Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A Point Of Honor

Meredith P. Gentry having been elected to the rebel Congress from Tennessee, called on Parson Brownlow on his way to Richmond.  He told Brownlow that he had retired from politics, but his neighbors had insisted on his going to Richmond, and that he made it a point of honor to go, just because they said McClellan would bag Richmond and capture the entire Congress.  He wished to show them that he was not afraid. – “Yes,” replied Brownlow, “and there is another point of honor which you have failed to mention.  Buell and his army are at Nashville, and are therefore nearer to Bedford county than McClellan is to Richmond.  You are like a pismire on a chunk of wood fired at each end; you have a point of honor on either side of you.”  Gentry wilted.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 4, 1862, p. 2

No comments: