As best I can determine, The Cause was lost in the West by the end of 1863. The March to the Sea was kicking a dying horse. An alert reader reminded me of why Uncle Patrick’s memories seem to trail off when he re-joined Company H- he outlasted it. He wrote:

“I’m not surprised that Patrick left no detailed accounts of his later service. It’s no fun to be beaten, and beaten badly.

Interestingly, a British Colonel passed through Mississippi just after the battles of Raymond and Champion Hill. He was taking trains from Galveston (his illicit port of entry) to be an observer with Lee’s army in Pennsylvania. This Brit commented on the crowds of dispirited and undisciplined rebel soldiers he saw at every train station in Mississippi. That was 1863. 1864 and 1865 were worse.”

Here is Patrick’s obituary, crafted while he lived, and published after his death in June of 1921. The day before my birthday, of all things.

Editor’s Note: I am traveling to Naval Station Pearl Harbor today to cover an important story- important to me, anyway. I will have more on the tomorrow, ins’hallah.

Copyright 2015 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com
Twitter: @jayare303