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From the Irish Citizen. SKETCH OF CAPTAIN JOHN MITCHEL. (John Mitchel’s Eldest Son.) Cattain John Mitchel. « i die in a glorious cause. My ouly wish is that I id have done more for my own country.’ Dying tVor.Ds of Captain John Mitckex., AN INCIDENT OF 1861. On a certain night in the autumn of 1861, Irving Hall, iri the city of New York, was tilled to overflowing with Irish exiles, brought together for the purpose of making preparations for the funeral of Terence Bellew McManus. Thomas Francis Meagher was that, u j<rht addressing the meeting, as only he could address an audience of his country men. In the course of his remarks he introduced the name of Colonel Michael Corcoran, (then a prisoner in the South.) A most enthusiastic burst of applause greeted the name cf the gallant chief of the brave old Sixty-ninth. Pausing until the cheering had subsided, Meagher, with gleaming eye, and quivering lip, and his cheek flushing with the rich blood that swelled up from his proud, loving heart, cried out: “ Now that you have testified your love and admiration for the brave Irish soldier of the Union, I call on you to give three cheers for the two sons of John Mitchel, who arc fighting as brave ly on the other side.” The effect of this appeal was electric. The wild, ringing cheers, again and again repeated, showed that a chord in the universal Irish heart had been struck; fur those fiery-eyed Celts—many of whom were the first to spring to arms in defense of the “ Starry Banner ” —loved and venerated the father of those boys not alone for the suffering he endured in the cause of their common country, but for the great service he had rendered her and them, in unmasking and flinging to perdition the hideous delusion of “Con stitutional agitation,” and making its very name an abomination to the Irish people. For this they loved him ; and for this, when he and they will have passed away, shall succeeding generations of enfranchised Irishmen reverence the name of John Mitchel. EARLY LIFE OF CAPTAIN MITCHEL. John Mitchel, Jr,, the subject of this sketch, was bom in Newry, Cos. Down, Ireland, on January 24tb, 1838, and iu this town he spent the first seven years of his life. Iu the Autumn of 1845, his father succeeded Thomas Davis in the editorship of the Nation , and the whole family removed to Dublin. Here they re sided until the well known events of May, 1848, desolated their happy home, deprived them of a protector, and Ireland of the only man capable of leading" the people on that road to revolution which he had, at such heroic self-sacrifice, poiuted out. THE FELON’S SONG. Shortly after that sorrowful parting with his noble father in the Newgate cell, our young hero, then a boy of ten years, wrote the little poem which will be found at the conclusion of this notice, and sent it to the Irish Felon , the suc cessor of his father’s paper, the United Irishman. It is the only poetical production of his which has come under our notice, and we reproduce it because we feel assured that any memento of him will be inter esting to our readers, and because the simple lines so faithfully represent the daring and hopeful spirit of the noble boy in that hour of domestic sorrow, and national degradation. RESIDENCE WITH FATHER KENYON, John Mitchel had been shipped off to ‘ Bermuda of the damned.” British law had been successfully vindicated in Ireland, and its deadliest enemies char acteristically disposed "of—for the time being. The young “ Felon” and his brother were consigned to the care of their father’s trusty friend, Father John Kenyon, P. P. of Ternplederry, the ablest writer as well as the most fearless rep resentative of the national Clergy in Ire land. 1 uder his hespitable Tipperary roof tree, the boys spent one of the three weary years that elapsed before they again rejoined their father. HIS DEPARTURE FOR. AUSTRALIA. On the 24th of January, 1851, (his thirteenth birthday,) young John Mitchel, with moistened eyes, took a paiting look at the loved land of his 'U'th. Alas! that that glance at the noble hills, and pleasant valleys of “Green Pi in of the streams” should be destined to prove his last; for on that cold Win ter’? morning his noble-hearted Irish mother, with her five young children, 'ailed for the Antipodes, to join their heroic father. On the 20th of June following, the husband and father once Were embraced his wife and little ones. Cheered by their society, he speut two more years in that out-of-the-world seclu- Mon. But the dawn of a happier day was approaching. Ou the 12th of June, 