Following is the obituary of Hugh Gibson Caldwell (1842-1865) as it appeared in the Yorkville Enquirer in May of 1865:
OBITUARY
Died – At Point Lookout, SERGT. H. G. CALDWELL of Co. K, 17th S.C. Vol., age 23 years.
Truly the ways of the Almighty are inscrutable to weak and fallible man, else how would we reconcile ourselves to the fiat of an overruling Providence. For judging by the fallacious standard of all human weakness, why should so amiable a young man, in whom the blossom of all human perfection was so fast budding, and soon to burst forth and send its delightful odor to all around, and filling the atmosphere of society with joy and gladness, he thus nipped in the bud! And at such an inauspicious moment; for after having gone through the war, enduring all the privations and hardships consequent to a soldier, who faithfully discharged his duty. And having endured the rigor of a military prison for one month with patience and resignation, looking forward to the time when the notes of war and the clangor of arms would die away in our valleys and on our mountains; when he could again meet in peace his kindred and friends, and visit his home and the scenes of his childhood. While such gratifying anticipations as these filled his mind, the war ceased, the glorious news of peace once more reverberated through the air, and every prospect seemed to brighten that could facilitate the dearest wish of his heart, viz. that of again seeing in peace, home and friends. But amidst all these pleasing anticipations the relentless hand of death seized upon his impaired constitution, contracted from living so long a soldier. And he was called from the confines of the gloomy prison to reap the rewards of a devoted, honest, upright and benevolent heart, to that bourn from which no traveler returns.
A very short time before he yielded his life to the One that have it, he requested one of his comrades to write to his Pa and Ma: “Tell them,” said he, “that I am going to die; tell them that I am not afraid to die; tell them that I have gone through the war and would like to have returned home again to comfort them in their latter days, but now I know I never shall – I know that I must die; but thank God I am not afraid to die.” Little Willie.
These were the dying words of that noble and gallant son of Old York, who nobly came to the rescue of his country. Much is due to the name of this meritorious young man. – If my pen were plucked from the heaven soaring eagle, and had I the language of Milton, I would fail to do justice to the subject upon which I now write. He leaves a father, mother, brothers and sisters, and a large circle of friends to mourn his untimely fate and irreparable loss. We hope that his spirit was wafted to realms of eternal glory on angel’s wings, there to sing God’s praise forever and ever. – We are taught that the “pure in heart shall see God,” and we believe that he was of this class. We sympathize with the bereaved parents and friends, for he possessed all the qualities that fond parents and dear friends could desire; but they week not as those who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Christ, will God bring with him.
Contributed by Robert Allison Ragan, a great-great nephew.
OBITUARY
Died – At Point Lookout, SERGT. H. G. CALDWELL of Co. K, 17th S.C. Vol., age 23 years.
Truly the ways of the Almighty are inscrutable to weak and fallible man, else how would we reconcile ourselves to the fiat of an overruling Providence. For judging by the fallacious standard of all human weakness, why should so amiable a young man, in whom the blossom of all human perfection was so fast budding, and soon to burst forth and send its delightful odor to all around, and filling the atmosphere of society with joy and gladness, he thus nipped in the bud! And at such an inauspicious moment; for after having gone through the war, enduring all the privations and hardships consequent to a soldier, who faithfully discharged his duty. And having endured the rigor of a military prison for one month with patience and resignation, looking forward to the time when the notes of war and the clangor of arms would die away in our valleys and on our mountains; when he could again meet in peace his kindred and friends, and visit his home and the scenes of his childhood. While such gratifying anticipations as these filled his mind, the war ceased, the glorious news of peace once more reverberated through the air, and every prospect seemed to brighten that could facilitate the dearest wish of his heart, viz. that of again seeing in peace, home and friends. But amidst all these pleasing anticipations the relentless hand of death seized upon his impaired constitution, contracted from living so long a soldier. And he was called from the confines of the gloomy prison to reap the rewards of a devoted, honest, upright and benevolent heart, to that bourn from which no traveler returns.
A very short time before he yielded his life to the One that have it, he requested one of his comrades to write to his Pa and Ma: “Tell them,” said he, “that I am going to die; tell them that I am not afraid to die; tell them that I have gone through the war and would like to have returned home again to comfort them in their latter days, but now I know I never shall – I know that I must die; but thank God I am not afraid to die.” Little Willie.
These were the dying words of that noble and gallant son of Old York, who nobly came to the rescue of his country. Much is due to the name of this meritorious young man. – If my pen were plucked from the heaven soaring eagle, and had I the language of Milton, I would fail to do justice to the subject upon which I now write. He leaves a father, mother, brothers and sisters, and a large circle of friends to mourn his untimely fate and irreparable loss. We hope that his spirit was wafted to realms of eternal glory on angel’s wings, there to sing God’s praise forever and ever. – We are taught that the “pure in heart shall see God,” and we believe that he was of this class. We sympathize with the bereaved parents and friends, for he possessed all the qualities that fond parents and dear friends could desire; but they week not as those who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Christ, will God bring with him.
Contributed by Robert Allison Ragan, a great-great nephew.
