Caswell County NcArchives Obituaries.....Donoho, Major Saunders July 7, 1826
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Deb Haines http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000719 
September 1, 2012, 9:41 pm

(Louisiana) State Gazetteer, July 24, 1826
Pensacola, July 15.

Horrid Murder!--We noticed last week, a report that Major Saunders Donoho, of 
the 4th Regiment United States Infantry, had been shot at Cantonment Clinch. It 
is now our melancholy duty to confirm the report and to state some of the 
particulars. It appears that in the afternoon of Friday, the seventh instant; 
one of the sergeants, (Benj. Donika) appeared on parade in a state of 
intoxication, an observing which Major Donoho, shoved him from the ranks, 
reprimanded him and ordered him to his quarters the sergeant obeyed, but when 
the Maj. was on parade at tattoo, he came from the quarters, approached Maj. 
Donoho and asked him if he meant to have him arrested Maj. D. enquired what he 
meant, when he immediately presented his musket and fired. They were standing 
quite close to each other; a ball and several buckshot entered the Major's body, 
a little below the ribs on the right side and the ball passed out just above the 
left hip. He expired about seventy minutes after during which time he was 
perfectly rational related all the circumstances himself said he was satisfied 
that all he had done to sergeant Donoki was in the discharge of his duty, and 
that his chief regret in leaving this world was the grief his death would cause 
to his mother. The perpetrator of the horrid deed was taken immediately and is 
now in confinement awaiting his trial.

In recording the death of such a man as Maj. Donoho, we feel at a loss to 
express ourself in terms sufficiently strong to convey an adequate idea, of the 
mournful feelings of a whole community, at a bereavement so melancholy and so 
sudden.

Possessed of one of the mildest dispositions, polite, affable and gentlemanly in 
his deportment to all; humane, kind and attentive to those under his command, 
Maj. Donoho was among the last on whom we could have anticipated that such an 
outrage would have been committed; and it it hardly possible to believe, that 
any thing short of insanity could have nerved an arm, to raise an instrument of 
death, against one so universally beloved, esteemed and respected.

It remains only for us to say, that by the death of Major Donoho his friends and 
acquaintances have sustained a loss which never can be forgotten and that by it 
a blank has been created which few are competent to fill; we leave his eulogy to 
abler pens and his more intimate associates. His remains were interred on 
Saturday evening 8th instant, at Cantonment Clinch, with military honors and 
were also followed to the grave by a very large collection of Naval Officers and 
of the citizens of Pensacola.

Since the above was in type, we have been favoured with the obituary; which 
appears in another column, and with the following:

Head Quarters, 4th Infantry, 
Cantonment Clinch,
Florida, July 8th, 1826.

In announcing to the 4th Infantry and to the troops at this post, the death of 
Major S. Donoho of the 4th, who fell by the hands of a dark and drunken assassin 
on the night of the 7th instant, the Col. commanding wants language to do 
justice to his high, honorable and Spartan-like character as an officer, and to 
all the nobler virtues of the man, or to depict in colours sufficiently strong 
this outrage on the laws of God and man, and in subversion of every principle of 
military subordination. This is another sad example of the pernicious and 
damning vice of intoxication-it perverts man, who is endowed by nature with all 
the nobler faculties of the mind, to more than demon and thus has fallen in the 
discharge of his duty, in one fatal moment, one of Our country's best officers, 
and the noblest work of God, an honest man.

The highest, military honor, to which the deceased is entitled, will be paid to 
his remains this evening at four o'clock.

The officers of the 4th and those of the 1st Infantry; stationed at this post, 
are requested to wear crape attached to the hilts of their swords for thirty 
days, as a testimony of the high respect in which the deceased was held by them.

(Signed) D. L. CLINCH, Col. 4th Infantry, Commanding.

The Obituary notice referred to aboveó says:

Major S. Donoho, was the eldest son of Major Thomas Donoho of Caswell County, 
North Carolina, (a distinguished officer of the American Revolution) he was born 
on the 12th of June 1784. After completing his academical educations, he 
prepared himself for the profession of law--removed to the state of Georgia, 
where he soon established a high reputation for his legal acquirements, 
honorable and manly character.

On the 6th July 1812 was appointed a Captain in the corps of Artillery, where he 
served with great credit to himself and to his country. In 1819 he effected a 
transfer to the 4th Infantry. On the 12th of May 1824 was promoted to the 
Majority in the same Regiment. 

"It is a tribute due to the memory of the deceased to state that he was 
esteemed, wherever he was known-His manners were plain and unaffectcd-his 
disposition was most amiable. In addition to the advantages of a classical 
education, his mind was highly cultivated-possessed of honor, frankness, 
integrity, and many social virtues, he had acquired numerous friends, but 
created no enemies.

The deceased was interred on the evening of the 8th instant, with the honors of 
war. The procession was formed in the following order:

Four Companies of Infantry
commanded by Major David E. Twiggs.
 
Bands of Music, Naval and Military.

Pall-Bearers
formed of Officers next highest in rank to the deceased.

-CORPSE-
Horse caparisoned led by servant.

Medical Staff and Mourners.

Naval Officers.

A large and respectable concourse of Citizens.

N. B. The Naval Band was politely furnished by the officers of the 
Constellation, who assisted in the solemnities of the funeral.

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