Aylett Coleman's Obituary

BIRTH 11 JANUARY 1844 • Nelson County, Virginia, USA

DEATH 5 OCT 1864 • Woodstock, Shenandoah, Virginia, USA

Published in the Richmond Whig on December 1, 1864:

OBITUARY

At the battle at Fisher's Hill, in the valley of Virginia, fell, mortally wounded, one of the brightest and purest spirits, whose life and death illustrated the sentiment that animates the Southern heart – AYLETT B. COLEMAN, in the 20th year of his age, son of John J. Coleman, Esg, of Rockfish, in Nelson County, Va. The night of the 5th October, 1864, he died at the residence of Dr. Murphy, in Woodstock, whose wife and family contributed to his every want and watched his spirit's passage to another world.

Born and nurtured in affluence, he was entered at the schools of Harrison, Dinwiddle and others, and when the war began was a student at the University of Virginia. Fully imbued with the importance of an education, he assiduously applied his mind to the acquisition of knowledge, and his attainments attested the success of his labors.

Though gentle as a child, he was a soldier. Before of conscript age, impelled by his country's call, he left his native State and was found battling for freedom in Kentucky and Tennessee. At Donelson he withstood the bullet and the storm.

In the spring of 1863 he became a member of General Imboden'sstaff, and with that gallant officer passed through the memorable campaigns of Northwestern Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and signal red himself by his courage, efficiency as an officer, and alacrity in the discharge of all the trusts confided to him.

In 1864 he connected himself with the battery of that amiable and excellent officer, Captain McClanahan, and demeanor himself to such a manner as to attract the attention and win the admiration of officers and men.

The circumstances of his death, no less that the manner of his life, indicate the character of the man. On the eve of going to the front as a volunteer with the last piece belonging to his command, he wrote to a friend that he apprehended serious consequences to himself. Yet, with this premonition of his fall, he did his duty.

The characteristics of a great nature he possessed in an eminent degree.

He was noble. All the sentiments of his soul leaned to virtue; scarce a thought savored of evil.

He was generous. His heart was expanded with its inborn philanthropy, and the gentle charity of his nature responded to the touching appeals of humanity.

He was brave. To him “grim-visaged war had smoothed his wrinkled front” and “with death he sulked as friend to friend”, for the blessed light of our holy religion illumined his pathway through the dark valley and shadow.

His heart, framed for sensibility and love; his benevolence, leading to friendship the most sincere and ardent; his mind bright, vigorous and gay in all his sallies, mingled in beautiful harmony, and marked him as a nobleman.

Though his remains are interred on the far-off battlefield, under the heavy tread of a vandal foe, yet his gentle spirit lingers amid the scenes of his childhood, under the shadow of his own blue mountains, and beckons the loved ones at home to the joyous scenes of another world.

“None knew him but to love him;

None named him but to praise”

J.H.M.

The following letter of General Imboden, is appended as a just tribute to the peerless character of his young friend. It was received by the writer of the foregoing imperfect sketch, after its preparation:

Hedq'rs Imboden's Cavalry Brigade, Page County, Nov. 14, 1864.}

MY DEAR SIR: Your note in regard to the death of our dear young friend, Aylett B. Coleman, has been received. I was absent, sick, when he so nobly fell at the post of patriotic duty, and therefore have no personal knowledge of the incidents connected with his death.

In February, 1863, he became connected with me as volunteer A.D.C. on my personal staff, in which capacity he served through the arduous campaign of that year, until the promulgation of the order by the Secretary of War prohibiting such service by those liable to duty in the ranks. When notified of this order, he volunteered in McClanahan's Battery, in which he served nobly until the day of his death.

I knew him most intimately, and esteemed him as one of the purest, best and bravest youths I ever met. Indeed, no one could know Aylett Coleman without loving him. His appearance and manly bearing were such as to attract the attention of any stranger. I well remember that he repeatedly made such an impression on officers with whom we were casually thrown, that they enquired of me particularly, not only his name, but desired to know something of his history. For one so young, I think he was the fairest type I ever met of that noblest of all characters, the high-bred Virginia gentleman.

Extremely handsome in person, with a highly cultivated mind he possessed the virtues and graces of an accomplished woman, combined with the chivalrous courage, the acute sense of honor, and stern integrity of purpose and manly force of character that mark the best of our sex, and win the affection and admiration of the good of all classes.

It is only when contemplating the sacrifice of such youths as this on the altar of our bleeding country, that we can fully appreciate and realize the inestimable cost of Liberty and Independence, for which he so truly lived and so nobly died.

Green be the sod on his soldier's grave, and cherished be his memory by a grateful country.

Very truly yours,

J.D. IMBODEN, Brig. Gen'l.

Notes: *A.D.C. Refers to Aide-De-Camp

Aylett Breckenridge Coleman