The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-01
OBITUARY..


On Monday, the Sth of February,
1904, in the city of Macon, Ga, Capt.
Gassoway B. Lamar passed peacefully
from earth to life eternal. For several
years past he had been sufferer from
the malady to which he finally sue
cumbed, and for many months prior to
his death 1t was clearly apparent to his
friends that 'life's fitful fever" would
soon be over. 1t was the privilege of
the writer to have known Capt. Lamar
intimately, from his youth to the time
of his death, and, as his closest and
most intimate friend, he desires to
weave feeble chaplet to his memory,
and lay it tenderly on his new made
grave.
Gas" Lamar, as we all called him,
was a. first lieutenant in the regiment
in which the writer was lieutenant
colonel-the First Regiment of Georgia
Regulars, Longstreet' Corps, Army of
Northern Virginia-and he served with
that heroic command until the latter
part of the war. He was then appoint
ed captain and aide-de-camp upon the
staff of that distinguished soldier. Gen.
Lafayette McLaws, and held that po-
sition until the close of the struggle.
He was one of the best and bravest Of
ficers in the regiment, and not only
bore himself with conspicuous gallantry
in the many bloody battles in which 1t
was engaged, but performed with a
fidelity and high sense of duty the rig
rantIfraf01anfG Of Gnldiar'G life in
the field. 1t is the conscientious and
faithful performance of these duties
and the cheerful and unflinching endur-
ance of the multiplied hardships and
sufferings of camp life that marks the
true soldier and real hero. 1t was the
union of these high qualities with a
big, warm, generous heart and a lovable
nature which endeared him to his COM
rades-in-ar and challenged the re-
spect and confidence of his superiors. AS
a staff officer, Gen. McLaws not only
trusted him implicitly, but he enter
tanned for him the highest respect and
the strongest personal regard.
l desire to say of my dear, dead
friend whom / loved whose death has
left a void in my heart which can never
be filled; who was my constant COM
panion for years on the dreary march,
in battle and bivouac; no truer, man
lier man ever lived. He was brave,
generous, sincere, warm-hearted and
honorable. He was a splendid type Of
the Lamars, and possessed, to an emf
nent degree, the striking characteristics
and Municipalities of that distinguish
ed race. He was gentleman in the
highest sense of that term-not because
there coursed in his veins the gentle
blood of a chivalric stock, but because
his big heart throbbed with a true and
exalted manhood-a heart, while full
Of that fiery impulse which distin-
guished his family. was free from guile,
and full Of tenderness and charity. He
was a man of fine mental calibre and
the most earnest convictions; in per-
son he was handsome, engaging and
winsome, and while a grace and dig
nifty was seated in his strong, fine face,
the merry twinkle in his clear blue eye
denoted fund of wit and humor which,
when stirred, made him the life of the
camp and social circle.
The predominant sentiment which
animated him since the war was in
tense love and loyalty to the Lost
Cause: in this he was an enthusiast,
and no man excelled him. He con-
stantly dwelt upon and dreamed OF the
glories of that immortal banner, fol-
lowed by the best soldiers that ever
trod the earth. He had the most unal-
terable faith in the justice of the cause
for which we fought, and reverenced
and honored, to an extent almost ia
natical, the great soldiers who led our
armies. He had his faults and misfor-
tunes, from which none of us are free.
but ne had virtues enough to cancel
them all, and for many years past he
buckled on his armor In another cause.
He became a soldier of the cross, and,
with the bright, white wings of relig-
ious faith. he has assembled to the bat
Elements Of eternal life.
II. II. ID, TwigRs.