The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-10-29
DEMOCRAT IC-CoNsERvATIvE CANDIDATE
FOR SENATOR 11TH DISTRICT.
Brandon Republican,

Brandon Republican,
Col. A. J. FRANTZ-DEAR SIR: Allow
me to submit to you and your readers the
following brief chapter in the life of Capt
VIM. Ratliff, one of our candidates for the
State Senate in the district composed of the
counties of Kinds and Rankin. He was
born in Madison county, Mississippi, and
about two years thereafter his father moved
to this county, of which the Captain has
been citizen ever since. He was educated
partly in Brandon, and took high stand
as young man of intelligence and good
moral character. He has been farmer all
of his life, except for short period after the
war, when he engaged in the mercantile
business.
In May, 1861, he Joined the Confed-
crate Rifles, the second company that left
this county for the war. James, Thomas
Rufus and Albert all joined the same COM
pany. This company left Brandon, for
Corinth, on the 21st of May, 1861, where it,
with other companies, was organized into
the 18th Mississippi Regiment, and in June
was ordered to Virginia, arriving at Man
assas Junction about the last of the month.
Here, at this early period of the war, this
regiment joined the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia, with which it remained to the close
of the war, sharing its glories, its victories
and its defeat. James Ratliff was killed in
Albert was killed at Cold Harbor, in 1864
William, the subject of this sketch, was
elected 1st Lieutenant in 1862, on the
Peninsula, just before McCleflan's ad-
vance to Richmond, and was promo
ted to the Captaincy Of his company
in January, 1863, at Fredericksburg. He
was wounded at Fishers Greek in
the Shenandoah valley, and in the bat
tie of the Wilderness, in 1864. He remain
ed with the army throughout the war-un-
dergoing all it's privations and hardships
Ga the 9TH of April, 1865, he was captured
in the battle of Jailor's Greek, only two
days before the surrender of Gen. Lee.
As soldier Captain RatliH was prompt,
efficient and always at his post. His men
not only loved him but had implicit con-
fidence in him. His superior officers knew
him to be brave and intelligent officer,
and entrusted many dangerous and impor-
tant undertakings to his charge. He was
the first Mississippian to stand fire in Vir-
ginia, being on duty under Corporal John
w. Pearson, who had placed him on an out
post, and true to the cause which he had
espoused, he fought to the last. The war
over, he came home, and busted himself
about rebuilding his wasted fortune.
Although he took deep interest in politics
he manifested no thirst for office, and | be-
heve was never candidate before. He is
now candidate for the Senate, not from
any solcitude of his own, but because his
friends thrust it upon him. With his
proud record as soldier and citizen, may
we not feel that in his elevation to the SEN
ate we haveevery guarantee that he will
make an honest, faithful and capable legis-
lator? We know him, and believe that if
elected every interest of the people will
have his best attention, No narrow or con
tracted views will govern his course, but
broad and liberal views, in which every in
terest of his constituents will have just
weight Almost a native of Rankin coun-
ty, reared and educated within her borders,
identified with her interests and her people,
and with good record as a soldier and cit
izen, we cannot do better than to elect him.
VOTER