Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-02-13
Death Of Gen. Richard 5. RwslIl.
from the Richmond Enou,r,r !,

L
from the Richmond Enquirer
One by one they pass over the river to rest
under the shade Of the trees The great
leaders of the Confederacy are fast passiop
away. First 1t was jackson, then Lee. and
now another prominent act ,rin the late event.
full war Is added to the list Scarce n week
has passed since We announced the death of
his beloved spouse. and now We are called
upon tp perform the painful task of writing
the obituary of Tint great soldier of rhe Lost
Cause, Richard 8: EweiI. the successor. of
Stone wall Jackson in command, and after
him one of the most cherished and trustsd.
lieutenants and friends ot Lee We were mot
unprepared for this Intelligence. far his ex.
treme illness had heen frequently referred TO
in our telegraphic columns during the past
few days. His desth took place at his resi-.
dence. in Maury county, Tennessee, near
Nashville, on Thursday morning, the 25th
inst. 81 s
We have but slight matsrial at hand hut
from the little We have, aided ny our memory.
We collect the following brief facts of history
He was born in Virginia. and entered West
Point as cadet, in 1886, and was In fhe same
class with Lee. In the Aiexican war he held the
rank of 6rst Lieu,enant of Dragons, md was
promoted tosascaptaincy for galapt services at
sChapntspec He afterwards served in New
occurred, he resigned. returned home. aud of
-fered his sword to the sConfederste cause 49,
His first sersice in the cause was IN a little
ssirniisii with the enemy onsth 3lstof May
1861, &c Fairfax Court House, in which he
was Wounded wttle reforming asna Ii yet.ch- =
nent oil v0f1f9cefe. who had been suddenly
attacked by the cavalry of the enemy aud
thrown into momentary confusion He was
wounded here in the: shoulder, aud Governor
Smith relieved him from command, nnd put
the enemy to fight. He ewasinexp in the bat,
tie OF Manassas, but not actively. engaged
~ His great services to the Gonlederacy be.
gun when she went to the relief OF. S onewali
sJackso in the Valley, and participa,ed il,
that hriliant seriesot victories wl,iclli immor-
talized his chief and the littie armyIot heroes
4 he SO tnobly commanded and sk,lliuiiy bundled.
Jack son gave Eweil FULL credit for his vaiua-
BILE services in this Campaign, aud his own
men recognized the true worth of theirscon,-e
mander. AT the battle of Cedar Run he
again co,operated with Jackson, aud aide,i Ia
securing the victory. Thence he marched
towards Manassas, sand engaged with, the
enemy IN q battle a, Greveton. which preceded
the brilliant series of engagements in which
Pope was aunihilated. 49,
lasthisj fght.he was wounded and disabled.
Amputation OF one of his legs became neces-
$3.50 III
was feared he would mot recover, aud duly
the announcement of his death was looked
for. In fact the enemy reported him dead
several times. But he swas soon 10 the saddle
again; but before his great chiefshadfoug
his las. fight. Ewcll was selected as his sue.
sor. 10 i s -. u, -
From this time to the close of the war
through Gettysburg to the Wilderness
was actively Engaged in the field, ably second.
ing General Lee. In the retrograde, moves
mentlof that General after The terrible bat
ties of the Wilderness aud Spottsyivania
Court. House. when Grant undertook his flank
movement forthe Sonthside, General Ewcll, i,
much enfeebled. and suffering from h i wonnd,
was compelled To retire. aud he was placed In
command of the Departmental Henrico. with
his headquarters ig Richmond and here he
remained until hc!monnted his horse and rode
across the bridge on the morning Of the eyac.
uation. while the bright sky was darkened
with the smoke of copfavration which 10
obedience to superior orders, and fheiimperas
tive necessities of war, he had sorrowfuiiy
lighted. He was taken prisoner. and long
confined in Font Warren. without any assigned
cause. The hardships he had previously en- /
dured, added to the burdens Of long impris.
onmen', had made rapid inroads u,o ON his CON.
s''tution,; and when he was finally released,
and made his wav To the home of his wife ii,
Tennessee. he was but wreck. and seemed
ready even then for the grave. How he has
managed to lenetheu out his life thus long,
is mystery dificnlt for those 10 solve who
remember his skeleton form and .decrepit ans
pearance as he was wont to drive or ride
through the streets of Richmond ia the last
days of the war.
He is at rest at last and his battles are ali
over WithJackson and Lee. and the mighty
host of nameless heroes, who crowd tho VAL
halas of the dead he sleeps in peace