Editor the Journal: I notice in a recent issue of the Journal the death of Colonel John P. Fort at Tampa, Fla., on the 12th inst. His home was in Mount Airy, Ga. In 1863 President Davis appointed John P. Fort a lieutenant in the First regiment of Georgia regulars, stationed at Hammocks Landing on the Appalachicola River, in Florida. The first time I saw Lieutenant Fort under fire was at Lake City, Fla., on the 10th of February, 1864. He was in command of the skirmish line of the regulars, trying to hold in check General Seamore's advance cavalry, who had dismounted and were fighting on foot. The cavalry were too strong for the lieutenant and forced his line back on the regiment, then mounted their horses and retreated toward Jacksonville. As a reminder of the fight they left Lieutenant Fort with a bullet hole through his hat. While Lieutenant Fort was a gallant soldier, he was a gentleman in the true meaning of the word, with his heart overflowing with kindness for his fellow-man. One by one the regulars are crossing over the river to join their comrades on the other shore, who are sleeping beneath the shade of the beautiful trees in that home where all good soldiers who did their full and complete duty are at rest. The last three to cross were General King, General Lane, and Major Howard. There were about eighty officers who served in the regulars during the war, and I know of only eight who are still in the land of the living—General Harrison, General Kirklin, Colonel Twiggs, Captain Wyley, Captain Anthony, Captain Myers, Lieutenant Palmer, and Lieutenant Blance—and they are swiftly gliding over the sea of time, waiting to hear the keel of their lifeboat grate upon the other shore. Yet a little while and the last Confederate soldier will have crossed over the river, and their like will never be seen again. They fought for the love of home and country, fought without reward or the hope of reward, fought to the last ditch, and when all was lost except honor, furled their flags for the last time, outnumbered five to one, but never whipped.
Sweet be the sleep of Colonel John P. Fort. I loved him while living and will cherish his memory until I am called to answer the last roll call, and then I hope to meet him in the home of the blest.
W. H. Andrews.
Late Orderly Sgt. Company M, First Ga. Regulars.
20 Hayden St., Atlanta, Ga.
TRIBUTE PAID BY GEORGIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Colonel John P. Fort
Since our last annual meeting death has removed one of the most honored members of our association.
We not only owe his memory a page in our minutes but the younger and especially the future members, those who shall preserve this valued organization, would name us recalcitrant to the true interests of our society if we failed to pay tribute to this advanced thinker, practical scientist, friend of humanity, evinced by his lifelong devotion to horticulture, and advocate of all rural betterments.