1853, John Mitchel, in the police office of BothwclJ, flung off the shackles of the tyrant, and took the road to freedom and life. The 9th of October following, him selt and family landed at Fan Francisco, and the evening of the 20th ofNovember saw’ the Exile, and his noble little band, reposing their way-worn frames in his mother’s house in Brooklyn. LIFE IN AMERICA. After having settled down in America, young John Mitchel completed his edu cation in Columbia College, New York; and then came the time lor selecting his profession for life. From this time forward, until the breaking out of the war lie was alternate ly a candidate for West Point, a clerk in aN. Y. importing house, a student in civil engineering, and agent for his father’s paper—the Souihern Citizen —in the Southern States. JOINS THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. Then came the opportunity for which from his boyhood he had so earnestly yearned, that of learning “the soldier’s glorious trade,” and lie eagerly embraced it. Resigning his appointment,- lie hastened to Charleston, and proffered his services to the cause of his adopted State. His first duty was as Volunteer Aid to General Gregg (then Colonel W. Gregg,) under whom lie rendered valuable ser vices in preparing the harbor of Charles ton for the severe sieges which it w T as destined to withstand. FIRST FRACTICE AS AN ARTILLERIST. He was commissioned by Governor Pickens as a Lieutenant in the Ist South Carolina Artillery Regiment, which was in process of organization at the time. He first distinguished himself during the bombardment of Fort Sumter, in which action he commanded the guns of the enfilading battery at Fort Moultrie, which played so efficient a part in the reduction of the United States strong hold. Hero his qualities as an Artillerist were brought prominently into notice, for he, early in the bombardment (April 13th,) dismounted at a single shot three of his opponents guns—the first that were dismounted in the Fort. Upon the evacuation of Sumter by Major Anderson, Lieutenant Mitchel went over as a part of the first Confed erate garrison that occupied it. He subsequently had a long period of com parative quiet, during which he devoted liimself with unflagging energy to his duties as a company officer, every day adding to the military knowledge which he was such an adept in acquiring. He was constantly engaged on the defences of Charleston, or those of the coast, south ward, where he did much, through his knowledge of engineering, in perfecting those works, and, by his skill, as an Ar tillery officer, in rendering their garrison proficient. RECEPTION OF GENERAL CORCORAN. While stationed in Charleston, he first heard of the capture of the gallant Cor coran. deferring to the matter,in a letter to a friend in*this city, he pledged him self, should his brave and patriotic countryman bo transferred to Charleston, to order out the band of his Regiment to receive him, and pla}- “Patrick’s Day,” and “ Garryowen” through the streets of the city in his honor, and for that of the old land on which the Colonel and his gallant command had reflected so much credit. And he kept his promise. Corcoran was afterwards transferied to the Palmetto City, where lie found his countryman as proud of him as when, six months before, they presented him with the gold-headed Palmetto cane, as a mark of their appreciation of his conduct in refusing to order out his Regiment to do honor to the son of his country’s op pressor. But from none did he meet a more~cordial greeting than from the son of the man whom he had long looked upon as the first of living Irishmen. This incident which harmonizes so well with that which oceured at “ Irving Hall,” about the same time (as related in a former part of this sketch,) shows conclu sively the unanimity of feeling which ex isted between Irishmen, North and South, when the heart’s homage was to be paid to the men who were true to their native land. COMMANDS AN INFANTRY COMFANYV Longing for more active duties, and anxious to perfect himself in a different branch of the service, our young officer got himself assigned to the temporary command of an Infantry company. These he drilled as sharpshooters, and, with them, aided materially in the brilliant capture of the Lhiited States Gunboat, Isaac P. Smith, in Stono river. BRAVERY AT MORRIS ISLAND. Transferred again to the Artillery, we find him in command of a Barbette battery at Fort Sumter on the occasion of the terrible repulse of the monitor fleet, April 7, 1863. ■Mlffll ©I flf On the 10th of July, 1863, he was in command