The leader., 1902-06-04
ROMANCE OF THE WAR.
How One Gambrell Met Death,
Another His Fate.

Another His Fate.
Major j. j. Hood, of Meridian, writes
the following story of the war for the
Meridian Star:
sit was a pleasure to have DR.. j. B.
Gambrell again in our midst and his
many friends who have long loved and
honored him were delighted to see him,
so we'll, SO young, as 1.-THE and elastic
in his step as an Indian: and to again
have the touch of hand that was the
hand of hero in war, and that since
is lifted oft in reverence and bene-
diction above thousands of Christian
worshipers.
"As General Stephen D. Lee said,
not great while ago, that he always
felt better and considerably taller
when standing by an old veteran of the
great cause, SO I felt when I held the
hand of this Confederate hero
CDR. Gambrell, with his brother
Lieutenant Ira GambrelD was mem
Der of the Second Mississippi Regi-
ment, Colonel Faulkner, commanding,
and they both did conspicuous service
as scouts in special and dangerous ex-
petitions. AS useful and fearless
scout during the war he showed the
highest courage of heroic manhood,
choosing to be minister who was no
chaplain, and it was said that he was
terror to the enemy.
"Since the war he has given his time
and great talent to his high calling, to
building up the waste places, fighting
the high and noble battles of duty and
life with the same courage and zeal
and usefulness that he did the battles
of the Southland during the COS.
mo mans impress has been more
strongly and forcibly imprinted upon
the pages of Mississippi's moral and
spiritual progress since the war, than
that of DR.. j. B. Gambrell, and he is
known and honored everywhere
throughout the State.
cit will not be amiss hope to men
tion an incident of the war to Irvine
the name and deed of his heroic
brother, Lieutenant Ira Gambrell,
like rarest flowers around the broken
column of the great cause and to give
the inspiration of the romance of the
doctors life, by giving sketch from
another pen of the killing of Lieu
tenant Gambrell, who fearlessly laid
his life upon his country's altar.
"Lieutenant Gambrell and several
others were sent out on scouting ex-
petition of great danger. AS COM
handing officer of the expedition he
thought it best to go in separate squads
and so divided his small forces.
"When starting off he said, when
shall we all meet again.
"They never met again.
Suddenly, while advancing, Lieu
tenant Gambrell and his two men were
surprised by twenty-one Yankees. The
two privates, seeing they were so out
numbered, took to flight, but Captain
Sanger, the Federal officer, who rec
ognized Lieutenant Gambrell, deter
mined to take him, and ordered him
to surrender. He replied, 4 have
never surrendered, and never WILL and
drawing his revolvers he emptied the
contents of each, killing seven and
wounding two.
"He then turned to make his escape,
knowing we'll his fate should he be
captured.
"The entire troop pursued him. in
tent on taking him alive. Reaching
Blackwater river, he dashed in. When
half way across he turned and waved
his hand, when ball crashed through
his brain and he sank to rise no more.
''The enemy gaZed silently on the
crimson wave and then the captain
said: Boys, he was too brave a man
not to be buried and ordered his
body recovered and buried. Stopping
at the home of Mrs. Ely, the captain
said:
"I killed the bravest man today I
ever saw; never hated to kill any one
so bad in my life
"'What was his name?' she in
quired. He showed her his wife's
picture and letters and she cried:
"'You have killed one of my best
friends; tell me where he is, and l
will bury him if it costs me my life.'
"They told her, and in sorrow she
and four young ladies whom she sum-
moned procured a cart and went after
| him.
"He was not unhonored or unwept
when lowered in the grave which fair,
| tender hands had laborously followed
out for him in Mrs. Ely's own burying
ground.
"Lieutenant Gambrell's grief stfick-
en- brother, himself noted scout,
going to thank those noble women,
who had under all difficulties given
his brother Christian burial, looked
then for the first time into the gentle,
plying eyes of one of the maidens
whose delicate hands had helped in
the sacred service, and there recog-
nized his kindred soul.
sit surely must have been destiny
that brought these two together, for
no two beings were ever more fitted to
each other, as time has proven, for
when the scene of action changed and
| he returned to fight on Mississippi
soil, he brought her Southwark as his
wife.
"Cupid's arrow played havoc with
the hearts of many of the soldiers of
the Cos and today Mississippi holds
many of the peerless daughters of
| Virginia and the other states as price
| less trophies of love and war.
"She is General Pickett's cousin and
| is worthy representative of that
| illustrious family. He is still a soldier,
but he marches under Emanue's ban
ner, and when he goes to his enemy's
line now it is not to pour hot lead into
their ranks, but as the messenger of
him who proclaimed peace on earth,
| good will to men.
"'Ah, sure the archives Of the South
Are rich in deathless treasures;
The deeds our heroes have performed
Shall live again stored MEASURE
Go,ce-, oIoo4;or oo,o ei,parc WI IN