Leonedas Brown 1844-1865

BROWN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/6/2017 at 09:12:23

23 February 1865 - The Tipton Advertiser

Little did we think when we wrote the obituary of Mr. Edward A. Firth, that we would so soon be called to mourn over another young hero who has given his life to his country, but in recording the death of Mr. Leonedas Brown, it becomes our duty thus to do. He died in Chicago on the morning of the 6th of the present month (February). He was born near Tipton, Sept. 27th, 1844. He passed his childhood with his parents, beloved for his genial spirit and his kindness of disposition. At the age of 10 years he made a profession of religion and connected himself with the M.E. Church under the labors of Rev. Rufus Riches, of which he remained an acceptable member until his death. He was a student from early boyhood and although dying young he had devoted several years to literary pursuits. In the fall of 1863 he entered the State University with the design of acquiring a collegiate education. In the Spring of 1864 Governor Stone made a call for several regiments to serve for 100 days. When the recruiting offices were opened he left school immediately and came home and enlisted as a private in the 46th Iowa Inft. He said he could not bear the thought of living, after this war was over, and be compelled to say he took no part in it. He went with his regiment to Colliersville, Tenn. On the 24th of July last he went out with ***(unreadable)*** guerillas. In a skirmish he was wounded severely in his head, and the rebels, after stripping his pockets, left him on the field for dead. In a short time his consciousness returned and his great energy of character came to his help, and he resolved he would not die there without a struggle. He therefore crept to a rebel house, having also to climb a fence or two in doing so. He was found there by his regiment and taken to camp, but none of his comrades supposed he could live but a short time. His wound was dressed and he was then sent to Overton Hospital at Memphis, where he remained six weeks. After his term of service had expired he returned home, and his health continually improving, he considered himself able to resume his studies in November last. But his wound was too deep and in a few weeks he was threatened with paralysis. He afterward submitted to two surgical operations--one in Tipton and one in Chicago. He survived the last only a few days, and then closed up his life in peace with his God and went home to a land where wars are unknown. When he was about to submit to the operations of the Surgeon's knife, he refused all anodines and said he was fully prepared for death it if should ensue. Peace to his memory.