From The Greensborough Patriot
July 31, 1862 – Pg. 1
Capt.
H. C. Gorrell.
The
following is from the army correspondent of the New York Tribune. The “rebel poetry” alluded to is “North
Carolina’s Call to Arms,” by “Luola” which has been
published in the Patriot.
I
saw a melancholy sight a day or two since.
It was that of a young Confederate officer, Capt. Henry C. Gorrell, from Greensboro, N. C., and Captain of Company E,
2nd North Carolina Reg’t who fell in an
attack which he had led on our batteries, Saturday evening, 14th
inst. In his hand he held sword. It was one of the old regulation swords,
manufactured by Ames, at Springfield, Mass.
It is marked “U. S.” Alas, that
it was ever drawn against our country’s cause.
The scabbard and belt were gone, flung impetuously away in that gallant
but vain charge. In his pockets were a
watch, his pocket book, a lock of hair, tied with a piece of white satin
ribbon, and a sprig of cedar, carefully tied, and inclosed
in the same way as a memento. His
commission was also in his pocket, and a note for $500, &c. I trust the money will be given to his heirs
by those who found it, but the sword whose use was so perverted, that should
remain in loyal hands forever! I send
you a little poem, which was also in his pocket, and given me by those who
found it, and which shows the state of feeling and the arguments used to induce
enlistment and warfare against the Union and its Government. It may be worth publishing as a curiosity,
and is better than most Rebel poetry.
A. B. F.
