The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-11-29
REMINIsCENCE OF TWO JACK.
son MEN.
JOSEPH REvEL and WIN. PHILLIPS.
BY A JACKSON hoy.

lrresistibly drawn tn the cemetery. l visi
1t with something like the devotion th
Moslem does to the shrine of Mecca 1t i
a sacred spot to me. Not only are loveC
ones buried there, but many cherished anC
well-remembered friends friends of m,
early youth, and friends that have rever
enced and esteemed in my more mature
manhood. The faces 1 meet on the street,
are mostly strange. The forms and features
of those who rest in this silent city of the
dead come up to my remembrance as fami
liar as they were in those by-gone days,
before the angel Azrael swept them
into the land of shadows, and made
our hearts desolate. Sometimes 1 wander,
like sold Mortality" through these beauti-
full grounds, occasionally hating by some
marble slab, and brushing away the moss
and ivy that have entwined themselves
around it, that may trace out the familiar
names that have been "carved for many a
year on the tomb" Sometimes l rest by
euo oiAo u ooIAc AHlOCh, low OferbrOWu
with grass, and call to remembrance the
form and features that have long since
been hidden away under the cold and silent
sod. never pass into these sacred pre-
cincts, but feel chastened and reveren-
tial feeling seems to take possession of me.
l feel that I am treading on the middle
ground-that narrow isthmus that divides
us from time and never ending eternity.
Do you stand by the grave of one for whom
you have had feelings of estrangement
How the heart melts in profound sorrow as
you survey the humble grave! Poor dust
of humanity! And can it be that we should
ever have cherished feeling of hatred and
animosity for this atom of clay that now
lies so helplessly before us
Near the main entrance, silently sleeping
side by side, arc the graves of two young
men whose names were once familiar as
household words to the quondam citizens
of Jackson, and there are few still living
who will recall with pleasure their bright
and happy faces. Joe Revel and Bill Phil
lips. Happy Joe, whose face was always
like summers sunshine; with merry |
greeting to ala boon companion to the
young, and pleasant associate to those of
more mature years. Towering above his
like son of Anax, thoughtful
md sedate, full of kindly courtesy to ALL
Bill Phillips, as he was familiarly known,
vas the synonym of all that was truly noble
md great.
One bright Spring morning more than
hirty years ago, these two young men, in
ompany with more than thirty others, led
n by that gallant old captain, John L. Nc
Janus, left their homes and tiresides for
no far off shores of Mexico. Forming a
art of the First Mississippi Regiment
by our own loved Jefferson
'avis, the little band of jackson boys were
)llowed to the old Jackson depot-then Just
oove where the Edwards House now stands ,
and sad were the farewells then spoken ,
Id bitter we're the tears then shed by I
eir friends and relations. Only few !
onths passed, and there came tidings of
10 battle of Monterey, and of the part the |
It Mississippi Regiment took in the con- q
st. The boys from Jackson, led by the I
trepid Col McClung, scaled the walls of g
at ancient town, and battering in the t
'ors of the houses, fought from house-top n
house>top, until the Mexican soldiers
led out for quarter. Only two of these
ung men from jackson, believe, were :
of whom, after years of
efulness, now sleep quietly in the ceme- =
y at Jackson-Hugh Pierce AMI John J. II
gon. u
A few months later the battle of Beuna
sta was fought, and when the tide of bat :;
waxed hot, and the little American
ny under that grand old hero, Zachery i"
ylor, was about being routed, the gallant -
Wis with the First Mississippi Regiment "
t the dreadful shock of battle, and for =,
1rs held the Mexican army in check,
Ring back charge upon charge of the
GERS, until the disappointed and disheart> "
ID Mexican soldiers withdrew under the I'll
'ndly cover of night. 1t was sad VI
hit to the little American army, and one dl
profound sorrow to the gallant First al
'sissippi Regiment. In a deep ravine, "
Ough which the Regiment had been
ven, scattered here and there were the ~
less bodies of Frank Robinson, Bill IN
ce, Jim Graves, Joe Revel and Bill 10
lips, all jackson boys. They had
ght their last battle and now slept the de
p that knows no waking OF
"On iame's eternal camping ground l"
Their silent tents are spread, do
And glory guards with solemn round
The biyOuck Of the dead" es'
few months later the Regiment was
landed, their term of service having ex- phi
d, and the whole country was alive tn,
the news of the home-returning rel
rams. Ch
his writer. though then a mere boy, len
remembers the beautiful morning sci
n all jackson assembled at the depot to pill
,ome home the remnant of that gallant cot
, band that had gone forth in the de-
. of their country.
Welcome 10 your homes again
Ne men Of Iron nerve,
'Or We have prov'd your strcdgth like men
Who would their country serve.
IN Beuna Vista's bloody heights an,
You did what men might do,
With hearts that knew not how 10 fail do