The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-04-09
ST. LEGER GRENFEL.
The Daring Confederate Criminal.
By D. A. Dickert.
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Who was St. Leger Grenfel? Does
any one remember him while in the
flesh? Who ever knew his end? I
fear none. Of all the brave soldiers
who followed the flags of the lost
cause, or in the wakes Of the plumes
Of our great leaders, who fought her
bloody battles, none now remain, who
remembers the fearless knight St.
Leger G1enfel Of his sad end, there
Is only a supposition. Few Of that
great host of rollicking, roistering SOL
diers that flocked to the South from
foreign lands, none deserve a higher
niche in the Hall of Fame. than Major
Wheat of the louisiana Tigers, and
Grenfel, the erractic, eccentri cand mis-
guided follower of Forrest. Soldiers,
like poets, are born, not made. So
these two children of fortune, loved
the music Of battle, rage and storm of
shot and shell. They loved excitement,
personal danger and eourted death in
all its forms. Major Wheat loved the
hard, steady blows of the infantry
and organized a battalion Of the very
worst element around New Orleans.
They were all wiped out at Manassas
and Cold Harbor. St. Leger loved
the life of the cavalier and sought
Forrest, who was tnen raising his
famous cavalrymen in Kentucky. Both
had served in the Crimean War, in
the contest between Turkey and Rus
sia, in which England and France took
sides with the former. Wheat was an
American, but after his rejection by
famous beauty of this State, and
her marriage with a South Carolina
War Governor, Wheat declared his in
tention to forever devote his life to
war.
St. Leger was the younger son Of
noble English family, and after the
snding of the Russo-Turkish war, the
Sultan appointed him to the command
Of his cavalry legions. The cavalry
of Tennessee and Kentucky under
Morgan and Forrest were creating
quite stir in the early years of the
val, and what wasmorte natural, than
Grenfel would find his element with
the dashing ilorsemen. He met For
rest as he was slowly moving south,
and was at once given position on
his staff, as captain or major. His
.affffable disposition, his pleasant man
ner, his large fund of information,
generally Of an exciting nature, led
him and Forrest to become staunch
friends. Throughout the long march
es, the camp, the deadly grip of bat
tie, he was ever Forests shadow.
An expert swordsman, superb horse
man, and fearless to fault, Forrest
admired his new attache to his staff,
more for his personal attainment than
his knowledge of war, learned in the
Ottoman service Grenfel's love for
Forrest was more through the fame he
had won and the history he was max
ing as the greatest leader of the most
dashing set Of horsemen that ever
drew a blade.
In their personal make up, they
were widely apart. Forrest was I'M
patient, bluff, uneducated, with the
manners more of the rowdy, than the
polished and cultivated attainments
of St. Leger. The LATTER was per-
feet Chesterfield, and dressed more.
with the aim of gaudiness than neat
ness. His bright scarlet cap, or rath-
or turban, set off in good harmony his
cloak, hanging from his shoulders and
lined with the deepest crimson, his
high top boots, at the heels of which
dangled golden spurs. He was as
straight as an Indian, his hair close
cropped, smooth shaven, with eyes of
the steelest blue, and sat his horse
like a centaur.
Grenfel looked to Forrest, more as
the means to an end, the qualification
of his personal ambition, the love Of
the dangerous He was always long
ing to do the unreal, the wonderful.
Still they were great friends and con-
fidents. When an important order
was to be carried, St. Leger was the
man to be entrusted with its delivery.
When dangerous mission was to be
undertaken, he was Forests ideal.
In all the marches and battles in Ken
tucky and Tennessee they were ever
side by side. But at the stormlng and
taking of Fort Pillow, came the part
ing of the ways. Forrest never wish
II co,. TIN oaonec;+v Of tho ctOrnln O.