Thomas Firth 1844-1865

FIRTH

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 6/5/2017 at 14:06:50

5 January 1865 - The Tipton Advertiser

With emotions of sorrow, we again chronicle the death of another soldier, who has laid down his life for his country. Not soon will the citizens of Tipton forget Mr. EDWARD A. FIRTH, a young man of whom any town might well be proud. He was born in Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 3d, 1844; and died of brain fever, in McPherson Hospital, at Vicksburg, Minn., Dec. 8th, 1864.

He came to Tipton, with his parents in September, 1859. He was a young man of more than ordinary powers of mind and mastered his studies with great ability; and his excellence as a public speaker was remarkable for one of his age. He was engaged in school teaching at the age of 16 years. For some months he had been a student in Iowa State University, and while pursuing his studies in that institution he enlisted in his country's service. His patriotism would not permit him to remain at home during the war, and having a delicate constitution he thought he could not endure the land service; he therefore enlisted in the marine service, as a private, the last of March, 1864. He was soon promoted to sergeant, and subsequently was offered the position of sergeant major, and then a lieutenancy, both of which he declined.

At the age of fourteen he made a profession of religion, and connected himself with the Methodist Episcopal church; but on coming to this country he never presented his letter, but he was always interested in the church. He entered the Sabbath school as a pupil, and afterward served as a teacher. He was always moral and upright. His letters, while in the army, breathed always a spirit of devotion to his country and his God. He frequently intimated that he might lose his life in the army, but said he was ready and entirely willing to do so.

After being in the gunboat service some five months, he was transferred to the land service and placed in a marine regiment and placed on garrison duty at Vicksburg, (the rest of this paragraph is unreadable).