Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-11
GEN. w. J. HARDEE.
His Death end Funeral.

death of Gen. W. j. Hardee, at Wytheyille,
Va, ON the morning of the 9th inst. He
was born in Camden county, Georgia, in
1915, and was in the 59th year of his age at
the time of his death. The remains of the
deceased arrived at his old home III Selma,
Ala, on the morning of the Sth inst. The
Selma Times contains the following sketch
of his life and services:
General Hardee was educated and gradu-
ated with distinction at the Military Acad-
envy of the United States, and perfected
his course at the celebrated cavalry school
of Saumur, France. He was known to the
world as the author of one of the best
works on military tactics that has ever
been published, even before he gave the
glorious lustre that concentrated the admit
ration of the world to his peerless name
from the smoke of the battle fields of the
Lost Cause Long before the secession
of the States, he had made his name
national by the brilliant services he had
rendered his country in defending her
honor and carrying her flag to victory. He
had, prior to the commencement Of the
war between the States, given twenty years
of his life to his country. He had followed
the ''stars and stripes through Florida, and
had watched them and guarded them on
the western frontier. He followed old
Trough and Ready" across the Rio Grande
and added brilliancy to American gallantTy
on many of the contested fields of Mexico.
He was twice brevetted ''for gallant and
meritorious service" during the Mexican
war, and came out of it Lieutenant Colo
mel by brevet. In 1856 he was appoint
,aI e roIn Of
and occupied that position until 1860, when
he was relieved. At the time Of the seces-
sion of the States he was upon leave Of alb
sence: his resignation was rendered to the
government and he linked his destinies to
the good old State that gave him birth. No
man who came from the old army had
greater military experience, and his name
was a '!household word'-for every volun-
teer company in the South had been drilled
by his tactics. The great organizing Ca
pacity ofthe lamented dead was so highly
appreciated by President Davis that he Of
fered him the Adiutant Generals position
Of the Confederate service, but he declined
it, as he preferred active service and the
tented field. When the Provisional Con
gress authorized the appointment of five
General officers, Hardee's name was to have
been one of them, hut the arrival of Gen.
Cooper filed out the number. Gen. Har-
dee was assigned to command at Fort Nor
gan in 1861. and we well remember him as
he commanded that Fort. He was on duty
the sOldIer-off duty, the approachable,
noble man. We have often thought as We
have seen him ride through our streets, or
when we have met him as our personal
friend and fellow citizen, of the perfect
samenesS Of the man in social ev-
ery-day life when adversely was all
around Us, and when he commanded an
army. We can not attempt in Il newspaper
article to write even an epitOmc of his life
and services. To attempt to write even
that. would be to attempt to write the his
tory of the country, and tOtell of the heroic
struggles of the ''LoSt Cause" His life is
its history. for he was identified with it
from the firing of the first gun at Sumter to
Bentonville, where in a charge upon an
ascent he saw some Of his troops hesitate,
and pushed his horse to the front and in
full view Of his own troops and the enemy,
he waved his men forward. Twas on this
field the last battle of the war, that his
only son, boy Of sixteen, yielded his life
upon the alter Of his country, and where
General Johnston, witnessing the act above
recorded, rode to him while the guns were
still firing, and victory was ours, and said.
General, congratulate you on your sue
cess. You have only done, however, what
YOU always do" We do not propose to
write of his military campaigns. The repu-
-ation Of his corps, and it does not detract
from the brilliancy of Others-was the most
brilliant IN the Army Of the Tennessee:
victory rested in the folds Of its BAN
lers, and the S0Ubriguet of "Old
Reliable" given to the lamented de-
,eased was won by his corps. His |
action at MurfreesborO, Missionary Ridge, |
Eenesaw. Atlanta, JOneSbOro, Savannah, |
Charleston and BentOnville, is apart of the |
history Of the country. 1t is the record of |
genius, discipline and personal bravery. |
II truth, as a celebrated writer has said, |
'Hardee'S record as a Commander in the |
Confederate armies, is perfect in its round |
# usefulness and honor. Always in the
ield, always on duty, always at the point
which danger and responsibility made the |
,oSt of honor, from Missouri to North Car
Shiloh to 'BentOnvllle,' he
vas intruSted with high duties and critical
Enterprises. and found faithful in all and
quail to all" 1t the outset of the war he
egan by preterring active field service to
ank and a position of ease in an admins
rative department. 1t is well known that
e resisted the strongest temptation that
ould have been held ont TO a noble ambi-
ion, in declining the command Of the sec
nd army in the Confederate States, when
e thought that the public veal would be
dvanced by entrUsting it TO other hands.
lie won the criticism Of "equal to any
from the unwritteR, but infalli-
lie verdict of the rank and file of the
with them he stood as the lead
Nc corps commander of the Confederate
tates. JEFF Davis so regarded him. Joe
ohnston said he was more capable of
andling twenty thousand men than any
Their Confederate General. Such was his
-atus as soldier. History will do him
lstice.
As citizen he was social, unobtrusive.
pproachable, and commanded the love and
Onfidence of every one. His life in our
lidst was active, useful and honorable;
ur whole people, from ''pTattling child to
ray haired sire" loved him: and his death
mOurned by all. We might write col
INNS but why prolong this article! Moth
nc that we could say will alleviate the
REF that we all feel in common. His
cath is a national loSs-and though the
)rce of circumstances may prevent the
United States army officers from paving
utward respect for the gallant dead, many
n eve of those ''who wear the blue" will
noiSten, as they remember their comrade in
rms of other days. '.FOr no one ever
new Hardee but to love him." lie is
one Peace to his ashes: and rs his cpl
lph il may well be written,