white, one-story frame building, Of the
tscottage STYLE" with some five or six
,oHs, and hall running through the
Isnter, from front to rear. 1t fronts north
towards Fayetteville, and has a recess, or
vestibule in front at the main entrance.
The hill upon which it stands slopes gently
away in every direction from the house,
which Is Immediately upon the apex. From
the grassy and shrubbery bedecked lawn in
front, and from the front entrance OF the
dwelling is presented a splendid view OF
Fayetteville and miles Of the surrounding
country where hills and mountains are
piled and blended together 10 careless pro-
fusion and beauty, till they are lost in the
mellow blue of distance. The day was
clear and beautiful, and as l stood on the
lawn in front of the house, and gazed out
admiriugly at the lively picture around me,
with the birds merrily chanting from the
orchards and shrubbery their gladsome
songs of spring. could but think how the
heart Of the former master must have
yearned on the burning plains of Mexico,
for his beautiful home midst the Ozark
hills of Northwestern Arkansas.
We found Maj. Hunt in his garden to the
south and rear of the dwelling, and upon
asking him for the grave Of Col. Yell, he
pointed us to marble monument almost
hidden In a thick growth of scrubby oak
bushes Just outside the southern part of the
rsrden Enclosure. Climbing over the fence
and picking our way through the thickly
standing bushes for some fifteen steps, we
stopped at the grave Of
THE HERO AND STATESMAN, ARCHIBALD
WE'LL,
who's bones here rest in peace, with those
a wife on either hand. he was buried,
40 am told by those who witnessed the
burlal, between his twoWives, Ann }. and
Maria was much SURPRISED upon g eioss