Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 10.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

“ [320] man had, so gentle and so strong. I think his death was more regretted than that of any other man whom I came in contact with during the war. He was so much respected by his commanders, and so truly loved by his equals and subordinates.” General G. T. Beauregard testifies “he was a very gallant, and an excellent officer.” And General Thomas Jordan (the Adjutant-General of General Beauregard's staff), “he was an officer of distinction, and of high promise at the time of his death.”

Miss Yonge, the charming English authoress, defines a hero, as “a man who does more than his duty.” Captain Harleston illustrated her definition of that often mis-applied term, for I suppose she meant that a hero is a man whose spirit carries him beyond the written letter of the law, whose earnest zeal knows no limitation but that of absolute self abnegation. Who reads the word duty, according to the widest interpretation, understanding it to mean his utmost endeavor, (which no man can go beyond.) I was reminded of Miss Yonge's idea by a conversation between two ladies (in no way related to Captain Harleston,) who were speaking of his sad fate; one of them said, “at any rate he died in the performance of his duty, which is a nobler destiny than awaits most of us.” The other replied, “Ah! my dear, it was more than his duty.”

Frank Harleston was not quite 24 years old when he fell, but he had lived long enough to win the thorough confidence of his superiors in rank, the hearts of his comrades and the gatitude of his State.

The brave die never;
In death they but exchange their
Country's arms for more--
Their country's heart.¹