Cause of death: consumption.
Memphis Daily Appeal
September 26, 1882
Died
Phelan--Sunday, September 24 1882, at 6 o'clock a.m., George R. Phelan, aged thirty five years. Funeral will take place from residence, no. 287 Beale Street, this Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock.
Public Ledger
Nov. 12 1882
Local Paragraphs
The will of George R. Phelan was probated yesterday. mrs. S.E. Hunt was appointed yesterday guardian of the heirs of George R. Phelan.
Public Ledger
Nov. 13 1882
Courthouse Notes
The will of George R. Phelan, deceased, was admitted to probate Saturday. His wife is made sole legatee, and his mother is appointed guardian of his children.
"Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Bar Association of Tennessee, Held at Lookout Inn, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., July 17-19, 1895" pages 100-104
In 1866 there came to Memphis from Mississippi a young lawyer, George R. Phelan, who very soon became a conspicuous figure at the bar and in the politics of the State. He was the son of James Phelan, senator from Mississippi to the Confederate Congress, and afterwards practicing law in Memphis.
George Phelan was tall, slender, graceful, and dignified. his mouth was delicate but firm, his chin square and strong, his eyes keen, gray and well apart, and above towered a high forehead, backed by a magnificent head that gave evidence of much breadth. His whole appearance was that of alertness and courage. He was in character the very embodiment of the aristocratic youth of the South. Quick to anger, slow to forgive, vindictive, haughty, imperious, and jealous of honor
as an eagle of her aerie," and yet withal, soft and gentle as a woman to those he loved. His talents were of the very highest order, his cultivation the very best--not after the order of schools, but after the bent of his own genius. He had followed the instincts of his own inclination and made himself. With an intense thirst for knowledge, he had, alone and unaided, taken up and studied such subjects as were most pleasing to him. The sea and the science of war were his loves. He studied naval architecture and the charts of the sea, with its winds and water currents, with ardor. He studied the art of war and the science of tactics and strategy with an assiduity and thoroughness that made him one of the most finished and caustic critics of modern tactics. He published but little, but left many manuscripts of comment and criticism upon the campaign of the war. Politics and political economy also engaged his attention, and he became familiar with its writings from Ricardo and Machiavelli to Henry George. Polite literature he devoured as a pastime, the law he studied as an instrument.
The affection of the writer for the subject prompts the most extended notice the limits of these pages will permit, but his life and character justify far more than the space claimed. His character was the most unique, and his brief career in Memphis the most conspicuous of any that ever belonged to its bar. His life was a very romance of stirring and dangerous adventure. He was reared at Aberdeen, Miss., and before he was twelve, and while other boys of his age were playing marbles and ball, he was devouring Mayne Reid's "Boy Hunters," "Cooper's Tales", "Arabian Nights," and "Poe's Tales."He read Waverly in twenty seven consecutive heats, almost without pausing to take breath. An old friend tells of his establishing in the corner of the yard a wigwam made of an old blanket and some sticks, before which he would sit for hours wrapped another blanket and holding an old musket, playing Indian chief. At ten he rebelled against the authority of his father, headed a rebellion and secession of several other boys, and started down the Tombigbee to sea. At fourteen he joined the Confederate army, and served for some months in Virginia until the term of his enlistment was out. He was then sent to the military school at Tuscaloosa, from which he was expelled the first session for general deviltry. he then, without money, started for Texas and Mexico on foot, made his way across the Mississippi, his only companion a rifle, thence to Brownsville and Matamors, and thence down the Rio Grande to the mouth. Here he met the captain of a schooner bound for New Orleans, and he engaged to work his passage. He was at first dreadfully sick. "Such," he wrote afterwards, "was my introduction to the ocean, and rough as it was, I love the sea with an ardent passion." Arriving at New Orleans he shipped on another schooner for Philadelphia, at ten dollars per month. He finally landed at New York, ragged and with three dollars in money. In order to get South again he enlisted in the Fourteenth New York Cavalry, Colonel Mott commanding. Before the regiment left New York they were called to assist in quelling the celebrated riot there, and a few shots were fired and several killed. His regiment was finally sent around by an old hulk of a steamer to New Orleans, and thence to Opelousas, La., with the Confederates in front. Here he seized the first opportunity of picket duty and escaped to the Confederate lines. He was then sixteen years of age.
