The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1951-07-05
ASOUTHERN PATRIOT
6etysburg Hero, Uncle OF Pikens Resident,
Old Newspaper Tells OF Jere Cages Death

june ~, 1918 issue VI lHe lihiCS
Democrat of New Orleans, and
brought to The Advertiser office
publishes facts concerning the
death of Jere Gage, a hero of Get
fysbnrg, and the uncle of Jere
Gage of Pickens, and the great
SINGLE of Lester Gage, also OF
Psckens. The account tells of how
Mrs. C.. Armistead, sister OF the
Confederate hero, learned that
her brother was a hero, a half
century after his death.
In reading a Fourth of July edl-
Aicu of the Times Democrat, Mrs.
Armistead followed "the eloquent
picture of the battle scene, OF the
opening engagement, OF the scant
urotecfion behind a barnyard
roadway, where the young assls-
FAINT surgeon ministered to the
rroucbing wounded with shot and
shell humming and screaming
over his head; of the watch, prob
ably one of the few in existence,
that went through the civil war,
coming out of it to daily use with
a craven record of the battles
eweathered: Seven Pines, Cold
Harbor, Malvern Hill, Second
Manassas, Sharpsburg, Gettys-
burg, Falling Water, Wilderness,
Gpottsylvania, second Cold Har-
Dor, Petersburg and Appomat-
fox.
The story went on, telling
how, by the hands of that same
watch. the third days battle was
opened, of how the wounded be-
xan to come in, of the first to be
borne on a litter, a young fellow
with the beard of a boy and the
eyes of a man. One arm had been
nearly torn from the shoulder by
n cannon ball, but he had said
svitn fine pluck: That's nothing;
here's where / am really hurt
doctor and the surgeon turning
down the blanket, had discovered
the lower abdomen torn through
H. 4 cannon ball, part OF the olad-
der gone, the pelvis shattered"
The dying boy requested to be
raised up until he could write a
last message to his mother. Inc
message was touched with his own
hfe blood and he drank a dying
Toast 10 the Confederacy.
The account further told of how
The next night after reading the
account of his brothers death, a
letter was delivered to DR.. Joseph
Holt. the surgeon in reference,
who was later a surgeon-In-chlef.
AT that time he had been assistant
surgeon in the Second Mlssissip-
Di Regiment, A. p. Hills Corps,
Hefb's division, Davis brigade.
The late Mrs. Armistead wrote
snuuired if the soldier referred to
could have been her brother, ana
the following is DR.. Hollis reply:
New Orleans
June "a, 1918
Mrs. v. G.. Armistead St, City
!. Fear Madam-In my reminis-
cences of Gettysburg, in last Sum
DAYS Times Democrat, the prin-
cely fellow and favored son OF the
Eleventh Mississippi, the first to
arrive on a liner" was Jere Gage.
His body is buried where he dat
ed bis letter "On the Battle
Field@ and I trust, will yer
remain, for the field of Gettysburg
is the monument.
That you, his sister, nave an
.s,pupced his name, from this time
hence the story of his departure
wiyl live in cherished memories OF
the Southern people, and as part
of the common heritage of the
magnanimity and valor of Ameri-
IAN manhood in even balance
He needs no tablature in mar
,le. brass or bronze. That you
IRE his sister, l profoundly con-
graduate you, madam, and my
'seh in being the medium OF IN
formation. Very sincerely,
Joseph Holt
Written in mortal agony amid
che roar and horror of battle by a
youth who knew he had but a few
hours TO live, supported in the
doctors arms with a knapsack as
desk, Jere Cages letter reads:
Gettysburg, Pa.
July 3
Ny Dear Mother,
This is the last you may ever
hear from me. / have time to tell
you that / died like a man. Bear
1xry loss the best you can. Remem-
her that I am true to my coun-
try, and my greatest regret at
diving is that she is not free and
that you and my sisters are rob-
bed of my worth, whatever that
MAY 20. l hope this will reach
ROu, and you must not regret
chat my body cannot be obtained.
IL Is a mere matter of form any
ROW. This is for my sisters, too,
- 7 earpot write more. Send my