The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-01-07

the spring before he died the next
fall. He was old and feeble. about
SO years old, and unable to 60 10 his
Office, so 1 went to his residence TO
see him. We were talking on various
n alters and I mentioned the fact thar
Colonel Ruffin was in his class al the
University. He then related TO me
the circumstance Of his death as told
him by a Federal Colonel who was
present at the fight The Colonel
said there was no need of his getting
killed, tina Ruffin made a charge into
the enemy, ahead Of his men aid was
shot He said it was h brayest and
most reckless daring he ever Wit
messed. He said he exhibited a per-
feet contempt for death. There was
not in the Confederate army a Drawer
man, a purer patriot, a more gallant
soldier, a more devoted follower OK
the Southern cause than Thomas Ruf-
fin. 1t is a pity for such men to die
Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, in speaking OF
the last fight in which Colonel Ruffin
was engaged, 1.-The old hrst
North Carolina Cavalry, which was
led BY its gallant Colonel, the iamented
Ruffin, charged a regiment OF infantry
nearly all Of whom had surrendered,
when a reinforcement closing up rap
idly under the cover OF a fence com
PEELED the Spartan bands to relin-
Quish their captives. The Colonel OF
liz ASl1 hA Ian 49,
was a model of worth, devotion and
heroism." This was high praise COM
ing from the intrepid Stuart. the Ma
rat CT the Confederate army. Napo-
leon said Murat was the greatest cav
airy officer in the world. They were
both alike in their tastes, fond of line
horses richly c~aparisoned, with gor-
geous uniforms and plumes of he
rarest variety on their hats, yet they
were the ave Of the brave. Cap
tain Slocumb says: "He was captured
at Malvern Hill and while a prisoner
he suffered so many shameful indig-
mites at the hands of the enemy that
he swore hA would never be captured
again, which oath he kept invlclable
to the day of his death. At Gettys-
burag he was wounded in the head in
a hand to hand encounter. and he re-
turned to Goldsboro. While ut home.
continues Captain SlOcumb. he went to
his office and began to pack his law
books in a box. Somebody asked
what he meant by shipping his books
away; o will need them again when
you return. Colonel Ruffn replied,
mo, I shall ave no further use for
them. A man occupying my position.
if he does his duty, has but a slight
chance for his life" At tho. darkest
said to him. Colonel. l am getting
tired Of the war; l wish it was over
so [ could go home" Ruffin flashed
hls@eyes upon him and with a wither-
ing look, said, why, Captain II am
surprised at YOU. l would rather live
100000 years and fight them every day
than for the Yankees to OnQue us"
| have cited these passages to show
in what heroic mould he was cast
and how devoted he was to the cause
OF the C~onfederacy. The South being
the weaker section he owed her with
t same tenderness and affection that
a brave, strong son loves his mother,
t and he was readily and willing at any
time to give his life in her defense.
Duty was his Watchword and the con-
trolling principle of his life. He was
S as inhexible and stern in the perform
ance OF his duty as was the brave old
soldier Seidlitz, the %favorite general
4 OF Frederick the Great. At the battle
OF ZOrndorf fought on August the
: 25th. 1853, between the Prussians
n the Russians. Frederick formed
q his plan OF battle and gave his or
t ders to his generals In the very
t CRISIS OF the battle late in the even
: dltion, when he must violate the
f klngs in order to succeed.
Loyal to his King he fought the bat
ne on MS own plan. Frederick was
I : word to Seidlitz that he should an
= swer Tor his disobedience with his
mead. Tell the King" said the old
: general in reply, that he can have
! my head when the battle is over. bu,
until then | must use it in his serv-
Ice" Sefdfitz's movement was sue.
cessIul the Russians were every
! where routed. When the battle was
over and a great victory was won fol
the russians, Frederick went to his
q ~oed general, threw his arms
around him and exclaimed .Seid.
a ht1 | owe the victory to YOU" Colo.
e mel Rufin having been born a gen.
n ueman and being thoroughly honest
ne hated a mean action and being :
" oroad-minded statesman, with an un,
n stlllled purity of character he had =.
= perfect contempt for the vices anf
h tricks OF the little politicians. Bein,
Ell a disciple OF Calhoun, politics was
is science with him, and when govern