The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-01-11

! ton seemed imminent. was she backed
off into safety.
No pen can do Justice 70 the heroIsrr
Of such valor as these SONS Of the
south exhibited in the great stTuggle
such as has never had =. parallel lr
history, but I avail myself of this OF
porrunity, which esteem g. high priv
| lege, to write this tribute to one, who
we rejoice to say stiI lives and whom
we ali love.
Benjamin Sirrnns Herring, SECOND
child Of Bryan Whitfield Herring and
Penelope Simms, was born in Dublin
county, N c., March IA. 1887.
His paternaI grandparents were VIII
liam Whitfield Herring and Rachel
Bryan Whitfield. widow OF Nathan
Bryan; and his maternal grandparents
Benjamin SimIns and Tabitha Thomas
He was educated at the University
Of Mississippi. and the Q. s. Naval
academy at Annapolis.
Was appointed from Virginia. Form
erl ythird assistant engineer U. S.
navy. Original entry into G. s, navy,
July 90. 1851. Second assistant engin-
eer. August Is, 1868 First assistant en-
gtneer. June e, 1884.
Served on G. S. s Virginia: parttci- :
pated in battles Of HAMPTON Roads,
March. SO. 1882. Naval Works, Column
bus, Ga, 1s62-es. c. s. 8. Tennessee,
1864, Mobile squadron 1894. Sur
rendered and paroIed May 10, 1865.
ring was on dutv aboard the Z. S.
man OF war Richmond, cruising IN the
Mediterranean This vessel was inn
mediately ordered IN, and on reaching
New York Mr.. Herring rendered his
resignation from the L. S service. 60
ing south Immediately.
Speaking OF that time Mr.. Herring
said. Having no watch. I went on
shore rs u matter OF course. I wore
my uniform, az I had no citizens
~Io4hez and upa 9nr1 aakaF ~ sOvoe
one to what company belonged" The
city did not look gay as had formerly
seen II. but every one seemed confident
Of success, and OF crushing the rebel
not seem to be anxious or at all IN
easy about the issue Of their arms
and public opinion had quietly settled
down TO that stats OF mind which said
GO South II you wish. I only pity
you for being a afmpieton- You Will
lose your position, and blast your pros
poets for life by taking so suicidal a
course
A Captain Of Infantry. whom he met
In Central Park urged him not to re-
sign from the Q. 8; service telling
him houors would be heaped upon him
If he remained true 70 the flag. HIS
reply that he was from thu south, all
hts relatives there, his future prospects
there also: and that II the north gave
them the alternative Of war or dis
accepting war, and from war to the
knife, and the knife to the hiit, and
that he was going there as soon as
he could get away from New York
When the war ended. Mr. Herring
Ike C!ncinnatus Of old turned his at
tention TO agriculture, and to the grow
ing Of fine fruits and rare plants He
afterward entered the service Of what
ia now the s a. l. Railway as Me
chanicaI Engineer. and is still with
that company.
Mr. Herring has never accepted q
pension. holding that he merely did
his duty as q man. and not as a hire
ling Of his governm ent. He has lived
to ripe age, and Is still hale and
active, and every citizen of Leon couu-
". and especially those with whom he
is associated, will Join me in wishing
him a happy and prosperous New
Year" and may he live to see many
returns of the Yule-tide season.