The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1898-01-07
JOHN MARSH.

from the December number
(1S9O of the Confederate
Veteran, published at Nash
vile:
Thrilling and pathetic is the re-
cord made by Lieut.. John Marsh,
who was killed while mounted and
in front of Strahl's Brigade, of
which he was a staff officer, while
making the charge in that memora-
bic battle of Franklin, thirty three
years ago. No scene of the war is
more memorable to the Confederate
who founded the Veteran, and it
never contained tribute to a nobier
comrade.
Lieut.. Marsh was born in Chath-
am, n. c., but in his infancy his
father, Daniel Marsh, moved to
Tennessee and located in Hardeman
County, nine miles from Bolivar.
Hon. J. w. Jones, of that county,
furnished the notes for this
sketch. Mr.. Jones takes an interest
in honoring not only the dead, but
in caring for unfortunate surviving
Confederstes who need and deserve
aid of their state.
Daniel Marsh was a fine old
Christian gentleman, respected and
beloved. He lived quietly on his
fine plantation, surrounded by
worthy sons and daughters, served
by contented, happy slaves, and
dispensed generous hospitality.
Through his mother Lieut.. Marsh
was related to the Pekins family In
Middle Tennessee and to the HAIRS
tons and Daltons of North Carolina.
AS boy John Marsh was high
spirited, manly, and handsome.
His preceptor in the New Castle
village school was Otto French
Strahl, who is remembered as 'sthe
most perfect gentleman and best
teacher that ever was in that sec
ton" Congressman F. p. Stanton,
who visited Daniel Marsh when
John was a youth, was at once
struck with his capacity and splen-
did qualities, and soon after gave
him an appointment as cadet at the
West Point Military Academy.
Marsh had been there only a short
time when his state seeded, and he
came home and entered the Confed-
crate service, with the rank of
second lieutenant, in the battery
organized by Marsh T. Polk at Boil
war, Tenn. This battery did good
service at Shiloh, where Capt.
Polk lost leg, which incapacitat-
ed him for further service.
Lieut.. Marsh commanded Phillips
Battery at Perryville, KY, and re-
ceived favorable mention for his
gallantry. He was also with Craig
heads Battery for some time. AT
terward he served on the staff of
Gen. Preston Smith, who was slain
at Chiekamauga, and Lieut.. Marsh
was seriously wounded, his left arm
being shattered. For many months
he lay in the hospital at Mariet-
ia, Ga. 1t was during this period
of suffering that he became deeply
concerned about religion, and
through the ministration of Ri.
Rev. G. 7. Quintard he was led to
Christ, and was confirmed by Bish-
op Elliott in the Marietta hospital.
Upon his discharge from the hos
pital Lieut.. Marsh visited his widow
ed mother at the old homestead for
the first time after entering the
army. In vain his friends begged
him to stay, and his mother pleaded
with him not to go back to the front
urging that his injured arm, then
shrunken and useless, entitled him
to exemption from further service.
To all these entreaties he replied:
''No; my country needs me now
more than ever, and / must CO."
He reported for duty a short
while before the fall of Atlanta, and
was aid to Brig. Gen. o. F. Strahl,
the beloved friend and preceptor of
his boyhood, until both laid down
their lives at Franklin.
1t seems opportune to reproduce
part of letter from Bishop Quin-
tard in the Veteran of September,
1896:
''The day on which the battle of
Franklin was fought Gen. Strahl
presented me beautiful mare named
Lady Polk. His inspector, Lieut..
John Marsh, as he babe me adieu,
threw his arms about me and gave
farewell kiss. My intercourse
with these two men was of a most
sacred character. Marsh had been
fearfully wounded at the battle of
Chickamauga. ] had watched over
him on the field and in the hospital.
On the 22d ofFebruary l had baptiz-
ed him in Gilmer Hospital, near
Marietta. To both l had broken
that bread which came down from
heaven. John Marsh was knit to me
by the tenderest ties of friendship.
There was in him what SALISBURY
calls "the most natural beauty in
the world" Honesty and moral
truth-honesty that was firm and up
right. ''He would not fiatter Nep-
tune for his trident or Jove for his
power to thunder. Il
''The day of Strahrs death was to
me a most pathetic one. He evil
IDENTIFY felt that the approaching
battle was to be his last. With |
uoopv +oDdar words ba boda mo faro