FRANKLIN COUNTY, TN - OBITUARIES - Albert Smith Marks ----¤¤¤---- Governor Albert Smith Marks' obituary in Friday, November 6, 1891, The Daily American, Nashville, Tennessee: Another Confederate soldier was buried yesterday. When the sun rises this morning it shall show to the passer a dull red mound in a quiet village grave-yard. The earth had only yesterday been disturbed, and its dark clay is scattered around the spot. The grass has been trampled by many feet. A white dove hovers over this humble little mound, and beneath its outstretched wings is a carpet of flowers making gorgeous the fresh clay. The likenesses of two flags are woven in the design of the flowers--the flag of the Confederacy and the battle flag of the Confederate soldier. It is difficult to believe that the busy powerful man, known to the world as Albert S. Marks, strong in the might of his personality, and mighty in the hosts of his friends, to-day lies a peaceful prisoner in that village graveyard. He was accustomed to mingle with the greatest of the land, and they leaned upon his counsel. To-day the cedars and pine shrubs are his only companions, and he may not even give answer to the requiem they sing. This is a strange and terrible transition, and the devout hands which laid him there were wet with tears. It is a great thing to have been a Confederate soldier. They had big hearts which never ceased to love and never quailed before duty. They are the noblemen of the land and the badge they wear commands reverence. Albert S. Marks had been a leader in law, in politics, in the ampler domain of thought, but yesterday he was remembered best as the leader of those ageing and feeble men who once were demons in battle, martyrs in privation, heroes in every exigency of war. The wonderful, magnificent mystery which the present generation fails to understand, rose up yesterday like the wraith of a dead age and proclaimed the undying supremacy of the old Southern spirit, for whose preservation the Confederate soldier was born. These old soldiers took the remains at the central station in this city and gravely, with tear-washed countenances, guarded over their sacred burden until the old home had been reached, and the funeral coach was left standing alone while the remainder of the train scurried noiselessly away in the distance, as if consciously unsuited to the solemnity of the scene. Even in the train there were many friends. Capt. Rucker, who was the conductor in charge, had been conductor of the train which carried Col. Marks to his home when he lost his leg at Murfreesboro, twenty-eight years ago. A profound hush pervaded the throng which had gathered at the station at Winchester. They had come unasked, save by the summons of respect and love. The same monitor had arranged them in proper line with uncovered heads while the remains were taken from the coach. Gen. Kirby Smith, with his long, snow-white locks and bowed head, walked side by side with the venerable Chief Justice of the State, as honorary pall- bearers. Those appointed by the Frank Cheatham Bivouac, Gen. W.H. Jackson, J.F. Patterson, John G. Pryor, James P. Byrne, W.N. Johns, Isaac Litton, Baxter Smith and Geo. W. Howard, conveyed the casket to a waiting hearse. The procession was formed by the following guards of honor: The Turney Bivouac in full; twenty-eight members of the Frank Cheatham Bivouac; Maj. J.W. Sparks, representing the bar and Palmer Bivouac, of Murfreesboro; Col. J.N. Tillman and J.H. Holman, of the Shackleford Fulton Bivouac, at Fayetteville; Capt. W.P. Irvine, of Dibrell Bivouac, at Lewisburg, and Capt. W.J. Muse, Capt. J.G. Arnold and John M. Hastings, of Frierson Bivouac, Shelbyville. Two well-drilled companies from the Winchester Normal College dressed in the Confederate uniforms, followed directly afterward, and then the hearse came, in the lead of a long procession which included many of the most prominent men of the State. The news had been very imperfectly spread, but gentlemen were present both from Knoxville and Memphis to honor the leader and friend. A soft Indian summer haze draped the picturesque landscape in a tender morning tint, relieving all hard outlines and even lending an added impressiveness to the silent procession with its waving banners emblematic of the past war. The most solemn hush prevailed. It was evident that each heart was sorrowing. As they gathered round the open grave there was a pause, as if the significance of what they were about to do overawed them. Then, by request, the casket was opened and the hundreds passed in single file, viewing the placid features of their honored dead. Up from the hush which followed, like the clear aspiring notes