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Thursday, January 4, 2024

Hunter’s Lodge Laments on the Death of John G. McMillan

John McMillan was Killed in Action at th Battle of McDowell on 6 May 1862. 

*******CORRECTION*******

My mistake, one of my reader advises that the John McMillan of this article is not the son of John McMillan and Lydia Jane Greer as stated below.

John G. McMillan, was a son of John McMillan and Lydia Jane Greer, Grandson of  James McMillan, Sr. and Rachel Chisholm. 

Hunter’s Lodge, No. 134, A. Y. M}

Marshallsville, Ga. May 23d, 1862}

 Our beloved and lamented brother, John McMillan, now sleeps the long sleep of death. He fell, pierced by a ball in the left, whilst gallantly leading the left wing of the 12th Georgia Regiment in the bloody conflict at McDowell. He was born in Chesterfield District, South Carolina on the 4th day of January, 1832, and was in his 30th year. He was the only child of an aged and very pious mother, whose every care and attention had been given to his raising and education, and her very existence seemed entwined around her noble and chivalrous son. He graduated with honor to himself at Franklin College, Athens, Georgia, in the year 1852. He was educated with a view to the medical profession, but before the completion of his last course of lectures, through the solicitations of his friends he was induced to turn his attention to teaching. And when the tocsin of war resounded through the South, summoning her chivalric sons to her defense, he left the flourishing school at Marshallsville, of which he was principal, tendered the services of his company, the Davis Rifles, and was attached to the 12th Georgia regiment. He left home on the 18th of last June in command of 94 young men, nearly all of whom were from his own county, and were greatly attached to him, and was ordered to the mountain wilds of West Virginia. The deeds and noble daring of the 12th Georgia Regiment in the battle of Greenbrier, Alleghany and McDowell, will ever live on the pages of future history, in the battles of Greenbrier and Alleghany he commanded his company in person, and being senior Captain was in command of the left wing of the regiment at the battle of McDowell where he fell, pierced by a ball in the left breast.

But it was in the social relations of life his characteristics shone most brilliantly. He was reared among us, we knew him well, and in all the walks of social life he endeared himself to us by every tie that could illuminate character from boyhood to riper years of manhood. Intellectual without ostentation, firm and resolute, yet quiet and amiable, smooth and affable in his manners, he had a pleasant word for all; and no man living can say he refused him a favor if within his means or power to grant it. Such was our beloved brother. Having performed the last sad rites to all that remained of him on earth, he now sleeps in the silent church yard at Marshallsville beside some of those who too met their fate in the mountains  those who too met their fate in the mountain wilds of Western Virginia.

Though lost to us, long will we cherish the recollections of his many virtues, “and when released from earth and purified of all its imperfection,” we trust we may again meet in the Supreme grand Lodge above. Therefore,

                Resolved, That in his death our lodge has lost a worthy member, and we a beloved brother, our country a brave and gallant officer, our community a cherished and honoured citizen, society an honor and an ornament; and that while we deeply deplore his loss, we bow in humble submission to the dispensation of that All wise being “who doeth all things well”.

                Resolved, That  to his relatives and to his aged and bereaved mother, we offer our deepest sympathies in their affliction, and may they find some consolation in the reflection that he fell nobly battling for them and his beloved country.

                Resolved, That in respect to our deceased brother, the members of this lodge do wear the usual badge of mourning for 30 days.

                Resolved, That these proceeding be entered on the minutes of the lodge and that a copy signed by the W. M., and Secretary be transmitted to the mother of our deceased brother.

JOS. DAY,                                                                             D. B. FREDERICK,

D. W. MASSES,                                                                    G. W. FELTON,

                                                                                                          Committee       






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1. "Death of John G. McMillan," death notice, The Macon Telegraph, Macon, Georgia, 26 May 1862, Page 4, Column 1; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : online November 2022); https://www.newspapers.com/.

 Macon Telegraph, 26 May 1862


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