The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-09-25
David Camden DeLeon.

The Savannah Republican informs us of the
death, at Santa Fe, New Hexico. of DR.. David
Camden DeLeon, who at one time was aching
surgeon-general Of the Confederate States.
The Republican says:
He was little more than fifty years old, but
his career had been o mont active and event
full one, and his biography would give the
military history of all our wars from the SEM
mole, In 1887, past the Mexican, and through
our late civil war-in each and all OF Wnicn ne
bore his part manfully and patrioticaliy. ltls
q curious fact that the family was also repre-
had since the Revolntion-f for the name OF his
uncle, Dr.. Abram DeLeoll, will be found on
the army lists Of 1872.
Born and reared In South Carolina, shortly
after obtaining his medical diploma at Inc
Philadelphia school, he entered The United
States army as assistant surgeon, and went
| through the Seminole war, after which he
was stationed for several Jears at outposts on
| our Western frontier. At the breaking ouG OF
the Mexican wal he went with General Taylor
10 the Rio Grande, was present at most OF The
| battles which led the .victors to the gatei' Oh
| Mexico, aud entered that city when IL surren-
| dered, riding at General SCOTS LETT hand.
| For these services, as well as for gallantrJ IN
| action when commanding officers we're Killed
| or wounded and he took their piacel DE-.
| DeI,eon twice received rhe thanks Of Con-
press: but was again assigned to frontier duty
Ia Mexico, on the ground of bis great energy
and hardwood.
When secession took place he rankedV very
| high on the list in his department., was ID
| sisht of Its highest place by seniority. Yet ne
was one of the first of the Southern officers OF
| the army to tender his resignation. when No
| aid 40 he was sent for by his old commander
and friend, General Scott, who refused 10 &C.
| cept II, at the same time Offering to send him
to The Northwestern frontier, with the pledge
that he should be Kept tlleIe Whiie tne stilie
| continued. In the alterl alive OF his refusal
General Scott threatened to put him under ar
! rest, giving him q few hours for his decision.
He returned home, packed his trunk, and I'm
| medIalaly started for the South and reported
| to Mr.. Davis, then provisional president OF
| the Conlederacy, who assigned him the dill
| cult but Important task OF arranging Inc
| medical department., at The head OF Whicn
| he acted for several months. until the reslgna-
ton of DR.. Moore, (who ranked him In the old
army,) under Mr.. Davis's rule, gave hat gen
/ tleman the highest post. Transferred to
another department., and to various places
| during The war. until 1t closed In disaster and
| defeat, he shared the struggles and the suffer
IDgs OF his brethren. When all was over. with
several other officers, he passed from Texas
| into Mexico, vowiDg he never would return 10
the CONQUERED South until she was free. After
a years trial of Mexico he lett 1t In disgust,
and returned To New Mexico, where be had
been stationed for many years, and owned
property-there he planted and pracllced dis
profession until his death, greatly beloved by
that primitive people.
His last years were darltened by exile, dis
ease and suffering-and death came TO him as
| a deliverance. He was but one OF the many
unuoticed and unrecorded martyrs OF ~ he
Lost Cause"-ihose ''unrepentsnt rebels" 80
denounced at the North, who having sacrificed
profitable positions, and en- assured future 10
their convictions Of honor and duty, never re-
ceiyed even the recompelse OF public recog-
| milton from the people fer whom they made
these sacriices-but have sunk silently Into
unknown graves, and been forgotten. Yet,
il at some future and happier day, the
full history of that struggle shall be writ
ten ont in full, and each man shall have
his true place assigned him, independently
of the political or military glitter which
have dazzled the public aye-on the muster
| roll of Southern patriots, who made all sacri-
fees and asked nc recompense from the PEG.
pie, during or since the war-the name oil
David Camden DeLeon mist find o conspicu-
GUS place. Personally no mar had more de-
voted friends, and fewer enemies than ne:
and both as a surgeon and man OF science ne
stood high In his profession. His literary Gull
ture was also high, and as q terse and vigorous
writer he had few equals, whether writing on
fnrotessionsl, political or literary topics. In
An manl9 SPORTS also he eEcelled-his 1aVorlCe
/ amusement In the West being to break IN tne
wild t.Mustangs." He never married, put nas
lett two brothers and three sisters TO mourn
his loss and cherish bis memory.