Obituary of Colonel Thompson McBride Meredith Source: The Ouachita Telegraph Submitted by Lora Peppers 8/6/00 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The Ouachita Telegraph October 18, 1866 Page 2, Column 4 DIED-In Caldwell Parish, at the residence of his father, J.J. Meredith, on the night of the 3rd inst., after a most painful and protracted illness, Colonel THOMPSON McBRIDE MEREDITH, in the -- year of his age. The disease of which deceased perished, was billious remittent fever, of the most malignant type ever witnessed in this climate, and although his agony the greater part of the time was intense, he bore it with manly fortitude and Christian resignation. Col. Meredith was born and raised in this Parish, and it may be said, with truth, that no shadow of stain ever sullied his name. A young man, whose qualities of head and heart are rarely equaled, perhaps never surpassed, it is but fitting eulogy to say he was, indeed, "one of Nature's noblemen." One among his wide circle of acquaintances and friends knew him but to respect and admire his noble nature, and in paying this last tribute of respect to our departed friend, we can freely say that no one had warmer or more devoted friends. At the outbreak of the late war he entered as a private the first volunteer company raised in the Parish, and though a mere tripling at the time, his manly deportment, distinguished gallantry and high-toned honor soon won for him the unbounded confidence and respect of his company, and he rapidly rose from the ranks to the chief in command of that gallant little band, the Caldwell Guards. As Captain of the Guards (a post he held to the close of the war), he was respected and loved by every man in the company. Ever careful for the safety and comfort of the men under his command, self-sacrificing for their interest and benefit- stern and unswerving in his discipline, yet courteous and kind to the meanest soldier- cool and self-possessed amid the fiercest storm of battle-brave to a fault, and generous as brave, had the war continued, his rapid promotion to a distinguished position would have been a certainty. In private life he was social, kind and genial, yet modest and unassuming as a child. A few days since, the stately form of this noble young man was towering among us in all the pride of manhood's early prime, and from his physical and mental organization he promised as fair for a long and useful life as any one now in the full vigor of health and youth. To-day, alas! He is cold and silent under the sod. The ruthless jaws of the grave have closed over all that was mortal of our noble young friend, and though we cannot restrain the bitter tears of sadness and sorrow at his untimely end, we are cheered by the fact that he died in the full assurance of a blessed immortality beyond the tomb. Shortly after the surrender, the militia of the Parish was organized, and the subject of our obituary was unanimously chosen Colonel. A few days before his last illness commenced, he was commissioned by the Governor of the State, at the solicitation of many of the most prominent citizens of the Parish, and a long list of petitioners, as Sheriff of the Parish and was legally qualified to discharge the duties of that office while suffering from the disease which terminated his life. His early and untimely death was rendered doubly painful by the fact that he was betrothed to a young and beautiful lady, whose intellectual excellence, kindness of heart and loveliness of person promised to make his home one of analloyed happiness. She remained near the couch of the sufferer, and aided the family in rendering every kind service which true womanly affection could suggest, for many days and nights before the scene of suffering was closed by death, and then she mingled tears of agony! with those of the noble and pious young sister of the deceased, who had constantly hovered around his couch like a ministering angel through all the long and dreary days and nights of anxiety and suffering, watching with eager and sleepless vigilance every opportunity to render those little offices of kindness which only such women know how to render to the sick and dying. But in spite of all this- in spite of the best directed efforts of his physicians and the earnest prayers of pious friends, he is gone. His mortal remains are in the cold and sombre embrace of the tomb, but his noble spirit, we humbly hope and believe, is at rest in the bosom of God who gave it. Then let us while we mingle obtrusive tears of grief with those of his bereaved family, bow down in humble submission to the irrevocable fiat of the All-Wise, and remember that we too, like our departed friend, must pass the ordeal of death, and while we mourn his untimely end, let us strive to emulate his noble virtues, and let the daily invocation arise from our hearts to God, that we tho, may die the death of the righteous and that our last end may be like his. W.