Death of the Commander of Fort Sumter.
The death of
Capt John C
Mitchell,
commanding Fort Sumter, has been published.
The Charleston
Mercury says:
‘
It seems that about one o'clock yesterday afternoon
Capt Mitchell was inspecting the southwest angle of the fort, with a view to decide upon the expediency of retaining a sentinel at that perilous post, when he was struck on the left hip by a fragment of a mortar shell, which shattered his thigh, inflicting a mortal wound.
He lingered until a few minutes before five o'clock, when he died as he had lived, a true soldier, repressing every outward manifestation of his suffering, and seemingly only solicitous that be might teach his garrison by his example the spirit in which a patriot should meet death in his country's cause.
Thus has passed from amongst us one of the very bravest and most accomplished officers, whose services it has been the good fortune of this Department to have secured.
’
The funeral of the late
Capt Mitchell, on Thursday afternoon, was a sad but striking evidence of the high appreciation with which the people of
Charleston, no less than his comrades of the army, had learned to regard his character and services.--At five o'clock St Paul's Church, where the remains, under guard of the
Citadel Cadets, had train in state since Wednesday night, was filed with a large concourse of our best citizens, mingled with the leading milliary and naval officers now here, all anxious to offer the last token of respect to the memory of the gallant dead.
The body, encased in a handsome coffin and draped gracefully with the folds of the star-crossed flag under which he full, rested at the head of the aisle, surrounded by his brothers in arms.
After the recitation of the solemn service for the dead by the
Rev Mr Bowe, the choir participating, the corpse was borne to the hearse, and in the presence of a vast and sorrowing multitude the line of march was taken up for Magnolia Cemetery, where the interment took place, with the usual military honors.
The
cortege was a very imposing one.
The battalion of State Cadets, with reversed arms, attended by the band of the 1st S C Artillery, formed the escort, and a very large number of officers, mounted and in full uniform, immediately preceded the hearse.
Amongst these were the
Major General commanding the department and his entire staff, and the
Brigadier General of this military district and staff.
The navy was also well represented on the occasion by a large attendance of its officers in uniform, including Com
Tucker and
Capt Hunter.
Truly, the solemn pageant was an honorable and fitting tribute to the worth of the youthful hero, who, in his death, has forever linked his name with the glorious record of
Fort Sumter.
The Charleston
Courier says:
‘
It is but a fortnight or little, more since, on one of the few, short and hurried visits he could pay to the city, the writer of these lines met him. A friend referring in terms of admiring approval to his connection with
Fort Sumter,
Capt Mitchell, with ingenuous modesty, acknowledged and accepted the compliment only as due to his garrison, and indulged in a glowing strain of enology on the brave men be commanded, and on the
Engineer.
He stated that it was his special and earnest desire and intention, should be he spared through the war, to do justice to those who commonly do not receive full justice in current reports of military affairs.
’
