Page:A Life of Matthew Fontaine Maury.pdf/316

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302
APPENDIX C.

and we have refrained from publishing it in the hope of learning something more upon the subject, but have not been able to do so.

"Mr. Harris states, according to this memorandum, that Lieutenant Maury was captured by a party of the enemy and taken across the Mississippi River, and that he was then shot, or, in other words, murdered, by order of one Griffin, a deserter from the Confederate Service.

"He says that six balls were shot through his body, and that he was buried on the spot, about eight miles below Vicksburg, on the opposite bank of the river."

Many attempts have been made by Maury's family to communicate with this Mr. Harris; but he has never been heard from since.

If any one who reads this book can throw any light upon the awful fate of this young officer, in God's name let them communicate without further delay with his sister, Mrs. S. W. Corbin, of Farley vale, near Fredericksburg, Virginia!


APPENDIX C.

"A Vindication of the South and of Virginia,"
by M. F. Maury.

One hundred years ago, we wore thirteen British Colonies remonstrating and disputing with the Mother Country in discontent. After some years spent in fruitless complaints against the policy of the British Government towards us, the Colonies resolved to sever their connection with Great Britain, that they might be first independent,* and then proceed to govern themselves in their own way. At the same time they took counsel together, and made common cause. They declared certain truths to be self-evident, and proclaimed the right of every people to alter or amend their forms of government as to them may seem fit. They pronounced this right to be an inalienable right; and declared that when a long train of abuses and