The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-07-14
COLONEL ROSS EDMUND
BURKE.

such general greet an" proiou'o soi'o"'
~ are caused by the death of Col. Ross
EDMUND BUkKE.
1t has been said, that "silence is the
of woe" and here, where the
subject of this article lived and died,
words of culoyy are not necessary to
pcrpcuate his memory, or testify the aP-
prec;ation in which he was held by his
friends, comrades and ftllowcitizcns.
Ina life, not long, but somewhat event
full, he was known to thousands in ever!
section of our land, whom he had bound
to him by ties of friendship and aztec
tion, and to whom, these lines Will con
yey the first intelligence of his death
While they arc not needed to keep awe
his memory or remind those friends OF
his manly virtues, they will, at least, De
REGARDED as a just tribntc 10 his "or'n'
and an evidence of that grief for his loss,
which must find expression in the hour
Of affection, in the outpourng OF IA
mentatlon that cannot be represscd'
Col. Burke left this for better world,
on Friday, the 5th ofJuly, 1877; although
not a native ofLouisiana, he was brought
hither by his parents in his very early
,,outh. ri, education. associations, and
whole history are connected and ldcnt'-
fled with this State, which he loved most
tru]y> and served most faithfully and I'M
seltishly. Endowed by nature with the
rare gifts Of uuirkness of perception,
sonndness of Judgment aud acutc1css OF
intellect, posscSsin. the highest and most
refined sense Of honor, trnthtulnrsS ana
integrity; sensitive, but not Huern'''s'
brave. but not arrogant, charitable hnt
not ostcntatious, generous, but not rS-
travarant, honest in every thought, dcs-
pisinc mean acts and scorn'nS their per-
nctrat,rs: true and unvarying in his
friendships as the needle to the Magnet
he grew year by year from youth to man
hood, into the warm affections and low
inc regard of all with whom he was
associated, and who were capable OF eS-
timatinc his sterling worth, genuine
manhood and inhcxible probity. As time
rolled on, these noble qualities OF mind
and heart became more intensified, and
| now that he has removed from his earth
" to his heavenly home, wall of sorrow
! for his loss, or rather for his separation,
rors forth from all who knew him.
There have lived men. whose fame has
been more wide spread, who have filled
| positions of greater rc'towr. but II" man
has lived and died who had stronger
higher claims on the love and affection OF
those in whose midst he spent his life, or
whose passing away leaves greater
voil in the home circle and tho society
| which lie adorned.
Actuated by a sense of duty, animated
by spirit Of patriotism, impellcd by
true courage at the first call of the DO
loved State of his adoption, he was
among the foremost to respond to the
demand of Louisiana. and enrol himself
in tho ranks of the army in defence OF
her rights, and those Of her sister
Southern States. From the position O.
1st Lieutenant of the first Company ra's
cd for the Confederate service in tho
Parish of Natclitoches, he soon rose, a
the Just reward Of his merit, to thu
Colonelcy of the 2nl Regiment Of Lon
isiana Volunteer Infantry, and upo1
many a we'll fought field, whether il
J success or defeat, he illustrated in it
f full measure the character of the patient
y patriotic. brave and chivalrous soldier
At the fearful battle of Gettysburg, abov
the storm of shot and shell, his mani
form was seen, his ringing voice va
heard, and the historic Cemetery Hi
y was crimsoped with his blood. Wounf
" ed almost unto death, he was left uro
the fatal field and fell into the hands (
o the victorious Federal troops. His ire
o constitution and unhinching will an
a nerve sustained him, and these, aileN !
r. the careful attentions of his captor
whose kind feelings he won by his i
trepil boldncss and manly characte
- saved him from a death which seemed q
- most inevitable.
~ On the termination of our civil Wa
&c Col. Burke returned to his home and e.
i gagged in active mercantile bushes
J. Here, where he is known, it is unnecessa
to state that lie enjoyed the confiden
re and esteem of all our people. HI
e kind, oblisiny, self sacrificing and scr'
> ceable he was to this community, he
Al not be written; the rccollections of
,r generosity, his character, his rcadine
), and earncstness in rendering assistan
to all who asked it Of him, are indelib
" engravcn upon thousands of hearts, Al
:. '. only the blackness of ingratitude won
:" attempt to erase them.
!" Devoted to the true interests Of
~ State and all her people, Ills efforts We
d. enthusiastically directed towards tn
redemption from bad government, a
IS, their restoration to genuine peace a
tie general prosperity. No man in louisa
an has contributed more by personal efft
.ct influence and labor to bring about tt
ho redemption than our deceased friend.
If The ways of Providence are inscr,l
in h}a. II is mt for finite hpinUs to iuf