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Though Robert Lowry's last eighteen months on earth were spent battling the long and
painful illness of rheumatism, he always maintained a bright and cheerful spirit.
He had been a hale and hearty man, a model for leadership in times of turmoil, and a
great patriarch of his State's efforts to regain its prominence so painfully stripped
by the War Between the States. He was one around whom thousands would rally for comfort
and advice in those trying days and who had been most instrumental in overcoming the
carpetbag rule of the post war years. He was a two-term Governor of Mississippi during
some extremely difficult years (1881-1889), and afterwards resumed a lucrative law practice
in Brandon and Jackson, but during his last months of waning health, his predominant
memories must have been of the great battlefields of the war. In those final months he
had time to draw from the vast repository of events stored in his memory from the proactive
life lived in such a crucial time in our history.
It was 1861, in Rankin County where he answered the call to military service, enlisting in
Company B, 6th Mississippi Infantry and being elected major of that unit. In their subsequent
combat engagement at Shiloh, Robert Lowry was wounded twice, once in the arm and once in the
chest as his company lost three hundred and ten men out of their total number of four hundred
and twenety-five. They earned nicknames such as the "Bloody Sixth" and one historian described
their ranks as "having been reduced to a burial squad." After his recuperation Lowry rejoined
his regiment as their colonel in Corinth and led them into action in the battles of Second Corinth,
Port Hudson, Port Gibson, Bayou Pierre, Champion Hill, and Vicksburg.
They were the "Rankin Grays," "Rockport Steel Blades," "Lake Rebels," "Rankin Rough and Readys,"
"Quitman Guards," and with Robert Lowry as their commander they were singled out many times for
conspicuous gallantry. As part of the army of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, Lowry's Mississippians
fought bravely from Reseca to Atlanta and on into Gen. John Bell Hood's Tennessee campaign.
As they were heavily engaged in the bloody battle of Franklin, Tennessee, their Brigadier commander,
Gen. John Adams, was killed and Colonel Lowry immediately assumed command of the brigade, leading
them fearlessly in one of the most intense battles of the war. Throughout the Battle of Nashville
and the retreat from Tennessee the Mississippians fought fearlessly. Robert Lowry was promoted to
brigadier general prior to their movements into North Carolina, to rank from February 4, 1865.
General Lowry's Mississippians were engaged in the Battle of Bentonville and later surrendered with
Johnston in North Carolina. He was paroled in Greensboro in May, 1865, and with the remainder of his
loyal brigade returned to his beloved home in Brandon, Mississippi and resumed his law practice.
His thoughts of the terrible clash of armies and the din of battle came to a peaceful end at 9:30 p.m.,
Wednesday, January 19, 1910, at the home of his granddaughter on State Street in Jackson. Although he
had occupied offices that customarily were accompanied by great pomp and display, he was known to dislike
such ceremony and because of this, his family respectfully declined the offer of the Governor to allow
his body to lie in state in the new State Capitol building.
His funeral service was held at noon on Friday, January 21, 1910. A special coach was added to the
regular passenger train from Jackson to Brandon Friday afternoon to accommodate the body and the many
legislators and other distinguished dignitaries who were to attend the interment in Brandon. After a
simple grave site service and eloquent prayer the members of the Robert A. Smith camp and the Rankin
camp of Confederate Veterans, most of whom had served with the gallant commander, completed the burial
in honor of their fallen comrade allowing no one else to use the shovels. Beautiful flowers were placed
on the grave by the Brandon Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Perhaps the official notice of Governor E. F. Noel to the Legislature on the day following the death
of the gallant General and statesman best illustrates the loss so deeply felt by all Mississippians at
the time of his death:
"The angel of death, last night called from life to eternity, one of Mississippi's noblest and most
patriotic citizens, ex-Governor Robert Lowry; A soldier without fear, a statesman without guile, and
a gentleman above reproach has answered his last roll call. As Governor for eight years he gave to our
State an efficient and honorable administration of public affairs. As an officer of the Confederacy
and as commander of the Mississippi division of the United Confederate Veterans, he was true and tried,
faithful to every duty and trusted and beloved by all with whom he was associated. Mississippians grieve
at the departure of one whom they love to honor and extend to his family and friends their heartfelt
sympathy. I desire to bring this sad intelligence officially to your notice that you may take such
action as you may deem appropriate for the occasion."
The Mississippi Legislature in turn issued the following resolution:
"Whereas, the Legislature has heard with profound sorrow of the death last night of the beloved and
lamented Governor Robert Lowry, soldier, statesman, and patriot who in war barred his breast to the
bullets of the enemy, and in peace defended the rights of the people of his State with honor in himself
and glory to her...therefore, be it resolved that the Legislature of the State of Mississippi do now in
honor of his memory, adjourn to Monday, at 11:00 a.m. and attend his funeral in a body."
So came to an end the life of a man who braved many battles. Whether as a successful businessman,
renowned attorney, effective legislator, brigadier general of Confederate Infantry, Governor of the
State of Mississippi, notable historian who co-penned an illustrious history of Mississippi, or as a
loving husband and the protective father of eleven children, General Robert L. Lowry always answered
the call to duty and honor in service to the State he so dearly loved.
From "They Sleep Beneath The Mockingbird"
(Mississippi Burial Sites and Biographies of Confederate Generals)
by Harold A. Cross
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