Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1911-10-12

Taps were sounded for another of the
few remaining members of the Brave
Boys in Gray" onlast Friday at 2 O'Clock
in the afternoon when Major Thomas
Peery Bowen ''passed over the river"
to rest with his old comrades under
the shade of the trees
Seventythree years ago the second of
last August, he was born in the house
on the knoll overlooking the Maiden
Spring, in the Cove, and there spent
his happy boyhood and young manhood,
IN the careless, care-free manner of the
youth of his day, under the shadows of
old Paint Lick. But when grim war
showed its wrinkled front he was among
the first to offer his services in behalf
of his beloved State, and went to the
front as first lieutenant of that famous
troop, the Tazewell Troopers.
In the trying times of camp and the
fierce fields of battle his dominant ex-
ecutive ability came forth and won him
promotion, until, at the close of the war,
he was Colonel Of the Eighth Virginia
Cavalry, and as Senior Colonel, in
command of the famous "Stonewall''
Brigade on the fated field of Appomat-
tox.
In civil life he was kindly and court
eous in every action. Generous-much
too generous for his own material good
and by disposition not inclined to keen
in the front of the iIerce commercial
strife of the younger generation, but
withal, by his courteous bearing he left
behind memory that will be cherished
as long as there are any left who revere
the kind and gentle manners of Vir-
ginia gentleman of the old school.
Forty-fve years ago, just after the
close of the war, he returned to Green
brier county, w. Va, and married his
wartime sweetheart, Miss Augusta
Stuart, who, with two daughters, Mrs.
W. G. O'Brien and Miss Ells Stuart
Bowen, of this place, and one son, Mr..
Reese Tate Bowen, sr., of Bluefield. w.
Va, survive him.
The funeral services were held at the
Presbyterian church Sunday morning at
IL O'Clock, conducted by his pastor, Rev.
S. o. Hall. At the close of the service.
Captain A. j. Tynes, on his own behalf
as fellow-officer of the Tazewen Troop
ers, and on behalf of the Browne Har-
man Camp of Confederate Veterans.
paid, in voice tremulous with emotion,
touching tribute to the manly qualities
of their departed comrade.
At the close of Captain Tynes' ad-
dress the remains were borne to Maple
Shade Cemetery, where they will rest
until he answers the ''Long Roll'' of his
Great Commander. The hands of low
ing nephews did this last act for him,
and his comrades of the Browne-Har-
man Camp acted as honorary pail bear
ers.
A word may here be said as to why.
although colonel at the close of the
war, he was always known as Major
Bowen.
At the close of the war there were
several of the Bowen's bearing military
titles won in action-his father, Cen
eral Reese Tate Bowen, an uncle, Colo
mel Henry Bowen, and younger broth
er, Captain Henry Bowen. 1t was to
distinguish him from his uncle, Colonel
Henry Bowen, that the younger man
Thomas Peery Bowen, was known to
his comrades and friends as Major Bow
en-a title of which both he and his
comrades were proud, from the fact
that he had won his golden oak leaves
in the seven days titanic struggle in
defense of the Capital of the Southern
Cnnfadaraou