Obituary E. W. Jacobs

End Comes to a Brave Veteran

The subject of this sketch, E. W. Jacobs, was born Nov. 24, 1841, died August 8, 1918, aged 76 years, 8 months and 14 days. He volunteered in the Middleton Tigers in 1861. Only one member of that company survives, John Bizzell, of Tipton County Later he joined Company A of the 14^th Tennessee Regiment (cavalry) under General Forrest. He was elected Lieutenant of his company. He was captured at Maj. Sauls’ near Saulsbury by Col. Hurst after he had emptied his pistol. The last shot entered the barrel of Col. Hurst’s pistol. The late Dr. T. E. Moore told the writer that he picked some of the pieces of the lead out of the face of Col. Hurst. Hurst’s men wanted to kill Lieutenant Jacobs, but Col. Hurst told them they should not take the life of a man so brave as Lieutenant Jacobs. He was sent to the Irvin Block prison in Memphis, where he remained until he bribed the guards by giving them his last penny. His comrades tried to prevent him from making the attempt to escape, thinking that he would be killed, but he told them that he would go or die, and that he never intended to be captured again. Memphis at that time was filled with Yankees. He succeeded in getting through all of the picket lines but one by daybreak. He sought cover under a brush pile and remained throughout the day. Dogs were rabbit hunting near his hiding place, and he was uneasy for fear of discovery, but fortunately they passed him by. After dark he slipped through the lines and traveled all night, through briars, sloughs, fields and tickets, all of the next day and night, without a mouthful to eat. The following morning he arrived in the neighborhood of Van Buren and was given food. He at once returned to his company. He was severely wounded in 1864 at Yazoo City, Miss. The wound never completely healed.

He suffered over seven months, but bore it patiently to the end. No braver soldier lived than Lieutenant Jacobs. He professed faith in Christ last April and expressed himself several times as ready to die. He leaves a wife, three children, one grandchild and several relatives. Cheer up, and let us live so as to meet him above.

His Nephew

Source: original newspaper clipping in scrapbook created by Ada Clark Stroup of Saulsbury