The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Wm. H. Fisher, Crandall's 47 Cav. CSA

Carl, here's an obituary for that very interesting officer --

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COL. LEE CRANDALL DIES AT AGE 94.
CONFEDERATE VETERAN AND OLDEST FEDERAL EMPLOYEE WAS ILL ONLY TWO DAYS.

Col. Lee Crandall, aged 94, a soldier of the Confederacy who later served his reunited States as loyally as he had served the cause of the South in the Civil War, died yesterday morning at his home, 1822 Calvert Street. He was the oldest Federal Government employee.

Death came as a result of a severe cold recently contracted, which kept him away from his Federal duties last Friday and Saturday, the only two days of absence on account of sickness in his more than 12 years of service as deputy collecter of internal revenue. In those 12 years Col. Crandall took only 5 days of annual leave, whereas he was entitled to 30 days each year. He was located in the offices at 1423 Pennsylvania Ave.

A man of unusual vigor for his age, the sturdy veteran time after time had proven himself superior in strength to men of much younger years. On the occasion of the funeral of President Harding, Col. Crandall, through the sweltering heat of that sad day, toiled the full length of the funeral march up Pennsylvania Ave. from the White House to the Capitol, wearing the warm woolen gray uniform of a Confederate colonel. He kept on, trudging up the hill at the Capitol, where many veterans of the World War had dropped out of line, overcome by the heat. He was always at his office early and was known among his associates for his tireless activity.

Loyal to Modern Youth.

Full of enthusiasm and faith in the younger generation, was known for his energetic gestures while conversing. He would slap his hand down on a table or pound his knee with great gusto while relating an incident and never complained of ill health.

His death cuts short hopes he had cherished for years of celebrating his one hundredth birthday and the two hundredth George Washington anniversary now in prospect.

It was Col. Crandall’s pride that he served as confidential staff officer to Gen. ‘’Stonewall’’ Jackson and during Jackson’s campaign in the Valley of Virginia was the only aide permitted to enter the general’s tent, day or night on special business.

His love for the Confederacy and his pride in the wounds and imprisonment he suffered as a soldier of the South were matched by his devotion to his reunited country of today and his respect for the modern youth and life.

“The girl of today,” according to Lee Crandall, in an interview on his recent last birthday, “despite her short skirts, her cigarette case, her lipstick and her penchant for the Charleston, is just as good morally and mentally as the more demure young lady of the days of the long dress and the minuet.”

“No sir,” he insisted at that time, “I don’t believe in all this talk about the world getting worse. I’ve lived a long time and watched a lot of generations grow up, and I will stick to my contention that times are improving right along.”

Temperate in his diet, Col. Crandall for years had abstained from meat, was fond of soups and milk, and religiously drank every morning before breakfast a pint of warm water.

Born in New York.

Born in 1832 at South Berlin, N.Y., Col. Crandall went South and entered the Confederate army as captain of Company I of the 8th Louisiana Infantry. He took part in the first battle of Bull Run. He was with Gen. Jackson through the the Valley of Virginia, and at Cross Keys was wounded in the wrist. He was promoted to major by Gen. Jackson and later the Confederate secretary of war ordered him to report to Gen. Price at Little Rock. He was made colonel of the 47th Arkansas Cavalry, organized there, which was in the raids through Kansas. At Mine Creek, Col. Crandall, with five other field officers , was captured by the Union forces and sent to Johnson’s Island, Ohio, where he remained a prisoner until the close of the war.

Afterward Col. Crandall lived in Louisiana for a while and was a delegate from that State to the post-war commercial convention in 1868 at Memphis. He later lived in Louisiana, Alabama and Philadelphia, where he represented the old New York Daily Graphic, and later came to Washington, where he founded the National View. This paper he edited until 1895, championing the causes of the American Bimetallic League, of which he one time was secretary.

He went to Arizona and took part in politics, but returned to Washington. In 1914 he was appointed deputy collector of internal revenue.

Funeral services will be held at the home tomorrow afternoon at 1 o’clock, in charge of Robert E. Lee Camp, Confederate Veterans, before the body is taken to Arlington Cemetery for interment.
—————
Washington Post, Monday, September 13, 1926.

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Wm. H. Fisher, Crandall's 47 Cav. CSA
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