of the lark in early morning, the voice of Mrs. Walter M. Dake rose like a mingled benediction and prayer as the words "We shall know each other there" were repeated. Dr. J.M. Hubbert read from the word of God. His voice was sweet with the familiar words of hope and consolation, and his reading became grandly eloquent when his lips fashioned the sentences--"And I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have entrusted to him." "I am the resurrection and the life," "Ye believe in my father, believe also in me." Rev. M.B. DeWitt delivered the funeral oration. It was one of the most eloquent sermons preached from any text, and the grave over which he stood inspired him to words of comfort for the bereaved, praise of the dead, admonition for the living, which will scarcely be forgotten. He had been a war chaplain and he had buried many a brave soldier before. In this case he rendered thanks for the kind providence which had preserved to the maturity of his manhood and the fulness of his powers so valiant a warrior and so true a man. He had never heard an accusation brought against him, nor in all the knowledge of the man had he been able to disover [sic] a single shortcoming. He referred to the honorable career, and extolled the varied virtues of the man who has passed away; then, true to the allegiance he owns dearest of all, he declared that Albert S. Marks had died in the love of Jesus Christ, and he solemnly proclaimed the assurance of his salvation. His powerful oratory was received with every mark of appreciation. Many were moved to tears and when the last word had been spoken the devoted pastor was the recipient of many expressions of gratitude from the friends and family of the dead statesman. Mrs. Dake sang, "We Shall be Remembered by the Deeds We have Done." Rev. C.T. Blair, Chaplain of the Cheatham Bivouac, offered a prayer and the members of that organization gathered closer round the grave. As they chanted the military service of the dead the remains were lowered into the narrow grave. Gen. W.H. Jackson spoke the last words over the remains while above the earth. His words were few, but in that brief space he eloquently commemorated his friend and fellow-soldier who had fought the good fight so well. He cast a sprig of evergreen upon the coffin, and this was followed by a similar silent tribute from the other members of the bivouac. Noiselessly and swiftly the grave was filled. Rev. Mr. Blair spoke the requiescat in pace, and when the circle of grim, battle-scarred veterans was again broken, the only evidence of the existence of the noble frame of Albert S. Marks on earth was a simple, red clay mound, covered with flowers. The designs were very handsome. The names of those who contributed were Mr. W.C. Collier, Mr. Edwin A Price, Miss Price, Gen. and Mrs. W.H. Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. A.S. Colyar, Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Pickle, Frank Cheatham Bivouac, Mrs. John C. Gant, Mrs. Edward Buford, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Reese, John P. Buchanan and Miss Buchanan, Miss Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Carmack, Misses Marshall and Mrs. Henry Hester. It was finished. There was a vision of cadets marching away in the distance. Then came the banners of the bivouacs and the sadly silent veterans beneath them. Slowly the crowd dispersed, and in the solitude was the grave and beside it a carriage in which there were women weeping for a face never more to be seen among men. It was a simple funeral. Scarcely any preparation had been made save the preparation he had been making through the years when he was drawing the hearts of the many to him. He was mourned in simple silence more sincerely than all the forms and shows of grief could picture, for the community and State had buried a friend. In the afternoon a meeting of the Winchester bar was held. Chief Justice Peter Turney delivered an address from the chair which was eloquent add [sic] pathetic to a degree. He extolled the honor and uprightness of the man he had known as both opponent and ally through many years of public life. A request was made of Gen. W.H. Jackson that he speak to the bar, and he responded with an impressive review of the career of the soldier whom he had intimately known, during the war, and whose friend he had been ever since. A committee on resolutions was appointed and it will report to-day. [Governor Marks is buried in Winchester City Cemetery, Winchester, TN.] [Spelling, capitalization, and punctuation is as it appeared in article.] ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. 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