In December, 1863, he started on foot for Aberdeen, and crossed the Mississippi at night under the shadow of a Federal gunboat. Arriving at Aberdeen, he soon tired thre, and then went to Richmond, Va., Here, his father being a senator, and his youthful exploits becoming known, he was soon the talk of the town, and the lion of the hour. He again joined the Confederate army and served with distinguished gallantry until the end of the war. He then studied law assiduously for a year, and came to Memphis in August, 1866. Success was slow at first, and he lived very hard, sleeping, as he said, on the sofa in his office and eating where he could the cheapest. He then went to New York on some business, and while there fell in with prominent Fenians and engaged in an expedition to Ireland as colonel of cavalry. Finally reading the coast of Ireland, he and another landed, and while he was ashore the ship and crew were captured, and a five hundred pound reward was offered for the capture of Colonel Phelan, which was read to him by one of the detectives then searching for him. He soon escaped to England, visited Mr. Benjamin, from whom he borrowed enough to pay his passage to New York, and came thence to Memphis. He was then an experienced and full fledged Fenian, and at once organized a large Fenian circle in Memphis. The Irish were from this time forth his ardent admirers, sworn supporters, and steady constituents. Tiring of the monotony of Memphis and the law, in 1867 he went to Brazil to join its army. He was promised a colonelcy, but before his commission was given him he was out of money, and again shipped at Rio de Janeiro for Demarara before the mast. Touching at Georgetown he headed a remonstrance of the crew against the captain, and a row ensued. The captain drew his pistol to kill Phelan, but he coolly suggested to the captain that if he should accidentally miss, his dirk, which he always carried, "would lovingly seek his bowels." The captain took his suggestion, put up his pistol, and put Phelan ashore. Phelan made his way back to New York, when again he shipped for Brazil as quartermaster of a vessel, making the round trip and saving eighty dollars in money. With this he returned to Memphis and again proposed to practice law, confined principally to criminal practice. he rose to prominence in this practice, and seemed destined to great success. In 1870 he published, in the Memphis Appeal, a column article attacking with great point, vigor, and sarcasm the then Democratic executive committee. It was especially caustic on James Brizzolari, a young Italian, a lawyer and member of the committee, and making himself prominent in local politics. Brizzolari published a bitter personal denunciation of Phelan and Phelan challenged him at once. A duel took place between them across the river, and just below Memphis. It was witnessed by the passengers of a steamer, many ladies being witnesses. Two shots were fired, when at the second Brizzolari fell, wounded in the shoulder. Phelan was again the lion of the hour. His second in the duel slept with the night before. He relates that at the pip of day that morning, he was awakened by Phelan springing out of bed crying, in the language of Hotspur: "The sun doth gild our armor; up my lords!"
In October, 1872, he married Miss Julia Hunt, the beautiful daughter of Col. W.R. Hunt, of Memphis. He wubsequently served a term in the Tennessee Legislature, and was quite prominent in State politics of the next few years. His health, however, soon failed him. Consumption, the dread curse of the race, had seized him, and the balance of his life was a brave but unsuccessful resistance to its ravages. One season, with only a negro cook, he spent on the prairies and among the Ute Indians of Colorado. Thrice, with a negro attendant, he spent the winter in a small sailboat between New Orleans and Jacksonville, Fla. Often, sick and alone, he would lay for days upon some small island of the coast, hovering between life and death. Finally his physician told him he had but little time to live, and no hope, and he gave up the fight and came home to die. He died in Memphis, September, 1882.
The story of this struggle for life, known only to a few, has more of courage and pathos than would furnish a novel. To use his own expression as to the final surrender, when he was told that his days were numbered: "Then I felt it was childish to contend longer with my fate. Better by far to wrap my toga around me and fall with dignity than to spend my last hours fighting with straws, and battling for a little more breath."
This is but a brief and meager outline of the principal events of his life, a poor portraiture of one of the brightest intellects that ever adorned the Memphis bar. Had his health permitted his steady pursuit of his high aims, and his life spared a few years, he would have attained the highest eminence.
Memphis Daily Appeal
September 26, 1882
Died
Phelan--Sunday, September 24 1882, at 6 o'clock a.m., George R. Phelan, aged thirty five years. Funeral will take place from residence, no. 287 Beale Street, this Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock.
Public Ledger
Nov. 12 1882
Local Paragraphs
The will of George R. Phelan was probated yesterday. mrs. S.E. Hunt was appointed yesterday guardian of the heirs of George R. Phelan.
Public Ledger
Nov. 13 1882
Courthouse Notes
The will of George R. Phelan, deceased, was admitted to probate Saturday. His wife is made sole legatee, and his mother is appointed guardian of his children.
"Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Bar Association of Tennessee, Held at Lookout Inn, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., July 17-19, 1895" pages 100-104
In 1866 there came to Memphis from Mississippi a young lawyer, George R. Phelan, who very soon became a conspicuous figure at the bar and in the politics of the State. He was the son of James Phelan, senator from Mississippi to the Confederate Congress, and afterwards practicing law in Memphis.
George Phelan was tall, slender, graceful, and dignified. his mouth was delicate but firm, his chin square and strong, his eyes keen, gray and well apart, and above towered a high forehead, backed by a magnificent head that gave evidence of much breadth. His whole appearance was that of alertness and courage. He was in character the very embodiment of the aristocratic youth of the South. Quick to anger, slow to forgive, vindictive, haughty, imperious, and jealous of honor
as an eagle of her aerie," and yet withal, soft and gentle as a woman to those he loved. His talents were of the very highest order, his cultivation the very best--not after the order of schools, but after the bent of his own genius. He had followed the instincts of his own inclination and made himself. With an intense thirst for knowledge, he had, alone and unaided, taken up and studied such subjects as were most pleasing to him. The sea and the science of war were his loves. He studied naval architecture and the charts of the sea, with its winds and water currents, with ardor. He studied the art of war and the science of tactics and strategy with an assiduity and thoroughness that made him one of the most finished and caustic critics of modern tactics. He published but little, but left many manuscripts of comment and criticism upon the campaign of the war. Politics and political economy also engaged his attention, and he became familiar with its writings from Ricardo and Machiavelli to Henry George. Polite literature he devoured as a pastime, the law he studied as an instrument.
The affection of the writer for the subject prompts the most extended notice the limits of these pages will permit, but his life and character justify far more than the space claimed. His character was the most unique, and his brief career in Memphis the most conspicuous of any that ever belonged to its bar. His life was a very romance of stirring and dangerous adventure. He was reared at Aberdeen, Miss., and before he was twelve, and while other boys of his age were playing marbles and ball, he was devouring Mayne Reid's "Boy Hunters," "Cooper's Tales", "Arabian Nights," and "Poe's Tales."He read Waverly in twenty seven consecutive heats, almost without pausing to take breath. An old friend tells of his establishing in the corner of the yard a wigwam made of an old blanket and some sticks, before which he would sit for hours wrapped another blanket and holding an old musket, playing Indian chief. At ten he rebelled against the authority of his father, headed a rebellion and secession of several other boys, and started down the Tombigbee to sea. At fourteen he joined the Confederate army, and served for some months in Virginia until the term of his enlistment was out. He was then sent to the military school at Tuscaloosa, from which he was expelled the first session for general deviltry. he then, without money, started for Texas and Mexico on foot, made his way across the Mississippi, his only companion a rifle, thence to Brownsville and Matamors, and thence down the Rio Grande to the mouth. Here he met the captain of a schooner bound for New Orleans, and he engaged to work his passage. He was at first dreadfully sick. "Such," he wrote afterwards, "was my introduction to the ocean, and rough as it was, I love the sea with an ardent passion." Arriving at New Orleans he shipped on another schooner for Philadelphia, at ten dollars per month. He finally landed at New York, ragged and with three dollars in money. In order to get South again he enlisted in the Fourteenth New York Cavalry, Colonel Mott commanding. Before the regiment left New York they were called to assist in quelling the celebrated riot there, and a few shots were fired and several killed. His regiment was finally sent around by an old hulk of a steamer to New Orleans, and thence to Opelousas, La., with the Confederates in front. Here he seized the first opportunity of picket duty and escaped to the Confederate lines. He was then sixteen years of age.
