Lieutenant Robert E. Ballard's Description of the Death of Brigadier General Junius Daniel, May 13, 1864
On Friday the 13th on dressing his wound, whatever hope I may have entertained of his recovery, vanished. I knew he would be dead very soon. He was reading my thoughts, although I was not aware he was looking at me. Reciting me by name he said, "Do you think I will certainly die-tell me truly." "Genl," I replied, "I will not deceive you. I do not think there is a shadow of hope." He had the surgeon called in and inquired how long he was likely to live, and if his wife would have time to reach him before he died. He was informed that it would be impossible for her to reach him. . . . He now abandoned all hope and his mind turned to home and his wife, for where he seemed to be more concerned than for himself. . . .
"You can," he said, "do me no good now-it is nearly all over." The Doctor told him soon after this that he was fast dying, and asked him if he might call in a minister of the gospel. The Genl assented, a minister was brought in, spoke a few words and knelt down in prayer. . . . Shortly thereafter he asked us to raise him in bed, we did so, and then said, "Now lay me down." When we had done so he quietly folded his hands across his bosom, and closing his eyes immediately expired. Thus died one of the best and bravest men that ever lived.
