The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-29

Walker, learning that no had been killed
on the Sd OF May. and buried upon the
fela. had tho body exhumed and sent
10 me at Richmond. Il Is strange how
everything connected with tho matter
except the sad scene at the grave seems
10 have faded out OF my recollection
know he was buried In our family lot N
uollvwood and as no one OF US was
buried there for long years after THIS, We
must have bought the lot for the pur-
pose. Yes. I remember. too. that We laid
him TO rest with military honors, Captain
Gays company, the "Penitentiary Guard
acting as escort, and must have ridden
in the carriage with the stricken widow
and HIS two little girls. for ] distinctly
recall standing between the children AT
the side OF the open grave. anc noidins
a hnnd OF each. as the body OF their nero
father was lowered to its last resting
place. | remember. too, that not a mus-
Gle of their pale. sweet faces quiverea
as the three vollcys were fired over the
low mound that cove-c1 him They were
the daughters Of soldier
OBEDIENCE UNTO DEATH
Ny story is done a..- Ia
worthy OF recital and remembrance. In
deed. II embodies the most impressive In
stance have ever known OF trenchant.
Independent thought and incalculating and
unfinchlng obedience 10 the resulting
conviction OF duty-"obedience unto
DEATH
Observe. Beers had never been South
and had no idea OF ever going there until
the southern States were invaded. o.
serve again. he was not a man without
ties. q homeless and heartless adventurer'
but a complete mana man blessed with
wife ard children and home. and withal
a faithful and affectionate husband ard
father Observe once more. he was not
an unsuccessful or disappointed man.
On the contrary, I have seldom known a
man who had a position more perfectly
congeniai and satisfactory 10 hin. o.
whose prospects were brighter or more
assured. II was simply and purely and
orlv his conviction OF right and duty
which led him to US and TO his gallant
death
ono feature OF the poor fellows story
of intense power and color has been pur-
posely omitted. I refer 10 his parting
with his parents. II is my strong desire
that this sketch shall not contain one
word calculated 10 bring unnecessary
pain TO the heart ~ any relative OF my
dear friend under whose eye II may chance
10 fall. II YOU would pass just ana
charitable Judgment upon his family
try for a moment 20 conceive what wouia
have been the feelings OF Southern
father and mother and family circle. to-
ward a son and brother. who. in 1861. nad
proposed to go North, for the purpose Of
fighting against his people and his state.
II gives me pleasure 10 say that, 80 far
as I know, the family Of Mr. Beers did
their duty by his wife and children. Mrs.
a pale suffering resolved face. and nv
recollection - that she did not long sur
vive her husband. tried hard TO have
the little girls adopted IN The South, and
came very near succeeding. yet perhaps
Ii was. after all. well that their friends
sent for them, and that they finally re-
turned 10 the North.
Il IL WELL too, that there are not more
men like Beers In the world. The bands
OF organized society are not strong esough
TO endure many such. They are too tren-
chant, too Independent. too exceptional.
20 be normal. II IS well that most OF US
believe and think and feel and act, with
tho mass of our fellow beings about ia.
II II were not so. quiet and harmonious
Society would be impossible: Il would dis
solve and perish In fierce internecine
strife. And yet, when. every now and
then, God turns out a man OF different
mould. q man strong enough ard inde-
pendent enough not 10 be dominated IN
opinion. or I'm conscience. or I'm action oy
his associates; and most Of all, when such
r man breasts and breaks away from
such a current and I'm spite OF g. comes
out on our side. giving up everything.
even life Itself, for us-sursly. We should
be glad 10 know his story and 10 do what
honor we may 10 his memory.
The mound that covers James II. Beers
is indeed low and humble: vet. where will
you dig In earh's surface 10 find a hand
fu Of richer dust? I rejoice that he lies
where he does. hard by my dear ones
and where my own body will soon rest;
80 that. when the resurrection trump
shall call US all forth. after running over
the roll Of my beloved and finding them
all present ana accounted for. | can turn
my eyes 10 the right and greet the hero
whose sacred dust l have guarded al
these years. ROBT STILES
Richmond. Va. oct H. 1893.