The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-08-20
ALEXANDER KEITH M'CLUNG.
Friendly "Reminiscences Of the Great
Duelist--The Other Side Of His
Characteristic Eloquence, Brav.
cry and Social Qualities.
ITO the Editor of the Courier Journal. ]

Rs~AeAAsAOSs
ITO the Editor of the Courier Journal
Attention has recently been called to
that highly gifted, but unfortunate, son
of genius, Alexander Keith McClung,
by the publication of anecdotes and
"reminiscences of his life. The eagerness
with which these are read would seem
to indicate no diminution of curiosity
in the public mind to hear all that may
be known or remembered of this won
derfuily strange being. Few men pos
sessed a wilder notoriety while living,
and there have been very few whose
eventful career has furnished a more
prolific theme for anecdote and remark
than the celebrated Col. McClung OF
i Mississippi. His history does, indeed,
possess unusual interest, both to those
who knew him and to those who did
not. There was something so fascinat-
ing in the reckless daring of his lofty
nature, and there is such an unfathom-
able mystery in the mournful circum-
stances Of his death, as to powerfully
arrest attention whenever his name is
mentioned.
But whilst the numerous anecdotes
connected with his many personal COM
bats are almost universally known, [
have noticed but little if any, reference
to his high social and intellectual quail
ties. The public have thus had an OPP
portunity of viewing his character only
in single aspect, whilst by far the
most interesting phases of it have been
but little regarded.
Whilst, therefore, deeply deploring
the many unfortunate Incidents of his
life, let us not view it as one of unmlX-
ed evil, but essay passing tribute,
however, feeble, to his exalted talents
and to his many noble traits of charac-
ter.
1t is true, Col. McClung possessed
faults, and very great ones, but it is
equally true that there were intermixed
with this alloy Of his nature many shin
ing virtues, and an intellect which
might have adorned any station in lite.
1t is not Just, therefore, that his faults
should alone be remembered, whilst mis-
merits are suffered to sink into obliy-
ion.
"The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft inferred with their bones''
So let it not be with him, the tangled
web of whose existence, it is true, was
so oft blurred with the imperfections of
human nature, yet who had an exit from
! life so awful and mournful as to COM
mand the warmest sympathy of our
hearts. To see human being so bless
ed with the highest projections of our
nature, both mental and physical, blot
ted out in all instant, and by the very
hands the first law of whose nature was
self-protection, and which law they had
obeyed in so many fierce conflicts, was
indeed inexpressibly sad and strange.
Colonel McClung was native Ken
tuckian, and he inherited many of the
marked characteristics of the noted men
of that gallant State. He, however, be-
came, in early manhood, a citizen of
Mississippi and was soon very promi-
nent actor in the stirring events of that
State. If mistake not he edited the
True Issue, the Wing organ in Jack
son, in the memorable campaign OF
1910, and was also author of the ad-
| dress of the executive committee of that
year-a production, it is said, of unu-
sual point and voice. He was after
ward appointed by President Harrison
marshal for the northern district of
Mississippi, in which capacity he made
most worthy and efficient officer.
Upon the existence of war with Mex
! leo, being recognized by the United
| States government. he was elected Lieu
tenant Colonel Of the First Mississippi
regiment, commanded by jefferson
Davis, and having for its Major the late
Alex. B. Bradford. Never was a regi-
ment better Differed, and never did off,
GERS command regiment more worthy
their prowess. 1t Immediately repaired
to Mexico, and to the theatre of war
under Gen. Taylor. 1t was not long
before it was brought under fire, in the
engagement before Monterey, ond stood
| in battle array before the formidable
Notifications of that city. The quick
and intuitive military eye Of McClung
perceived at glance that to remain in
active in q position SO perilous would be
death to the regiment. He. therefore.
at once gave the command to charge,
and led it, and was the very first to
scale the walls of the fort. He after
wards received the dangerous wounds
which SO long disabled him. and which
prevented his further participation in
the war.
After being wounded he was doomed
to remain the rest of the day in a ditch.
His sufferings were terrible, he was
much weakened by loss of blood. and a
chilling rain greatly augmented his dis
comfort. The battle continued to rage
tiercely around him for hours. The
cannons roared and the shells burst in
fury over his head. 1t was whilst suf-
fering in all the agony of this situation
that he saw and 30 much admired the
invincible and big-hearted Col. Camp
bell urging his noble regiment of Ten
nesseans on to the conflict. After
nightfall. Col. McClung was con-
veyed about three miles dis
tant from Monterey to the Wal
nut Springs, whittier General Taylor
had withdrawn his forces after the first
days engagement. The surgeons
| probed his wounds and pronounced