#2
Captain Louis T. Young (Aide de
Camp to Brigadier General Pettigrew) on the death of his best friend
Captain Campbell Tredwell Iredell - 47th
North Carolina Infantry
“While lying in our position looking at the preparations being made
for the grand assault, intelligence was brought me of the death of
one of my dearest, friends, Captain Campbell T. Iredell, Co. C, 47th
N.C. He had lost his right arm by a shell in the first days fight,
but his death was totally unexpected, and I cannot express the grief
it gave me. - Dear Cam. Two long heart-corroding years have passed
since then, yet it is an event of to-day. - The memory of the past
comes over my soul. Our marches, our bivouacs, our wants, our
abundance, our sorrow, our rejoicings, each and all, they were common
to us both.
When on that fatal field, thou wast stricken unto death, it was I,
whose heart beat proud at thy heroic bearing, it was I, whose hands,
in thy support, were bathed in thy flowing blood, - shed a holy
sacrifice for liberty. And to-day, upon that blood-washed field, the
green grass waves between thy clay and heaven. Sleep Well! - though
in a stranger's land – undisturbed by the mighty noise of
thousands, who come to commemorate - my defeat, - thy victory. Sleep
well! For in this our sorrow-stricken land, there are faithful ones,
who daily bend the knee here, while their hearts are resting there,
in the grave with thee. And I , not among the least, will cherish
the memory of thy manly virtues, until this weak flesh shall sleep
its long, last sleep, where our souls shall commune together again in
the spirit land.”
Captain Iredell was 27 at the time of his death and as far as is
known, his remains were never recovered and no record exists, except
for the fact that he was buried on the Polly Farm. He may still to
this day rest where the “green grass waves between thy clay and
heaven.”
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