The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-21
DEATH OF AN OLD SOLDIER.
CAPT. THOMAS A. MADDOX, vETER-
AN OF TWO WARS.


Last Peacefully 10 Rest-He Was IA
Trooper in Cavalry Company
During the Mexican War and n
Pensioner of the Government
Against Which He Afterwards
Fought-An Oficer i'm Cults BattaI-
ion He Distinguished Himself at
Shnrpsburg and BoohesbOro-IIis
Funeral at $3.50 O'Clock To-day.
Capt. Thomas A. Maddox, one of the
"Old Guard" of the Confederate veterans
+ of Savannah, died at his residence on
Anderson street at $50 o'clock last night
from a complication of diseases. His last
illness was long and lingering one, but
peace and rest came peacefully to him at
last.
Capt. Maddox life history was of more
than ordinary interest While boy of 16,
he served in a cavalry command during
the Mexican War, distinguishing himself
then for gallant and meritorious conduct
on the field of battle. His service was
characterized by the dash and aplomb
that afterwards distinguished his later
service in the Army of Northern Virginia.
1t gained him a pension from the govern
ment, which he drew until the time of his
death.
When the war between the States be-
gan, after his native Georgia had seeded
from the Union, Captain Maddox enlisted
In the First Georgia Regiment of Regular
Infantry with which he served until his
term of enlistment had expired He then
re-enlisted in Cults Battalion Artillery,
rising rapidly in rank until he received
commission as captain. He took part In
the many bloody battles in which the
Army of Northern Virginia was engaged
and distinguished himself on many fields.
AT the battles of Boonesboro and Sharps-
burg his gallantry and efficiency in action
were particularly marked and distin-
guished.
Judge Robert Falligant relates an incl
dent of Capt. Maddox service during
the latter fight. AT the time Judge Falli-
giant was sergeant-major of Cults Battal-
ion, and was carrying dispatches to the
commanding officer. Capt. Maddox then
lieutenant, the model soldier and artll-
| leryman, was fighting his guns with the
grim determination of the old campaigner.
and with the zest of a man who loves a
good fight The Lieutenant walked I'D to
the horse that Sergeant-Major Falngant
was sitting on, and throwing his arm over
the neck of the steed, was discussing with
| It's rider, the incidents of the battle and
the fortunes of war. While he was in
this position, he was struck by two bull
let's, one of which entered Just over the
| heart, and the other at the pit of the
stomach. He fell to the ground, covered
with blood, and apparently in the last
throes of death. With what seemed to be
his parting breath, that yet contained
something OF the old ring, he turned over
the command of his section to the Ser
geant-Major, and was borne from the field
NO one who witnessed the incident and
saw the Jagged wounds that had been
inflicted thought for a moment that the
Lieutenant would recover. However, it
appeared that the bullets by which he
mad been struck were partially spent and
While the wounds were ugly, the bullets
oid not penetrate deep enough to make
them fatal. Lieut.. Maddox recovered, to
receive the recognition of an additional
grade for his bravery and TO Yield good
service on other hard-fought fields. At
the conclusion of the war he returned to
savannah and for some time was en-
gagged in business He was subsequently
/ clerk of the city market, a position that
he filled for several years. political
change threw him out of Office and since
| that time, now decade agone he has
not been engaged in any active business
Among his old comrades Capt. Mad
COX was universally liked and esteemed
He was the color-bearer of the Confeder-
ate Veterans Association and his last
| public appearance with this organization
| of true and tried Confederates was when
ne carried its colors in the parade at the
! Charleston reunion, in last May. AT the
| time of the reunion of the Georgia divis-
| ion here he had already been attacked by
the disease that ultimately caused his
death and his physical condition did NOT
permit him 10 join in the procession afoot
! On last Memorial day a. carriage had
been sent for him by the association, and
! from it he watched the memorial rites
in honor of those who already slept be-
meath the sod under which he will be
laid to-day.
1t was his dying request that the Con-
| federate Veterans Association should
| take charge of his remains and bury
him. This request Will be- of course,
| faithfully and lovingly carried out. The
/ funeral will take place at $50 O'clock this
/ afternoon, from his late residence, III
Anderson street, east, and the Veterans
! Association will attend in a body The
! interment will be in Laurel Grove Gene
| terry
Capt. Maddox was twice married Sew
eral children of the first marriage and hi ;
! second wife survive him. He was 70 years
/ o!d, havlrg exceed ed by Two years the al
/ lctted span Of human life.
physical Characteristic that marked
him was the long beard, that, gray and
! silvery. &c cended far blow his waist
| Up to the time of his illness 1t was thick
| and luXuriant, but Of late it had become
! somewhat thinned. In the cid days of Re-
| constructor, when feeling ran high, Capt
| Maddox reg stored an oath that he would
/ not cut his beard until Dem ocra ic Pres
| ident had been elected and after the coun-
/ try had declared for Cleveland his attach
ment for IL would not permit him to part
With single inch of is silvery beauty.
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