of a battery at the south end of Morris Island, when, abandoned by his Infantry supports, with his handful of devoted Artillerists, he stood to his guns fighting hand to hand witli the enemy, until, being actually surrounded by the overwhelming numbers of his assailants, he was, for a short time, a prisoner in their hands; but his gallant followers, who almost idolized their young commander, by a desperate charge succeeded in rescuing him. When, once more at their head, he succeeded in cutting his way to Fort Wagner. It was his fortune to command the Artil lery of that celebrated post on the follow ing day, when the assaulting columns received the first of the series of bloody repulses which they encountered in front of its massive parapet. During the siege of Fort Wagner, Captain Mitchel was placed in command of the Batteries on James Island, which had been constructed to command the beseigers’ works; and both then, and sub sequent to the evacuation of Morris Island, he rendered signal service by the spirit and accuracy of the fire with which he constantly annoyed the Federal work ing parties. At the time to which we refer, he commanded no less than seven companies of Artillery in the Batteries adjacent to Fort Johnson. For some time after the above events, Captain Mitchel was stationed in the Batteries in the city of Charleston. APPOINTMENT TO TIIE COMSIANDOF SUMTER* Iu April, 1864, he was assigned to the temporary command of Fort Sumter, during the absence of Colonel Elliott, and, on the promotion of that officer, a fortnight later, our gallant young country man was honored with the permanent command of that famous old fortress, which for over a year had withstood a siege and bombardment, unparalleled for its fierceness, in military history. Ilis assignment to such a post, at such a time, was no common act of routine or usage. It was believed by his superior officers that he was worthy of, and equal to the trust, under all exigencies and the expectations of the witnessing world. The results fully justified the appoint ment. On taking charge of Fort Sumter, Captain Mitchel found but little to im prove on iu the general plan of defense instituted by his predecessor; but his soldierly training soon made itself felt in the increased attention to police and dis ciplinary regulations, while his constant lively interest in the welfare of his garri sou, and untiring vigilance over the movements of his enemy, made every one of his command, both officers and men, proud of their noble young leader. ins DEATH. But the career of the heroic young soldier was drawiug to a close. Each succeeding day the lire became more in tense, and shot and shell poured in quicker, and with more destructive effect. On the 20th of June, (the three hundred and sixty-sixth day of the seige of Charleston,) the firing became particularly severe—as many as four hundred and forty-five shots, mostly from eight inch Parrotts, and thirteen inch mortars, being directed against the Fort, chiefly from its south-west angle. About one o’clock on that disastrous day, Captain Mitchel went to that perilous point, with a view to decide upon the expediency of removing the sentinel stationed there. M hen he arrived there, he found the sentry under cover, and, having decided on dismounting the guns at that angle, he dispatched the man to summon the gunners for that purpose. Just then, while he stood alone at the exposed point, surveying the enemy from the parapet, and without any protection to the rear, a large shell burst immediately over his head, and a heavy fragment of it struck him below' the left hip, shattering his thigh, and inflicting a mortal wound. Ilis brother officers immediately rushed to the spot, and found him, deadly pale, reclining against the parapet. He was at once denderly removed to his quarters, suffering the most excruciating torture, which he bore with admirable fortitude, saying that he “wished to let his men see how a soldier should die.” Upon learning from the Doctor that there were no hopes of his recovery, he declined to have amputation performed, and com menced giving directions and making preparations for death. He desired his friends to write to his father and mother, and tell them that he died as a man should die, at his post of duty. lie said : “Tell them I die resigned, with the consciousness of having lived a blameless life, and in the endeavor to do my whole duty to the country. My only regret is for my parents, and the great shock my death will cause my mother. Tell them, also, that I wish I could have died in de fense of the liberties of