Incidents of the War: Humorous, Pathetic, and DescriptiveBurnett, Alfred
History
Incidents of the War: Humorous, Pathetic, and Descriptive
Burnett, Alfred
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Anecdotes
It is a great pity so brave a man should have had so little control
over his temper. Although very severe in his discipline and rough in
his language, the boys of his division were devotedly attached to him,
_because he was a fighting man_. The 6th Ohio, especially, were his
ardent admirers. He was hated here, bitterly hated, by all
_Secessionists_; this of itself should have endeared him to Union men.
The Louisville _Journal_, this afternoon, in speaking of the affair,
says:
"General Nelson, from the first, thought the wound was a mortal one,
and expressed a desire to have the Rev. Mr. Talbott, of Calvary
Church, summoned. This gentleman resides about three miles below the
city, but was unable to get home on Sunday after service, and passed
the night at the Galt House. He immediately obeyed the summons, as he
was well acquainted with the General. The reverend gentleman informs
us that the dying man spoke no word concerning the difficulty, and
made no allusion to his temporal affairs, but was exceedingly
solicitous as to the salvation of his soul, and desired Mr. Talbott to
perform the rite of baptism, and receive him into the bosom of the
Church.
"After five minutes' conversation, to ascertain his state of
preparedness, the clergyman assented to his wish, and the solemn
ordinance was administered with unusual impressiveness, in the
presence of Dr. Murray, the medical director, Major-General
Crittenden, and a few other personal friends. When the service
concluded, he was calm, and sank into his last sleep quietly, with no
apparent physical pain, but with some mental suffering. The last
audible words that he uttered were a prayer for the forgiveness of his
sins. That appeal was made to Almighty God. Let, then, his
fellow-mortals be proud of his many virtues, his lofty patriotism, and
undaunted courage, while they judge leniently of those faults, which,
had they been curbed, might have been trained into virtues. Let it not
be said of our friend--
"'The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones.'"
THE FUNERAL.
The funeral of General Nelson took place yesterday afternoon. The
corpse of the General was incased in a most elegant rosewood coffin,
mounted with silver. The American flag, that he had so nobly fought
under at Shiloh, was wrapped about it; his sword, drawn for the last
time by that once brave hand, lay upon the flag. Bouquets were strewed
upon the coffin.
Major-General Granger, Major-General McCook, and Major-General
Crittenden, and Brigadier-General Jackson, assisted by other officers,
conveyed the remains from the hearse to the church-door, and down the
aisle. As they entered the building, Dr. Craig commenced reading the
burial service for the dead. As soon as they reached the pulpit, and
set down the corpse, the choir chanted a requiem in the most
impressive manner. Rev. Dr. Craig then read the 15th chapter of the
First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, 21st to the 29th verses:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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