Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-12-19
TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY
OF
WIN. THOMAS GLADSTONE,
LATE c. s. A. BORN, MARCH Q. lsis, DIED
AUGusr 3. 1863
BY CAPT. GEORGE THOMAS.
Comrades and Friends :
BY CAPT. GEORGE THoNA


| Comrades and Friends:
There are many of you who re.
member the kin lily gentleman who,
for so many wears, and until bis re-
moval with his family to Baltimore,
lived in his hospitabie way at his
nearby residence of Rose Hill.
There are some OF you who can re-
member the firstborn of the house.
hold, familiarly known among you,
and to his associates as Tom Blak-
istone. 1t is of him, dead now
more than thirty years ago, that ]
would speak to you to-day.
William Thomas Blackstone was
born at Rose Hill,' the residence
of his father, Col. Jas. L. Blakis-
tone, in st. Mary's county, on the
3rd of March, 1842. Through the
line of his father, as well as that of
his mother, who was a daughter of
DR.. William Thomas. of Cremona.
he traced back to an honored an
cestry, distinguished for many gen.
erations for social worth, profes-
sional eminence, and political ser.
vice among the people of Southern
Maryland. Essentially, he was one
of our own people /; his character
istics were those of his special en-
vironments. Born and reared
among us. his thoughts ever turn
ing in affection to the people of his
native county, he died in defence Of
the cause that was dear to US all.
Those of you who remember his
early youth spent among you, can
recall no act of his life that those
who cherish his memory would
have forgotten.
His academic education was be-
gun at Charlotte Hall, in this coun-
ty, where he attained distinguished
rank in the class room, winning the
respect and esteem of his teachers
and school fellows. When a little
over sixteen years of age, he receiv
ed an appointment to West Point
Military Academy, entering upon
his duties there, Sept. l. 1858. He
had nearly completed his third year,
when the armed contest in the
streets of Baltimore, on the 18th
of April, 1861, called loudly upon
every son of Maryland to determine
upon the position he should assume
in the war between the sections that
all felt had to come. With him
there was no hesitation. On the
one side was assured rank and po-
sition under a strong and well es-
tablished government; on the other.
share in a struggle under a new
power, whose destiny was hid in the
clouds that yelled its future. Fol-
lowing the dictates of duty and
honor. he resigned his position on
the Goth of April, 1861, and so"n
after we find him in Richmond with
offer of service to the South. Not
having reached his majority, the
commission in the regular army Of
the Confederate States, which would
otherwise have been his, by virtue
of his cadetship at the Military
Academy, could not be given him,
though his name was inscribed on
the list for the issue of the COM
mission when he should have at
tained the required age.
At once seeking active service,
his daring spirit was attracted to
the scheme planned by his kisman,
Col. Zarvona, looking to operations
on the waters of the Potomac.
These plans failed of their entire
accomplishment through causes
that their originator could not con-
troll and young Blackstone, after a
narrow escape f,om capture, made
his way once more across the Poto-
mac. Seeking association with the
men of his own State, he soon after
wards enlisted in Company Fl, OF
the 1st Maryland Infantry. CON-
manded by Capt. William FL. Muir.
ray. Throughout the arduous cam
paigns through which the organiza.
ton passed he did his whole duty,
faithfully and well winning the
respect of his associates as a brave
and gallant soldier.
On the reorganization Of the com.
pany in the Summer of 1862, Blak
istone was made Orderly Sergeant
a position, in view of the character
of the membership, BY no means
easy to fill creditably and with sat
isfactiun. The srlertiun proves