where lives were ravished everywhere

 

Letters of Lt D. S. Donelson

                                                                                    1861-62-63

In Memoriam

 

Lt Daniel S. Donelson was born in Davidson Co Tenn, on 2^nd of Dec 1842—Was murdered in Desoto Co Miss on the 25^th of Jan 1864—Aged 21 years.

Seldom at any time ever since war's stern strength has shaken the land up rooting and demoralizing the diviner feelings of man, has there occurred so heartrending and horrible an event as the murder of Lt Donelson

 

Lt Donelson enlisted in the early beginning of the war in the Hickory Rifles of the 154^th Sr. regt of Tenn Vol, of which regt he was Sergeant Major. In Aug he received a commission of 2^nd Lt from the Sec of war as adjutant of the 2^nd Confederate Regt Col Jno D Martin, was in the long and trying march of Gen Johnston's army from Bowing Green to Corinth, partici / in the battle of Shiloh on the 6^th & 7^th of April, where his gallantry was so conspicuous that he was mentioned in official reports. After this battle the depletion of the regt was such that the it was dis banded, Lt D was then ordered to Meridian as adjutant of the Post. In Aug he again took the field as Inspector General of Martin's Brigade and was in the fatal battle of Corinth Oct 3^rd where his loved comander fell, soothed his dying mor hour and bore from the field the loved remains from He continued with this Brigade under its temporary comander Col Witherspoon untill the army fell back to Southern Miss. He was in Vicksburg awaiting orders when that memorable siege began—was surrendered when the place capitulated Strange allotment of fate, to die by assassin hands that often passing through so many scenes where life was freely ravished every where 

 

Being still unexchanged he obtained a leave of absence from Gen Polk, and came into North Miss, to visit friends and desiring to see his own dear home circle obtained leave from the Genl Comanding to go into Memphis where they reside. He remained with them

a month, and left Memphis on the 25^th of Jan to return

to [torn]           weeks rolled on, and no tidings of

[torn]                             mother heart grew sick

[remainder this side torn away] /

had laid. in the morbidity of death lay all that remained of their noble gifted boy. Three long months had passed, the wintry winds were blowing when he kissed his Mother a last farewell

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