Suffolk Christian Sun
November 11, 1864
Page 2
OBITUARIES
Among the many
gallant youths of the “Old Dominion” who have fallen in the cause of Southern
Independence, and our civil and religious liberties, and in defence
of the soil of their native State, it becomes our sad duty to record the
untimely death of private STEPHEN E. PIERCE,
of Company “D,” 16th Reg’t. Va.
Vol. Infantry, Mahone’s Brigade, who fell in the hard
but gloriously contested, battle of the “Crater” near Petersburg, Va., on the
ever memorable 30th of July, 1864.
Though many noble
and chivalrous spirits have offered up their life’s blood in the same hallowed
cause, our hearts have seldom been saddened by the fall of a more worthy and
promising young man. As a soldier,
patriot and Christian, he possessed many noble and redeeming qualities and was
respected and admired by all who knew him.
A universal favorite and loved by all, his loss is keenly felt by the
surviving members of his company, who will ever cherish with a brotherly regard
the memory of their lost comrade.
Entering the
service of his native State at the early age of 17 years, immediately after the
secession of Virginia from the Federal Union, he was stationed with his company
at Norfolk, Va., until the evacuation of that city in the early part of May,
1862, when his command was transferred to the Army of Northern Virginia, then
in front of Richmond, and up to the time of his death had participated in
nearly all the engagements that his brigade had been called to take a part—besides
innumerable skirmishes as a sharpshooter.
And whether on the ____ the perilous duty of sharpshooting; the wild
excitement of the charge in line; or the hand to hand encounter, he ever
manifested the same cool and fearless determination so characteristic of the
Virginia soldier; and in his last battle he fell amongst the foremost of his no
less eager comrades, his face to the foe.
He was ever mindful of his duties to God, his fellow man and his
country—discharging with scrupulous fidelity his obligations to all.
His eminent
character and exalted virtues deserve to be long remembered and cherished, and
kind generosity to be respected and imitated.
As a son, he was affectionate and dutiful; as a brother, loving and
kind; as a friend, sincere and true. May
God comfort his bereaved relatives and friends, and give them strength to say,
“Thy will be done.”
[Transcribed
by Sharon Strout]