Following is the obituary of Hugh Gibson Caldwell (1842-1865) as it appeared in the Yorkville Enquirer in May of 1865:
OBITUARY
Died – At Point Lookout, SERGT. H. G. CALDWELL of Co. K, 17th S.C. Vol., age 23 years.
Truly the ways of the Almighty are inscrutable to weak and fallible man, else how would we reconcile ourselves to the fiat of an overruling Providence. For judging by the fallacious standard of all human weakness, why should so amiable a young man, in whom the blossom of all human perfection was so fast budding, and soon to burst forth and send its delightful odor to all around, and filling the atmosphere of society with joy and gladness, he thus nipped in the bud! And at such an inauspicious moment; for after having gone through the war, enduring all the privations and hardships consequent to a soldier, who faithfully discharged his duty. And having endured the rigor of a military prison for one month with patience and resignation, looking forward to the time when the notes of war and the clangor of arms would die away in our valleys and on our mountains; when he could again meet in peace his kindred and friends, and visit his home and the scenes of his childhood. While such gratifying anticipations as these filled his mind, the war ceased, the glorious news of peace once more reverberated through the air, and every prospect seemed to brighten that could facilitate the dearest wish of his heart, viz. that of again seeing in peace, home and friends. But amidst all these pleasing anticipations the relentless hand of death seized upon his impaired constitution, contracted from living so long a soldier. And he was called from the confines of the gloomy prison to reap the rewards of a devoted, honest, upright and benevolent heart, to that bourn from which no traveler returns.
A very short time before he yielded his life to the One that have it, he requested one of his comrades to write to his Pa and Ma: “Tell them,” said he, “that I am going to die; tell them that I am not afraid to die; tell them that I have gone through the war and would like to have returned home again to comfort them in their latter days, but now I know I never shall – I know that I must die; but thank God I am not afraid to die.” Little Willie.
These were the dying words of that noble and gallant son of Old York, who nobly came to the rescue of his country. Much is due to the name of this meritorious young man. – If my pen were plucked from the heaven soaring eagle, and had I the language of Milton, I would fail to do justice to the subject upon which I now write. He leaves a father, mother, brothers and sisters, and a large circle of friends to mourn his untimely fate and irreparable loss. We hope that his spirit was wafted to realms of eternal glory on angel’s wings, there to sing God’s praise forever and ever. – We are taught that the “pure in heart shall see God,” and we believe that he was of this class. We sympathize with the bereaved parents and friends, for he possessed all the qualities that fond parents and dear friends could desire; but they week not as those who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Christ, will God bring with him.
Contributed by Robert Allison Ragan, a great-great nephew.
OBITUARY
Died – At Point Lookout, SERGT. H. G. CALDWELL of Co. K, 17th S.C. Vol., age 23 years.
Truly the ways of the Almighty are inscrutable to weak and fallible man, else how would we reconcile ourselves to the fiat of an overruling Providence. For judging by the fallacious standard of all human weakness, why should so amiable a young man, in whom the blossom of all human perfection was so fast budding, and soon to burst forth and send its delightful odor to all around, and filling the atmosphere of society with joy and gladness, he thus nipped in the bud! And at such an inauspicious moment; for after having gone through the war, enduring all the privations and hardships consequent to a soldier, who faithfully discharged his duty. And having endured the rigor of a military prison for one month with patience and resignation, looking forward to the time when the notes of war and the clangor of arms would die away in our valleys and on our mountains; when he could again meet in peace his kindred and friends, and visit his home and the scenes of his childhood. While such gratifying anticipations as these filled his mind, the war ceased, the glorious news of peace once more reverberated through the air, and every prospect seemed to brighten that could facilitate the dearest wish of his heart, viz. that of again seeing in peace, home and friends. But amidst all these pleasing anticipations the relentless hand of death seized upon his impaired constitution, contracted from living so long a soldier. And he was called from the confines of the gloomy prison to reap the rewards of a devoted, honest, upright and benevolent heart, to that bourn from which no traveler returns.
A very short time before he yielded his life to the One that have it, he requested one of his comrades to write to his Pa and Ma: “Tell them,” said he, “that I am going to die; tell them that I am not afraid to die; tell them that I have gone through the war and would like to have returned home again to comfort them in their latter days, but now I know I never shall – I know that I must die; but thank God I am not afraid to die.” Little Willie.
These were the dying words of that noble and gallant son of Old York, who nobly came to the rescue of his country. Much is due to the name of this meritorious young man. – If my pen were plucked from the heaven soaring eagle, and had I the language of Milton, I would fail to do justice to the subject upon which I now write. He leaves a father, mother, brothers and sisters, and a large circle of friends to mourn his untimely fate and irreparable loss. We hope that his spirit was wafted to realms of eternal glory on angel’s wings, there to sing God’s praise forever and ever. – We are taught that the “pure in heart shall see God,” and we believe that he was of this class. We sympathize with the bereaved parents and friends, for he possessed all the qualities that fond parents and dear friends could desire; but they week not as those who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Christ, will God bring with him.
Contributed by Robert Allison Ragan, a great-great nephew.
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