The Washington herald., 1909-07-11

New York. July D.-One Of the bravest
and most distinguished officers Of the
Confederacy passed away in a lonely lit
tie room in the old Atlantic Hotel. al
Oliver street and New Bowery, to-day
when Col Marcellus Pointer. Of Holly
Springs. Miss. broken and without means
died. Beside his bed were packets OF
letters from men prominent over the
country stating in unmeasured terms
their appreciation Of his services and gal
lantry.
Dr. George Wilson. who knew him best,
said to-day:
Il guess he died partially Of a broken
heart and pride. He was too proud to
beg
Identified at MOrgue.
A summons came 10 the coroner's office
stating that a Col Pointer had died
al the Atlantic Hotel without medical as
sistance. Il was not until the body had
been sent 10 the morgue that the packet
o. letters was opened, and it was found
that Col Narcellus Pointer. colonel OF
the Twelfth Alabama Cavalry and aid-de-
camp TO Gen Joe Wheeler. had passed
away in the old BOwery hotel
He had been known there on and OF
FOR the past twenty years. but had al
ways kept TO himself and seemed a proud
old man. who shuaned all society.
Col Pointer was the son OF DIT David
Pointer. of Holly Springs, Miss At little
more than seventeen years Of age he en-
tered the service OF the Confederacy and
came under the command Of Gen. Wheeler
Il is from many letters written by Gen.
Wheele- found IN the packet that Col
Pointers history is now known.
When the body was found by a porter
there was also found 9 cents in cash
and pawn tickets on various Bowery
pawn shops. A medal given Col. Pointer
by the COnfederacy for distinguished gal.
lantry was the last article he ever
pawned and IT is now in a pawnshoI
where it was placed for IS
Among his effects was also found q
letter from daughter. Sadie Pointer. now
IN Ardnlore. Okla. upbraiding him for not
writing oftener and asking for financial
assistance. It is thought this last letter
this appeal from daughter he was IN.
able 10 help. FASTENED his death.
The body VIII be taken care Of by the
Confederate Veterans Camp here under
the direction OF its commander. Col Ed
ward r owen and will be given burial
in tie Federal Plot in Mount Hope Gene
tery.
Letters from Gen. Wheeler.
Among the many letters found was one
from Gen. Joe Wheeler 10 Or. David
Pointer. The letter was written at the
Confederate cavalry camp az Knoxville
Tenn. on October 30. 1s62, and read as
follows:
Dear Doctor:
You viii no doubt be surprised at receiving a
letter from me. The reason FOR my writing Is "a
inform you that your SOD. who is on my staf
has been seriously though Tot dangerously wounded
in an engagement with the enemy on tie 18th inst.
a. Little Rock. Castle River Ky
The bearing 0f your sen from the time he en-
tered the service with me is deserving of the
highest commendation- His gallantry throughout
the Kentucky campaign is beyond al prase. He is
well worthy q you sir; for by his courage
and daring he has the admirati0n Of all In
few days he viii be Up.
You need not give yourself any uneasiness con-
corning him. His comfort viii Be my constant study
ard everything done that can be 70 fit him for the
high military position his qualifications richly
deserve. He sgnally distinguished himself al
MunfOrdvile and PerTyvile. In the cavalry charges
lie was behind none and he has rendered the
cause Efficient service
With my hndsst regards 20 yourself and family.
! am. doctor. your obdt servant
JOS. WHEELER
Brig Gen. and Chief cf Cavalry
Forty years after this letter was writ
ten by Gen. Wheeler his estimate OF Col.
Pointer had not changed for during the
Spanish-AmeriCan war Col Pointer sought
20 be appointed a brigadier general by
President Mckinley.
Urged His Appointment.
Gen. Wheeler wrote to the President
urging his appointment. and among other
things said:
y do not hesitate TO say that knew
no one during the war who exhibited more
brilliant and determined courage in battle
than he ! saw him in a hundred en-
gagements, and he was always the same
cool. intrepid. and determined officer"
In the same year Gen. Wheeler. in writ
ing to Gen. Estrada said Of Col. Pointer.
7 do not exaggerate when say he was
by far the most distinguished and valu-
able officer Of his grade that 1 knew in
the service.
Gen. Wheeler undoubtedly owed bis
freedom. If not his life. to Col Pointer
during the war, and among the doctor s
effects was found an old clipping. printed
bv permission. from a letter OF Gen.
Wheeler to a friend n Dallas. Tex.
where Col Pointer lived for more than
twenty-five years.
AS Gen. Wheeler tells the story in his
pwn words the clipping is as follows:
Clipping Tells story.
During the campaign near MarvinviIle
on october Is. 1865, in d dash we cap
tured Maj. Graham and most Of his COM
rnand. After the capture two Union cav
alrvmen got away. and Pointer. Lieut..
Kelly and myself went after them. We
,,,rs,led them for some distance. with
Pointer in the lead. until we came TO a
Continued on Page 2, Column 8.