Obituaray - Benjamin F. Batchelor

The Galveston Weekly News
January 13, 1865

Died at Rome, Ga., on the 10th of October, ult., of a wound recieved in battle, Lieut. Benjamin F. Batchelor, of Gonzales county, Texas.

Liet. Batchelor entered the service at the formation of the Terry Rangers, and served with that regiment up to the time of his death, a period of about three years (with the exception of a short term of service as A.A.G. on the staff of General Harrison). During all that time he had never been absent from his command on furlough, and never lost but a few days from sickness. He was consequently ever at the post of duty and constantly engaged in active service. He had participated in all the battles and skirmishes that marked with glory the career of that heroic regiment. Yet, though he had led in many desperate charges and been, perhaps a hundred times under the fire of the enemy, he escaped unscathed until he recieved the wound that caused his death. This event occured in an engagement near Rome, Ga., where his regiment was attacked and nearly surrendered by overwhelming numbers of the enemy. Here, while urging the men to meet the charge, he fell mortally wounded, within five feet of the enemy's line. Our troops falling back at the time, he fell into the enemy's hands. Search being made the following day at the scene of the action, his body was not found, and, to ascertain his fate, Colonel Harrison sent in a flag of truce to make the necessary inquiries. A dispatch was recieved in answer, conveying the intelligence that Lieut. Batchelor was a prisoner and mortally wounded - that he ws in the hands of a skilful surgeon and should have every attention needed. A second dispatch from the Federal commander, two days after, announced his death and burial, also stating that his grave had been properly marked, so that it might be identified by his friends at any future time. Thus had passed away another of the heroic band of Texas braves. One of his compatriots in arms, writing home of his death says: "We have lost no one out of the regiment whose death has been more universally regretted. He was always at his post, always cheerful and hopeful, enduring all the hardships of a soldier's life without a murmer. He was a true patriot, an excellent officer, calm amid the greatest excitement, gallant in action, and a braver men I never saw in danger where true bravery is tested, added to which his pious deportment made him a model soldier."

The subject of this notice married, a few years previous to the war, the only daughter of Col. A. Turner, of Lavaca county, and settled in Gonzales, where he engaged in the practice of law with an energy and assiduity that promised to lead to future eminence in the profession. He was gifted with a fine mind, prepossessing manners, great probity of character, and to these ornaments of a noble nature, he added the crowning grace of a Christian life. His walk was without reproach before men, and never, it is believed, in the stirring scenes through which he passed, did he ever forget his vows to the living God, but while a faithful soldier to his country, he was not the less a firm and devoted soldier of the cross.

The stranger's eye wept, that, in life's brightest bloom,
One gifted so highly should sink to the tomb;
For in ardor he led in the van of the host,
And he fell like a soldier - he died at his post;
Victorious his fall - for he rose as he fell,
With Jesus, his master, in glory to dwell.
He has passed o'er the stream, and had reached the bright coast,
For he fell like a martyr - he died at his post."