THINK ABOUT IT!

In 1861, Jeremiah Gage was a college student at the University of Mississippi.  This young man with the reddish-blonde hair, blue eyes, and natural athletic build was considered one of the most gifted and outstanding students at the state university.  He majored in English and wanted to be a lawyer when his days at Ole Miss were done.  It was said by all that knew him that he might have been the governor of the sovereign state of Mississippi had he lived, but fate intervened with Jeremiah Gage and his classmates.  The Northern states began a cruel and merciless war of annihilation against all the Southern states, and the college boys from Ole Miss quickly formed a company of infantry that would write its name in Southern lore.  They were designated as Company A in the 11th Mississippi infantry, better known as the "University Greys."  Jeremiah Gage was soon elected to the rank of Sergeant and would become one of the most liked and respected officers in the unit.  On July 3rd, 1863 in Gettysburg town, Jeremiah Gage and his band of brothers would soon meet their destiny.  They would make the ultimate sacrifice in Pickett's charge.  On this fateful bloody afternoon the "University Greys" wrote their name in Confederate fame.  They would suffer a casualty rate of 100%.  Not one man was left to answer roll call the next day!  The 11th Mississippi lost 336 of 389 men.  As the shattered remnants of Pettigrew's Brigade streamed back from Cemetery Ridge they were met by the black servants of the "University Greys."  The servants were standing in line with tears streaming down their dusty cheeks, each one calling their master's name.  No one answered the call for all the "University Greys" were gone up to glory on Cemetery Ridge.  When Jeremiah Gage was taken to the aid station he was soon told his wounds were mortal.  A cannon ball struck him in the arm between the elbow and shoulder.  The second wound was from canister and it struck him in the abdomen and nearly cut him in half.  The young man who wanted to be a lawyer when the war ended was on his deathbed.  The following is a letter he wrote to his mother before the doctor administered something to ease his pain:

Dear Mother,
This is the last you will ever hear from me.  I have time to tell you that I died like a man.  Bear my loss as best you can.  Do remember that I am true to my country, and my greatest regret at dying is that she is not free and that you and my sisters are robbed of my worth, whatever that might be.  I hope this will reach you and you must not regret that my body can't be obtained.  It is a mere matter of form, anyhow.  This is for my sisters, too, as I cannot write more.  Send my dying release to Miss Mary...you know who.