Written to the widowed wife of my Great Great Great Uncle. Thought some of you might enjoy this:
Letter to Elizabeth Maury Holland
from Jefferson Davis)
Mouth of Rio Grande 8th Dec. 1846
My Dear Madam,
It is my painful duty to announce to you an event of deepest affliction to you and of most lasting regret to myself.
Your gallant and honorable husband is no more. He died on the 4th of this month and was buried the next day at this place. Immediately on my arrival, I inquired for and found his grave. It is in an elevated position and the head board distintly marked with his name.
I stood beside the grave of my late friend, and the memory of his lofty and noble spirit, whilst it increased the regret I felt at his loss, gave me the consolation that all who knew him as I did would like myself pay the tribute of friendship and esteem to a name which was adorned by all that enobles man, and unstained by any thing which could detract from the loftiest reputation.
Capt. Holland had been attacked by measles when on the march to Monterey, he continued with the army and though that particular disease passed away, his constitution was undermined, and his health so bad that I applied to have him relieved and sent to New Orleans soon after the battle of "Monterey." Since I left the Regt., he started on his way home and died on a steam boat descending the Rio Grande, the body was brought on, and as I have before stated, interred at this place. A physician who was on board gave him all the medical assistance which could be rendered. Though he died in a strange land, he was with friends who did all that could be done to supply the tender cares of which devotion to his country had deprived him. Dr. Wilson took charge of his personal effects and received instruction as to their disposal. From him, you will learn more minutely the immediate cause of dissolution.
Under such calamity, I feel that words of consolation would be idle and will leave it to him who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb to sustain you under this irreperable loss. In after times, it will be for you and for his children to remember with pride, that he died in the cause of his country, honored as a patriot, and soldier, and lamented as a friend by those to whom severest trials had made him know.
Accept my dear Madam my profoundest sympathy and if it shall be in my power to serve you, do not hesitate to command me.
Very Respectfully, your friend & c.
Jeffn: Davis
(from "The Papers of Jefferson Davis: July 1846-December 1848," By Jefferson Davis, page 92)
(Holland's body was later reinterred at Holly Springs according to an article in the Holly Springs "Gazette," February 26, 1847.)
(from the "Holly Springs Gazette" newspaper, Holly Springs, Mississippi, February 26, 1847)
Major Kemp S. Holland – On Wednesday last, a large concourse of the neighbors and friends of this lamented citizen who died in the service of his country on the 4th of December, 1846, attended at his late residence to assist in the melancholy task of consigning his remains, which had just arrived from the Rio Grande, to their last earthly resting place. The funeral services were performed by the Rev. N. R. Jarrett, who, in a brief discourse, paid a deserved and eloquent tribute to the memory of the deceased.
Letter to Elizabeth Maury Holland
from Jefferson Davis)
Mouth of Rio Grande 8th Dec. 1846
My Dear Madam,
It is my painful duty to announce to you an event of deepest affliction to you and of most lasting regret to myself.
Your gallant and honorable husband is no more. He died on the 4th of this month and was buried the next day at this place. Immediately on my arrival, I inquired for and found his grave. It is in an elevated position and the head board distintly marked with his name.
I stood beside the grave of my late friend, and the memory of his lofty and noble spirit, whilst it increased the regret I felt at his loss, gave me the consolation that all who knew him as I did would like myself pay the tribute of friendship and esteem to a name which was adorned by all that enobles man, and unstained by any thing which could detract from the loftiest reputation.
Capt. Holland had been attacked by measles when on the march to Monterey, he continued with the army and though that particular disease passed away, his constitution was undermined, and his health so bad that I applied to have him relieved and sent to New Orleans soon after the battle of "Monterey." Since I left the Regt., he started on his way home and died on a steam boat descending the Rio Grande, the body was brought on, and as I have before stated, interred at this place. A physician who was on board gave him all the medical assistance which could be rendered. Though he died in a strange land, he was with friends who did all that could be done to supply the tender cares of which devotion to his country had deprived him. Dr. Wilson took charge of his personal effects and received instruction as to their disposal. From him, you will learn more minutely the immediate cause of dissolution.
Under such calamity, I feel that words of consolation would be idle and will leave it to him who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb to sustain you under this irreperable loss. In after times, it will be for you and for his children to remember with pride, that he died in the cause of his country, honored as a patriot, and soldier, and lamented as a friend by those to whom severest trials had made him know.
Accept my dear Madam my profoundest sympathy and if it shall be in my power to serve you, do not hesitate to command me.
Very Respectfully, your friend & c.
Jeffn: Davis
(from "The Papers of Jefferson Davis: July 1846-December 1848," By Jefferson Davis, page 92)
(Holland's body was later reinterred at Holly Springs according to an article in the Holly Springs "Gazette," February 26, 1847.)
(from the "Holly Springs Gazette" newspaper, Holly Springs, Mississippi, February 26, 1847)
Major Kemp S. Holland – On Wednesday last, a large concourse of the neighbors and friends of this lamented citizen who died in the service of his country on the 4th of December, 1846, attended at his late residence to assist in the melancholy task of consigning his remains, which had just arrived from the Rio Grande, to their last earthly resting place. The funeral services were performed by the Rev. N. R. Jarrett, who, in a brief discourse, paid a deserved and eloquent tribute to the memory of the deceased.
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