The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-02-27
In MemOridm.

Wherin 1861 Mississippi passed the
fateful ordinance of secession and called
upon her sons to rally to the defense of
the state, Samuel N. Elliott, a young
law student at the University of Vir-
ginia, laid aside his books and hastened
to his home at Grenada to respond to
the call for volunteers. In his 10Th
year he enlisted as a private in the
Grenada Rifles. This company was or
dered to Corinth and in May, '61, was
united with other companies from this
section to form the 18th Mississippi In
fantry, a regiment that, under the COM
mand of Col. w. S. Statham and Lieut..
Col. E. C. Walthall, was awarded the
flag offered as a prize to the best
drilled regiment in the army, assembled
at Corinth.
The 18th Mississippi was one of the
finest regiments in the Confederate SER
vice. In the foremost fire at Fishing
Creek. in desperate assaults against the
Federal lines at Shiloh and on the
bloody field at Franklin, tn famous
regiment won distinguished praises for
soldierly conduct and stubborn valor.
Privats Elliott missed the fight at
Fishing Creek, having been ordered to
Knoxville on courier duty for Gen. Zol-
licoffer. But he went through the two
!days' battle at Shiloh and was shot
down and captured by Buell's fresh
forces on the second day. He Ian
guished in Northern prison until Sep
tember, 62, when he was exchanged
at Vicksburg and Immediately rejoined
his regiment. He soon after received a
commission as captain and was assigned
to duty on the staff of General Joe
Wheeler and took part in all the oper-
atons of Wheeler's cavalry, and with
the rank Of Lieut.. Col. commanded one
of Wheeler's regiments in the last des-
perate stand of Gen. ]. E. Johnston S
army against Gen. Sherman's over
whelming force at Bentonville.
With few comrades, Col. Elliott
rode to join the small escort attending
President Davis in his attempt to reach
the coast. but the president was cap
tured before Col. Elliott could join him
and the latter continued on to his home
in Mississippi, to cast his lot with the
desolate and war-stricken people of his
state. Through the terrible years OF
reconstruction he was one of that he
roic band of ex-Confederates that, un
der the wise leadership of men like
Barksdale, George, Lamar and Wal
thall, rescued the South from the evi
blight of carpetbagism and the curse o.
negro domination.
Col. Elliott knew personally nearly
, all the great soldiers and statesmen
| from Mississippi in his day, besides
having personal acquaintance will
| Generals Wheeler, Forrest. Joe John
ston, Bragg, Breckenridge, Hood, Har
| dee, Cheatham, the gallant Cleburn
and that peerless soldier and states
man, Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Col. Elliott was man of unassum
: ing modesty and never referred to hi
military service except in an occasiona
-. exchange of "reminiscences with som
E old comrade, or in answer to the ques
g tions of some young person Intereste
= in knowing "the story of the glory O
n the men who wore the gray
n He was not exempt from the frai
v ties that beset our weak human nature
but his soul was brave, generous an
e chivalrous. He made mistakes and sui
e fered misfortunes, but he bore thel
with accomplishing fortitude.
On the evening of Dec. l9, 1918, th
brave old veteran "crossed over tn
river to rest under the shade of tn
trees" with his comrades. who faithfl
e and true to their ideals of duty and pa
!, riotism, were valiant actors in ws
S that was "the great epic of the Ang
Saxon breed-the greatest epic in tt
+ istory of mankind"
S ION Fame's eternal camping ground
J. Their silent tents are spread,
s While glory guards with solemn rour
s The bivouac of the dead
t w. A. w.