The Constitutional [Alexandria, LA], December 29, 1860
We clip the following touching tribute to a worthy old gentleman deceased, from the Memphis Avalanch [sic]. Requiescat in pace:
Died.—On the 6th of November last, at the ripe old age of 84 years, 4 months and two days, UNCLE SAM, leaving a numerous and respectable set of friends and relatives to mourn his loss. The funeral will take place immediately, or at least as soon as decency permits. As the deceased was renowned on tented fields and the briny wave, there will be several volleys of musketry and a few rounds of ordnance fired over his remains. The disease of which my uncle died was African Itch, somewhat resembling Red River mange, but much more virulent and fatal. He has been ailing for a long time, and his complaint had become chronic, and caused frequent spasms, which he bore with surprising fortitude. A good many doctors worked on him from time to time, until finally Dr. Buchanan took charge of the case.—He had several poultices prepared to put on my uncle’s stomach and spleen, but the nurses either never put them on, or else pulled them off too quickly to do any good. After my uncle was dead, Dr. Buchanan tried to bring him to by blowing in his nose and saying some charm word over him. Then he recommended a coroner’s jury of 33 men to sit on the body, but cousin Hawkins and some other declined because they thought it smelt too bad, and so a great many of my cousins, seeing that the old man was dead, started home to tell their mothers about it, and try to comfort them. My uncle had no money about him when he died, but he has a right pretty property in real estate, which is to be administered on and divided among the heirs by one Lincoln, who has just taken a lease of the place for four years. L. is considered a very honest man. His brother-in-law who goes in with him, is named Hamlin, and is also a very worthy man.
Orphan Boy.