The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-09
GEN. J. B. HOOD.
.tt.utic Incidents in the Death
of the Distinguished
Chieftain.

# Essrssded above their felloW9, ana tnelr
M utterancss and the Incidents Of
ts ~. death have ever been chertsheE .
II handed down to posterity. 1t Il
natural that men who have occu Died
81 ~ stations, whose brilliant acniever 1ents
xxher in literature, art. science or On the
u IN III battle, have commanded the Itenion
n ~ admiration Of the world. should, dying, ar
~ and draw to themselves the resp eeful rev
rsrt interest Of mankind.
fhis interest IL always increase II and intensi.
N Id the case OF illustrious n ,t.ltary leaders
III who have faced death q sfaoasand times In
most horrible forms.Who asR, stood unmoved
aid scenes OF carnage, ma In the wild roar OF
xeubtfuI battle have Exhibited that high and
saftv courage which ever distinguished great
kaders OF men.
There have beer. MANY false and exaggerated
staIements made. In the Northern and Yves ern
T. rs 9 wh ZIP ms som ass'h sss
vere based pen Idle rumors, and IN others. "
sssrst to sf4y. were pure fabrications. utterly
Hfhout sr Itn or foundation In Tact.
Feeling that it was due the memory OF the
ssIant fisad that the exact truth should be as
ssrtair ed and Published, representative Of
mar ,ory oil having sesn Hood cha -ginz at the
6eed Of his invincibls BRIGADE ON Virginia bat
NrIelds called upon those gentlemen who
sara with him tn his last moments, and whose
/ mnurnfn privilege It was to minister TO his
Vary want and smooth his pathway to ths
sraYe and from them ELECTED all the facts ID RS
fstforl to his death and the circumstane- at
landing II. which would be Of interest to the
pubie. These gentlemen are Col Sam Flower.
Ian. Fred. ~ Ogden and DR.. Samuel VI. Bsmiss.
The Hood mansion stands 10 one OF the love
Hest portions OF the mr. t attractive districts In
EeW Orleans and until death came and cast
I'LL sudden and dark shadow over the household
there WAS no more charming residence Ia the
whole city. Unfortunately. one Of the first Of
ihe lev cases o. yellow fever that have occurred
ne corner diagonaliy across from the Hoods'.
This was In the latter part Of August. and DR..
Eomiss, who Was consulted 10 the case. and who
II once 10 the family physician. DR. Richardson
told him OF the Case. and suggested that he
should advise the removal Of TIE family 70 come
sucn convenient point as the Old Lake End.
DR.. Richardson acted a. once upon the In
formation. and advised the removal OF the
hs o Seemed me e hok iii W,ss
considered it. was thsir duty to remain. Next
morning the thirtieth Of August. as DR. Bemiss
IT,, called him over ami asked IL the case ovsr
the Way WAS genuine case OF yellnw fever.
Tns Doctor, answered that 1t was, when the
sick We will fall into your hands. as Or. Rich
ardson is going away" DIR, Bemiss replied:
General hope sincerely no suen thing win
ever occur; but We have bsen old. soldiers to
Eaher, and. | may say to you. frankly that
should the fever gst into your large family II
en- hardly be expected that ail will got we'll"
he then suggested the Droprtety OF tenn porarilT
separating the children to insure greater salty,
and the General promised to think OF the mat
After the death OF the case referred TO and
no other cases appearing. the app ehe1sion of
trouble was meas urab!y a.iayes3. and Dr.. Be-
miss was called away 70 Cairo aud thence to
Washington returning on the fwenty-s.cond of
August. During his absence Mrs. Hood IVES
taken sick and died On the twenty sixth OF
The illness OF his wife weighed heavily on
the General, and when inforned that there Wss
no hope for her hts rtitude. which had sus-
tanned him La many trying and terrible emer
gsncfes. almost forsoos HIN. tt was the heavi-
est blow he had ever been called upon 70 sus-
Dc strong men erieys Whea death &c cone to
those who ar. dearer to them than life. With
the shadow Of this awful affection resting upon
condition oftbe children bereft Of their mother
and this caused him unmistakabls anguish.
Hs remaIked at this time: Doctor. i shall BE-
nos to indulge ia such thoughts, as there was 10
reason why he might not g5t well sven IL taken
sick; Hs said that but for his family. death
Two days after the death Of his wife. on the
twenty sixth OF August. his, daughter Lydia
We taken slcx, and this greatly disturbed MIN
That night some time or sasly On the morning
Of the twenty seventh the General himself was
taken sick, and DIR. Bemiss found him about 8
o'clock q. n. with high fever. He told the
Doctor he had been feeling badly for some
hours, but thought 1t was n raIgia. with which
he haoitually suffered.
the General. He had suffered SO intensely aDd
continuously. his mind hal pesn for months. |
as i were. on rack and during bis wife's Ill
reserve Of strength. and the fever found In him
Though Respondent. he was perfectly re-
signed and calm, and, In the language OF the
a D9,eaf.or obeyed all orders implicitly SO good
be had thrown green bile two or three times. |
and later had an action Of his kidneys which |
wonderfully encouraged him. and he said to
fSnose around him ..one-haIf the victory has
baen won" and turning to Gen. Ogden, said |
~ We viii ngnt this light as long az there is a
s1nt In tbs locker"
their examination proved there was no hope, |
ana that the General had but a few hours to |
i've After consultation between all the friends |
present t was determined to infoEm hin Of his |
approaching dissolution and DR.. Bemss was |
selected TO perform that sad duty. which he did |
q gently as pos ibie. and said 1t would be well
q send for the Rev. MF. Dow. a. he understood |
Inc General had expressed desire to have
Administered to him.
NJ me uenerak asked how long he had to live.
ThA Doctor PspHed he could not tell. but It
so s.u 90 Well 70 make every preparaion: that
vs ala. an Cd solaisr like him The thought q
leatn you'd not disturb him: to which the |
et Mr. Dow be sent for
During the administration of the sacrament
10 1oided his arms and seemed 70 fol ow the |
lim ~I
SnoLliy aILsr tn1s. which was between and
o o'clock. he sank rapidly ana became de-
irions. b4t not violently 50. Once or twice he
lttempted TO raise himself Ia the bed, but WAS
astty controlled. Only once did his mind seem
Q revert to those grand old b. 70 c days when
lis name vas rallying cry. aud ne battiea with
u the energy Of his great and fearless soul for
lis native south. In a tons Of Command Ne az |
iaimed: i want thos1 stores taken from INV
WI commissary.' Just before his deal h. and
1hile Gen. Ogden was holiine his hands, be
flied himself no. .turew his head round and
eemsd to be- gazing into the distance with
ssh1ng eyes. ana such an EXPIRE sion az he
must have worn when La the heat of some 1es
crate engagement he looked back for his Old
rigade with whicn to lead forIorn hope and
Ttn victory from the very lws OF defeat.
On the secoaG day be- caIed the doctor to hin,
nd said: Doctor. If you fad you cannot win
10 fight. let me go off easily"
On the last day. after suffartEg greatly with |
e burning sensation which generally precedes
lack vomIt., ne threw up twice. a little. on
apkln held BY The nurse, and imn dia'eIy feel
On. Ny doctors have gained a great victory"