The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-04-18
Death Of Gen. Kershaw.

COLUMBIA, -. C.3 ApEu 1f.-NoWs
reached here to-day Of the death on
Thursday night at 1890 o'clock at Cam
den, his home, Of General j. b. Kershaw.
His death was not unexpected as he had
been in ill health for some time. The
the State House. All the State officers
declared their purpose to go to Camden
in q body Tomorrow morning to attend
the funeral. Chief Justice McIver tele-
graphed message Of coincidence to the
family. Other messages were also sent.
General Kershaw was postmaster at
Camden aud was also engaged in COM
pleting the records of the South Carolina
soldiers in the late war.
Judge Kershaw's family has been
identified with South Carolina since the
year 1850. His grandfather, Col. Joseph
Kershaw, revolutionary soldier, gave his
name to the county Of Kershaw. His
father was John Kershaw, man Of brill
liant mind, who ssrved in Congress in
1926. His mother was Harriet Du-
Bose, daughter of Isaac DuBose, once
aide dc camp to General Francis Marion.
Joseph B. Kershaw was born in Cam
den January 9Th, 1922. Adopting the
profession Of law he was admitted to the
bar in l84S. After serving in the Mex
ican war as first lieutenant In company
G. Palmetto regime ent, Col. P. NJ. Butler
serving meanwhile in the State legisla-
ture and tho secession convention of 1860.
The war between the States opened the
way to General Kershaw's brilliant mill
tary career. His soldierlY instincts car
ried him promptly to the field Of arms.
He was made colonel in February, 1861,
Of the second South Carolina volunteer
regiment. He entered the service with
his regiment on Sullivan's Island. Sub
sequently he repaired to Virginia and as
colonial organized regiment. He en-
gagged In the first battle Of Manassas. In
February. 1862, he was appointed briga-
dier general, succeeding General Bon
ham. Kershaw's brigade was soon to
become q household word in this State as
1t made its noble record in the grand
army of Northern Virginia and General
Kershaw was to make his own fame as q
gallant leader Of gallant men. He was
engaged In tho battles around Richmond
eliminating at Malvern Hill. He was
engaged on Maryland Heights In the cap
the battles of Sharpsburg, Fredericks-
burg, Charlottesville, Gettysburg and
Chiekamauga, and was in the Knoxville
campaign, He commanded McLaw's
division at the battle of the Wilderness.
He was at Spottsylvania and the engage
ments that ended with the fight at Cold
Harbor. BE was appointed major gen.
eral In June 1854 and was assigned to
McLaw's division, afterward called Ker-
shaw's division. AS major general he
won additional laurels. After serving at
Petersburg Kershaw's division was or
dered to join General EARLY in the valley
of Virginia where 1t was engaged until a
few days before the battle Winchester
when It was ordered to rejoin General
Lee. In the retreat that ended at Apo.
matox, Kershaw's division was captured
at Sailors Greek with the remainder Of
General Ewelrs corps, General Kershaw
was carried as prisoner of war to Fort
Warren, in Boston harbor. he reached
horne after his release in August 1866.
Thus ran General Kershaw's admirable
career as soldier. Not only did he win
the stars Of major general by his skill
and courage, but he won the confidence
ofhis military superiors and drew to him
self the love Of his men,
Nor has his civil career boen less hon
orable and imminent. To the gallantry OF
the man in arms he has added rare civic
virtues. Elected in 1879 to the bench Of
the fifth circuit, he served with fidelity
until 1898, when he retired.