From the Richmond Dispatch, 8/28/1861, p. 2
Inquest. - An inquest was held yesterday by Alderman
Sanxay, over the body of an unknown man, (a soldier, apparently,) whose body was
found lying dead at the corner of Grace and 17th streets, near
Seabrook's warehouse. The jurors sworn to inquire by what means the result had
been produced, returned through their foreman (Jacob S. Atlee,) the verdict that
he came to his death "by impertinence and exposure."
The person of the deceased presented one of the most
striking features of the seafaring habit of emblematic disfiguration of the
body, all parts of which, together with the arms, legs and feet, were covered
with national emblems and other devices, representing the U. States coat of
arms, U. States flags, symbolic figures of the Goddess of Liberty, with mottoes
and letters in capitals, significant of something known perhaps only to the
deceased; bracelets, with emblems, representations of rings on the fingers, and
ships fully rigged and in trim for sail. The identity of the body is so well
defined that his friends or connexions who may by chance happen to see this, can
ascertain the certainty of his death. Both of his larger toes were off, also
some of the smaller ones. Others remaining were disfigured. He represented to
one of the witnesses who had been with him for several days previous to his
death, that he was a member of the Jeff. Davis Rangers, and was in the battle of
Manassas, and was wounded in that engagement. No one seemed to be aware of his
name.
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