Item Description: Obituary written about Capt Simeon E. Hamilton. This obituary was written in Oroon Alston Hanner’s autograph album that he kept while in prison on Johnson Island. He was given this autograph album by a local women’s society. While in prison, he collected autographs of his fellow prisoners as well as copied down poems and other prose.
Item Citation: Folder 1, Oroon Alston Hanner album, #04853-z, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Item Transcription:
Obituary
Died on the morning of the 4th of Feb 1864, in Prison Hospital Johnsons Island Ohio. Capt Simeon E. Hamilton. 2nd Choctaw Cavalry C.S.A. age 26 years. He was a true Confederate and well deserves to be remembered by his brother officers.
I.
A stranger in a foreign land,
A prisoner of war.
Where Cries cold and chilling strand,
His feelings seems to man
II.
He sickens, how his brain runs wild
He talks of Southern power
And sees his foes in ruin foiled
While Southern banners tower
III.
He talks of Choctaw Laws and homes
And says none can for me
Again he thinks he’s free to roam
Where “Savage Indians” free
IV.
Poor Fellow? how the chilly cold
Of death is ? fast
He breathes. He groans but not a word
He’s gone, the struggle fast
V.
Thus died a Choctaw true and brave
He suffered for the cause
He raised his arm to save the South,
Which will deserve applause
VI.
T’will be sad news to herald back
To where his father’s dwell.
That in a prison barrack
One of their children fell
VII.
We’ll drop a tear above his grave
And smoothe the still mound o’er
And when he see our banner wave
Remember him the more