 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Stephen Ross White, son of John G. and Hannah J. White, was born October 2, 1840. He enlisted in the Marine Artillery, in the city of New York, on the 1st of September, 1862.
He died at the hospital on Roanoke Island, of malarious fever, on Tuesday, the 11th of November, after a little more than two months in the service, at the age of twenty-two years.
The following extract from a letter written to a relative, furnishes all the information we have of his last days:
"We went on board the transport the night of the 29th of September, and were a week in making the voyage to Beaufort. We had to 'lay by,' from stress of weather, at Hampton Roads and at Hatteras Inlet-—the storms of the fall equinox rendering the coast too dangerous to venture down, except in the intervals, when the winds would abate for a few hours.
"At Newbern, we were placed on board the gunboat 'Sentinel,' the vessel upon which Capt. Sweet, the Acting Commander of our fleet, had his head-quarters. We were kept on board just one week, when a division was made, and it was our disastrous lot to be numbered among those who were destined for that horrid golgotha, where pestilence sat, Roanoke Island.
"Ross was attacked by the disease, which proved fatal in so many cases, toward the latter part of October, as the direct result of his unflinching devotion to duty. He continued to perform guard duty half a day beyond the time, when he should have been under the care of a physician.
"He was repeatedly warned, and kindly urged, to yield to the too manifest necessity of rest and medical aid. But a heroism which only death itself could move, impelled him to struggle with the demon that was even then destroying him, and he walked his weary, solitary beat with his feet deep in water, and amidst a drenching, chilly rain. When the next day's guard was mounted, and he was relieved from duty, his fidelity brought him only sickness for his reward.
"Completely exhausted, he sought his quarters, sank down upon his hard bunk, pallid, wan and almost spiritless. He recovered partially from this, after rest had restored somewhat of his wasted powers; but God soon called him away from earth. He died at half past three o'clock p. m., November 11, 1862.
"The most prominent trait of his character was a pure and lofty heroism; therefore you may be proud of his memory, which lives unsullied in the hearts of all his comrades who survived him—for he was loved by all, being as gentle and kind as he was heroic.
"I loved to think of him, he seemed so like a brother to me."
The memory of Stephen Ross White is fondly cherished by a large circle of admiring friends, and his name is added to the illustrious roll of American patriots.
