Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-10-28
HIGHLY COMPLIMENTARY LET
TER

The following highly complimentary letter re-
gsrding Mr.. Alexander Graves was written by
the colonel OF his regiment during the war, u
gentleman oil the highest character and standing
IN the community in which he lives.
WooDvILLE, Miss. Oct. 14th, 1882.
GEN. JOHN S. MARMADUKE-DEAR SIR: Your
letter inquirlng whether 1 knew Alex. Graves
in this slate. and what of his military record,
was received vt my home In summit, Miss,
upon the eve OF starting here.
write now amid pressing engagements, and
must be brief. 1t will not be difficult. howev-
er, to recall to mind the history of that youth
for as such 1 remember him-especially during
the late war between the states.
knew him from boyhood, indeed he q but
a boy when the company to which he belonged
school AZ Danville, KY. when the var com.
menced. and came home and joined the arst
company that went from his county altheush Lad
but little over Is years Of age. For that and other
reasons my attention was particularly called tu
him. and he was SO situated that he came under
my eye almost daily from 1862 until we were
surrendered in Gen. N. b. Borrest's command
May II, 1855.
He Was sometimes called upon tn perform
duties that required GOODNESS, daring and judg.
ment; he showed that he possessed til EN- all in .
high degree aad far beyond his years. He wa,
cOnsclentiously devoted to the cause in viii eli
he fought, and exhibited courage of the highest
order, cool and unflinching. Even when hi
equally gallant brother fell, %fearfully wounded
by his side, young Graves pressed forward il
the impetuous charge, one OF the most Gesper
ute OF the war. l think he was III every battle
and nearly every combat and fight in which his
company was engaged from the beginning tC
the end Of the war.
There arc many instances that come to m!
mind with which young Graves was CONNECTED
creditably to himself and which would interes
his friends but l have not the time to writ
them now. Suffice it to say that the ''los
cause'' had no truer or Drawer soldier thai
Alex. Graves. boy rs he was.
He fought from the beginning to the end wit
al earnestness and zeal and an energetic An
faithful discharge OF duty tLat marked him 10
success in whatever department OF life his in
clinations might lead him 10 enter.
After the surrender, already q veteran soldie
although less than twenty-one. he finished hi
college course, graduating at Ashland college /
1867, anu then graduated in law at the Universl
ty OF Virginia in lee9. After that lost sIgt
Of him until about two or three years ago, w he
he was highly complimenled by some of IL
judges and bar OF the u. S. Supreme court. o
account OF 4 legal argument made in that courl
. do not know what other evidences of abilit
he has developed, but 1 know he will be true
any trust that may be reposed in him.
No severer crucible can test true manhoo
l than a four years war such as young GRAY,
v engaged IN. and he came out with the highe
opinion OF his officers and comrades.
would like to grasp him by the hand and n
. count hardships endured and dangers passt
together. You could not in all the great sta
. OF Missouri grasp the hand of u truer man.
Very truly, yours,
T. r. STOCkDALE.