Richmond, VA - 1864 Newspaper Article; Col. John t. Mercer's Death Submitted for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Jay Remer Taken from the Richmond Enquirer, Friday Morning, April 29, 1864 COL. MERCER Col. John T. Mercer, of the 21st Georgia Regiment who was killed in the recent fight at Plymouth, was a brave and skillful officer. He was a military man by education, having graduated at West Point in the year 1854. He was in the same class with Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, Gen. Hood, Gen. Custis Lee, and Gen. W. D. Pender and graduated with them. At the time the war broke out, he was stationed in California and was First Lieutenant in the First U. S. Dragoons. Hearing that his native State has seceded from the old Union, he immediately resigned his commission in the United States service and tendered his services to the Confederate Government at Montgomery, Alabama. He was then ordered to Richmond, Va., and appointed Colonel of the 21st Georgia Regiment in the year 1861, and was attached to Ewell's Corps. He participated in the battle of Winchester, Va, and was highly complimented by his commanding General in his official report of the battle of Cross Keys. He also bore a conspicuous part of the battle of Malvern Hill, Chancelorsville and Gettysburg. On the 20th of January 1864, he was attached to Hoke's brigade and was with the brigade on the late expedition against Newbern and acted very gallantly at the battle of Bachelor's Creek, and was afterwards assigned to the command of all the cavalry in this department. In the expedition agains Plymouth he was in command of his own regiment, and during the attack upon the town was in command of the dekes? brigade, and fell during the charge upon Fort Sanderson, which was taken a few minutes after his fall. The remains of Col. Mercer arrived at Goldsboro on Wednesday night last and were interred in the Episcopal Cemetary by the side of the late lamented Gen. W. D. Pender, his class-mate, his comrade-in-arms and his relative. These galant spirits sleep side by side in death-peace be to their ashes, and may a grateful country remember their noble deeds. Their blood has been sprinkled upon the altar of their county, and their noble lives offered up for their country's good. Col. Mercer was a young man, being only about 32 years of age. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************