The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-12
GEN. S0RREL DEAD
END CAME AT HIS BROTHERS.
HOME IN ROANOKE, VA.
WILL BE BURIED IN SAVANNAH.
HEALTH, HIS DEATH WAS UN-
EXPECTED.


Steamship Company-At the Time
of His Death Was General Manager
of the Georgia Import and Export
CO.-IIis Public and Private Life
Exemplary.
Gen. G. NJ. Sorrel died at IL o'clock
Saturday night at the residence of his
brother DR.. Francis Sorrel, near Roa-
noke, Va. In his death Savannah
loses a distinguished citizen, soldier,
gentleman and scholar.
George Monkey Sorrel was born in
Savannah in 1897. His father, Francis
Sorrel, was a we'll known merchant and
prominent in church as we'll as bust
ness circles. For many years he was
chairman of the board of trustees of
the Independent Presbyterian Church.
Gen. Sorrel received his early educa-
ton in Savannah as a pupil of the
Chatham Academy. At the breaking
out of the Civil War he was a clerk in
the Central Railroad Bank. Upon the
calling out of the South Carolina forces
to take Fort Sumter he went to
Charleston and volunteered in the Pal
metto Guards, one of the crack volun-
teer companies of that city, and did
duty throughout those exciting times.
Upon the removal of the scene of &C
ton to Virginia he became a volunteer
aid to Gen. Longstreet, under whom he
served throughout the hard four years
fighting as adjutant general. He was
made a brigadier general at Peters
burg, but shortly after, while leading
his brigade, was shot through the
lung and supposed to be MORALLY
wounded. He recovered, however, but
was a sufferer from the wound the re-
mainder of his life.
1t was at the battle of the Wilder
ness that Gen. Sorrel distinguished
himself most, though his entire career
with the army was that of a fearless,
chivalrous and dashing soldier. A
letter written in 1892 by Mr.. Putnam
Smith, a former member of the Twelfth
Virginia, and who was in the Battle
of the Wilderness, tells something of
the part that Gen. Sorrel took in it. II
was present at the Wilderness fight"
said Mr.. Smith, land remember that
orders to charge were brought by
Gen. Uhen Lieut.. COLI Sorrel of Long
streets staff. remember that our part
| ward by Sorrel in person. l think he
attempted to take our colors out of
| the hands of Ben May to carry them
| himself, but he did not know
the stuff that Ben was made
| of, he who can carry colors where
any other man could. OF course. Ben
refused to give up his colors, and car
ried them as CALAMITY as we were led
by Sorrel. The bearing of Sorrel was
q g m Of ron r
| think the attention of every man in
the brigade More conspicuous gall
| lantry on the field l never saw. / claim
| that we made brigadier of him that
| day. His conduct on the field certain
ly entitled him to the distinction soon
| afterward conferred on him by Gen.
Lee. We finally crossed Pocahontas
bridge, and marched through town,
greeting out friends on ev-
most of the command, fully expected
| to charge the Federals on the nights.
In going up Sycamore street, when we
reached Marshall, we saw Sorrel riding
| up Marshall and close to US. He was
recognized at once. 1 believe every
man took off his hat simultaneously
and cheered, calling out: Lead us,
| Sorrel! Lead us as you did in the Will
| dernesS!' He removed his hat and
bowed very low, remarking that moth
ing would please him more than to lead
those men in another charge, but that
no fighting was to be done that even
ing, as we were only going out a short
distance to form a line and rest"
Upon the restoration of peace Gen.
Sorrel became one of the firm of Sor-
| rel Bros. and on the dissolution of that
firm became first agent, then manager
of the Ocean Steamship Co. in Savan-
nah, and, later. manager in New York
of the company.
While a resident of Savannah Gen.
| Sorrel was at all time prominent in
public affairs and held a number of po-
sitions of honor and trust, among them
| that of member of the City Council
from June IS, 1878 to Sept. s, 1875; OF
Second Vice President of the Georgia
Historical Society from Feb. II. 1871
to the same date of 1888 when he be-
came First Vice President, place that
he held until 1889. Gen. Sorrel was
acting president of the society during
the absence in Mexico of Gen. Henry
Il. Jackson, and discharged the duties
of that office most successfully. For
years, too, he was chairman of tho
Board of Managers of the Telfair
| Academy.
Seven years ago Gen. Sorrel resigned
the New York position with the steam
ship company in order to accept the
general management of the Georgia
Export and Import Company. This me-
cessitated his removing to Savannah
and he stayed here until year or sc
ago, when he went to New York be-
cause of failing health.
Gen. Sorrell married Miss Kate du-
| Bignon of Milledgeville, a sister of Hon
f. G. duBignon. She survives him
and was with him when he died. Mr.
w. w. Mackall of this city, now in Vir-
ginia, is a nephew. Gen Sorrel has also
a number of brothers and sister Mrs
Stuart Elliott, of Washington, d. c.
One of his brothers, Claxton, rendered
distinguished services on the staff OF
Gen. j. E. Johnson.
The funeral of Gen. Sorrel will take
place in Savannah. 1t was al first in
tended that the remains and funeral
party should leave Roanoke tomorrow
so that they would arrive in Savan-
nah Wednesday. but it is possible that
a special car may be sent and should
this be done the arrival of the party
may be somewhat delayed.
Gen. Sorrels friends were deeply
shocked yesterday by the intelligence
OF his death. For some time he had
been in iil health, but no information
had been received that he was in a
dangerous condition. An old comrade
in arms said of him last sight: Gen
Sorrel was a most distinguished and
soldierly man. OF aesthetic taste, fine
To-