my native land.” He then called the senior officer in the Fort, and said : “I turn over the command of the Fort to you. Never let it be given up, or sur rendered.” He desired that his remains should be interred in the Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston. About three o’clock, he began to sink rapidly; and his friend, Captain Johnson, chief engineer of the Fort, knelt beside him and breathed a soldier’s prayer for his dying comrade. He felt pleased at this ; said he felt at peace with his God, that he was prepared to die, but that he wished he could have died as his brother Willie did, adding: “Was not his a glorious death ? ” * Then after a pause, he feebly added: “ I die in a glorious cause; my only- wish is that I could have done more for my own country.” These were his dying words. He retained his consciousness to the last, and expired at a quarter to five o’clock, in the after noon of that 20th of July. Thus with his last thought fixed on his native land, died—as became his father’s son—the first born of John Mitchel. WiLLiE MITCHEL. Pei haps this may be the most fitting place*to recount the particulars of his youngest brother’s death. Willie Mitchel, then a lad of little over seventeen, was residing in France with his patents at the breaking out of the wai. Lpon learning that his two beloved brother.*? were embarked in the struggle, the bra\e boy determined to fight in the same cause. So, on his arrival in America, he immediately enlisted in an Inmntry Regiment, where he soon became a Coiporal, and was chosen one of the C r tv ls -Regiment formed part of Pickett s column when they made their famous charge up the hill to the IT nion intrenchments at Gettysburg, on the 3d July, 1863. A distinguished Union officer who wit nessed the advance of this glorious column U -h v a filG of roiin(J shot, shell, and rifle bullets, that strewed their path with fallen heroes, has informed the writer that in all he over saw, or read in History, lie never knew anything approaching the bravery of the men who composed that column. In that charge, Willie Mitchel fell. He had been wounded early in the advance, but refused to quit his post; a second bullet killed him as the column reached the foot of the hill; and there, side by side with his gallant comrades, the young est son of John Mitchel lies in an unknown gra\e. Yell might his brave brother long for such a death. HONOR S PAID TO CAPTAIN MITCHEL’s , REMAINS. On the evening of his death, Captain Mitchel’s remains were taken to Charles ton, and conveyed to St. Paul’s Church, where, under guard of the City Cadets, they lay in state till the next evening. At five o’clock, on the 21st of July, the funeral took place. Every honor was paid that could testify how deep and general was the feeling on the part of the soldiers and citizens of Charleston at the loss of so gallant, and distinguished an officer. The funeral was attended by the most respected citizens, and a large as semblage of Military officers, and the Church was filled with ladies, \v 7 ho covered his coffin with many wreaths of flowers, and immortelles formed of the laurel and palmetto entwined. Draped with the Confederate Hag, the coffin was borne to the Magnolia Cemetery, and buried in a lot of ground purchased by the city for that purpose. The funeral expenses were defrayed by the citizens of Charles ton. In a Charleston paper of the present year, describing the decorations of the soldier’s graves, we tied the following paragraph in reference to Captain Mitchel. It shows hew dear his memory is to the people in whose cause he died : 'Among the graves in private grounds that received attention, was that of Capt. John Mitchel, the gallant Irishman, who was killed at Fort Sumter, in 1864. There were three very handsome wreaths placed on the tomb, and attached to one of them was a slip of paper, on which was written the name of the hero, and date of his death. The lot where Captain Mitchel is buried,it veil Ibe remembered, was dedicated for that purpose by the city of Charleston. An enclosure and a hedge of evergreens have been placed around it by friends who were not unmindful of the hero of the day consecrated to the memory of the martyr throng.’’ OFFICIAL TESTIMONIALS OF HIS ABILITY. From several letters of condolence ad dressed to his father, by Captain Mitchel’s superior officers, we select the following. They will serve to show the estimation in which he was held. The first is a copy of a telegram from Major-General Jones : “Charleston, July 20, 1864. “ To John Mitchel: “It is my painful duty to announce to you that your gallant, and accomplished son fell mortally wounded by a fragment of shell, about one o'clock P. M., to day, while in faithful performance of his duty, as commanding officer of Fort Sumter. “ The shot that removed him has de prived the country of one of its most valuable defenders. “Sam. Jones, “ Major-General. ” The next letter is from Major-General Beauregard, the officer of all others best quahficd to judge of Captain Mitchel’s abilities i “Near PErrosBCRG, Va., Aug. 6, ’64. “Dear Sir: I ti ust tho condition of affairs here will be my excuse for not having addressed you sooner, relative to the irreparable loss you have sustained lately in the loss of your gallant son, Captain John Mitchel. He served under my orders during the most trying periods of the siege of Charleston, at Fort Sumter, Battery Simkins, and on Morris Island. He displayed such coolness, energy, and in telligence, that I selected him from many aspirants, ambitious of the honor, to re- P] ace Ctol. Elliott, in tho command of tort Sumter, whenever circumstances compelled that gallant officer to absent himself from that important post. “ In your bereavement, you should de rive consolation from the thought that your son fell at his post, gloriously bat tling for the Independence of his country, carrying with him the regret of his friends, and the respect of his enemies. “ I remain with respect, “Your most obedient servant, “ G. T. Beauregard. “ Mr. John Mitchel, “ Care of Lieut.-Col. Jno. Lay, “ Richmond Va.” We conclude our selections from these official testimonials to the dead hero’s services, and ability with the following extracts from the letter of his dear friend, Captain Johnson, who was fcy his side when he breathed his last. “You have lost, sir, a son you may well have been proud of—his past record had been so enviable; but you, perhaps,know not what his brother officers knew, that before him, in the future, shone a bright, and sure, and glorious path of distinction, which no accident or delay of time could have prevented, no qualifications could have impaired. Captain Mitchel had qualities which would have compelled distinction. I hesitate not to say after a close association with him for some mouths together, that, in his grade as an officer, he had not his superior in any service in the world. There was in him such actual thorough furnishing for all occasions, and emergencies. His reading exten sive, and remembered; his practice, never allowed to flag; his native intellect, quick, clear, and penetrating; his dis cipline the most level, firm, and consider ate I ever saw; his manner so perfectly uniform, was courteous and affable, but dignified to his officers, kind and fair, bnt unbending to his men—it was impossible to be near him on duty, without feeling the elevating and bracing effect of his example and character, while his vivaci ty of temperament, his command of lan guage, his travels, observation, and reflection made him altogether one of the most agreeable companions I ever met ” ## # # * # ‘ # [Millions of John Mitchel’s countrymen re-echo the noble sentiments embodied in the concluding portion of this gallant soldier’s letter.] “In taking leave, sir of yourself and family on the present occasion, allow me to express my warmest and heartiest sympathies with you in the loss of your noble son, and to hope that from His hand, whose dark providence has dealt the blow, may yet conic to you joy and consolation, the balm which will heal and purify your hearts toward the attainment of that Heaven whither John has gone before you. I remain with great esteem, “Very respectfully yours, “ Juo. Johnson “ Capt. Eng. Corps. P. A. C. S.” CONCLUSION. After pernsing the above testimonials to the ability of our noble young country man, our readers cannot fail to be mourn fully impressed with the great loss that Ireland has sustained in Capt. Mitchel’s untimely death. In few other men of our race and generation were combined so many fitting qualifications for the Mili tary leadership of the Irish people, had he been spared to take part in their struggle for liberty. A SONG FOR TIIE FUTURE. “ This land of ours shall soon be free, From the river of Foyle to the river of Lee, And the suffering Irish then shall see The joys of a free Republic. “ Then we can walk in a fearless band. And hold our own fair sunny land, Yea, down to the smallest grain of sand. ’ Neath the sway of a free Republic. “ Then Irishmen may claim their right By force of her great men’s soul and might. And stood to a grand and skyey height, 'Neath the sway of a free Republic.” The Fee ok. 3