The gold leaf., 1895-06-06
A BRAVE AND GALLANT OFFICER
The Late Colonel G. G. BlacknalI. of
kittrell, N. G.
Wilmington Messenger.I


The Henderson GOLD LEAF Of May
23rd, contains the Memorial Address
delivered at kittrell on nth May by
Capt. B. A. Capehart, on the occasion
Of decorating the graves of the Confed-
crates buried there. 1t was upon
Granville's very gallant soldier, Colo
mel Charles Christopher Blacknall, who
poured out his iife's blood for his
people, falling with his face to the foe.
We knew him we'll. He was a fine
gentleman, courteous, intellectual, cul-
tivated and chivalrous. He was born
of good English ancestry. His great
grand father was an English clergy
man, who was rector of a church in
Virginia and in North Carolina at
Edenton. Capt. Capehart says that
"he died rector of Kingston parish, in
Matthews county, Virginia. His grand
son Thomas was a Revolutionary
soldier, serving with distinction in the
Northern campaign and at Yorktown,
and Thomas's grand son, Charles
Christopher Blacknall, was born in
Granville county, North Carolina,
December 4, 1891"
Col. Blacknall died from a wound
received at Winchester on 10Th
September, 1864, but lived until sth
November, 1864. He died from
amputation. He was brother of DIR.
George w. and Major T. H. Blacknall,
and father Of Mr.. Oscar Blacknall, a
man of letters, and we'll known from
his productions in the atlantic MontAIy
and the newspapers. He married Miss
Virginia Spencer, Of Oxford, who still
lives to mourn the death of her true
and manly husband. He is buried in
the Stonewall Cemetery, at Winchester,
where lie the bodies of so many of the
South's most gallant and noble men,
their immortal part having gone into
that world that lies beyond the grave
and the noisome worm and the
decaying ashes. Capt. Capehart
acquitted himself we'll. His address is
in excellent taste, and is we'll prepared.
Col. Blacknall had ardent patriotism,
high convictions of right and princi-
pie, and an engaging manhood. His
presence was attractive, his gifts were
many, his heroism of lofty type. He
was in a high and true sense a gentle
man. We quote the following from
the address:
!" No more dauntless spirit held rank
in the Army of Northern Virginia. He
was every inch a soldier, as fearless
for his own safety as he was thoughtful
Of his men, of their lives and comfort.
BY his intrepidity he infused courage ::
in the hearts of the more timid and
confidence in his reader followers. :
Among civilians and soldiers he was ,
the same, and all unselfish. There !
was nothing mean or small in the man. {
Whether in field or camping ground, I
or in prison walls, he wrote only in .
sympathy for those of necessity left at I
home, in cheerfulness and hopefulness !;
for the final success, that their anxious +
and aching hearts might be soothed
and encouraged.
"Oh may there be-and surely SO {
Will come from the noble sacrifice of .
heroes and martyrs I
A myraid host Of noble ones,
With hands already for heroic deeds, \
With hearts which hold the yestal fire Of = =
love,
And heads which TEEN with such high g
thoughts they tell v
Il humanity is linked indeed with God.' S
"Fellow southrons, had we here one
rrand renniOn Of Onr snrvivinu veferaps L
We could not call the rolls of our !
respective commands. 1t would add :
90 much of sadness to this solemn !,
'ccasion' for day b day we rapidly '
aass away, each day the last revislle c
8 sounded, and the tattoo obeyed by b
'ome OF our remaining few, and, with g
hose gone before, called from all
earthly contests and warfare to hivouac y =
n that field that knows no carnage" q q