In December, 1863, he started on foot for Aberdeen, and crossed the Mississippi at night under the shadow of a Federal gunboat. Arriving at Aberdeen, he soon tired thre, and then went to Richmond, Va., Here, his father being a senator, and his youthful exploits becoming known, he was soon the talk of the town, and the lion of the hour. He again joined the Confederate army and served with distinguished gallantry until the end of the war. He then studied law assiduously for a year, and came to Memphis in August, 1866. Success was slow at first, and he lived very hard, sleeping, as he said, on the sofa in his office and eating where he could the cheapest. He then went to New York on some business, and while there fell in with prominent Fenians and engaged in an expedition to Ireland as colonel of cavalry. Finally reading the coast of Ireland, he and another landed, and while he was ashore the ship and crew were captured, and a five hundred pound reward was offered for the capture of Colonel Phelan, which was read to him by one of the detectives then searching for him. He soon escaped to England, visited Mr. Benjamin, from whom he borrowed enough to pay his passage to New York, and came thence to Memphis. He was then an experienced and full fledged Fenian, and at once organized a large Fenian circle in Memphis. The Irish were from this time forth his ardent admirers, sworn supporters, and steady constituents. Tiring of the monotony of Memphis and the law, in 1867 he went to Brazil to join its army. He was promised a colonelcy, but before his commission was given him he was out of money, and again shipped at Rio de Janeiro for Demarara before the mast. Touching at Georgetown he headed a remonstrance of the crew against the captain, and a row ensued. The captain drew his pistol to kill Phelan, but he coolly suggested to the captain that if he should accidentally miss, his dirk, which he always carried, "would lovingly seek his bowels." The captain took his suggestion, put up his pistol, and put Phelan ashore. Phelan made his way back to New York, when again he shipped for Brazil as quartermaster of a vessel, making the round trip and saving eighty dollars in money. With this he returned to Memphis and again proposed to practice law, confined principally to criminal practice. he rose to prominence in this practice, and seemed destined to great success. In 1870 he published, in the Memphis Appeal, a column article attacking with great point, vigor, and sarcasm the then Democratic executive committee. It was especially caustic on James Brizzolari, a young Italian, a lawyer and member of the committee, and making himself prominent in local politics. Brizzolari published a bitter personal denunciation of Phelan and Phelan challenged him at once. A duel took place between them across the river, and just below Memphis. It was witnessed by the passengers of a steamer, many ladies being witnesses. Two shots were fired, when at the second Brizzolari fell, wounded in the shoulder. Phelan was again the lion of the hour. His second in the duel slept with the night before. He relates that at the pip of day that morning, he was awakened by Phelan springing out of bed crying, in the language of Hotspur: "The sun doth gild our armor; up my lords!"
In October, 1872, he married Miss Julia Hunt, the beautiful daughter of Col. W.R. Hunt, of Memphis. He wubsequently served a term in the Tennessee Legislature, and was quite prominent in State politics of the next few years. His health, however, soon failed him. Consumption, the dread curse of the race, had seized him, and the balance of his life was a brave but unsuccessful resistance to its ravages. One season, with only a negro cook, he spent on the prairies and among the Ute Indians of Colorado. Thrice, with a negro attendant, he spent the winter in a small sailboat between New Orleans and Jacksonville, Fla. Often, sick and alone, he would lay for days upon some small island of the coast, hovering between life and death. Finally his physician told him he had but little time to live, and no hope, and he gave up the fight and came home to die. He died in Memphis, September, 1882.
The story of this struggle for life, known only to a few, has more of courage and pathos than would furnish a novel. To use his own expression as to the final surrender, when he was told that his days were numbered: "Then I felt it was childish to contend longer with my fate. Better by far to wrap my toga around me and fall with dignity than to spend my last hours fighting with straws, and battling for a little more breath."
This is but a brief and meager outline of the principal events of his life, a poor portraiture of one of the brightest intellects that ever adorned the Memphis bar. Had his health permitted his steady pursuit of his high aims, and his life spared a few years, he would have attained the highest eminence.
Cause of death: consumption.
Memphis Daily Appeal
September 26, 1882
Died
Phelan--Sunday, September 24 1882, at 6 o'clock a.m., George R. Phelan, aged thirty five years. Funeral will take place from residence, no. 287 Beale Street, this Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock.
Public Ledger
Nov. 12 1882
Local Paragraphs
The will of George R. Phelan was probated yesterday. mrs. S.E. Hunt was appointed yesterday guardian of the heirs of George R. Phelan.
Public Ledger
Nov. 13 1882
Courthouse Notes
The will of George R. Phelan, deceased, was admitted to probate Saturday. His wife is made sole legatee, and his mother is appointed guardian of his children.
"Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Bar Association of Tennessee, Held at Lookout Inn, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., July 17-19, 1895" pages 100-104
In 1866 there came to Memphis from Mississippi a young lawyer, George R. Phelan, who very soon became a conspicuous figure at the bar and in the politics of the State. He was the son of James Phelan, senator from Mississippi to the Confederate Congress, and afterwards practicing law in Memphis.
George Phelan was tall, slender, graceful, and dignified. his mouth was delicate but firm, his chin square and strong, his eyes keen, gray and well apart, and above towered a high forehead, backed by a magnificent head that gave evidence of much breadth. His whole appearance was that of alertness and courage. He was in character the very embodiment of the aristocratic youth of the South. Quick to anger, slow to forgive, vindictive, haughty, imperious, and jealous of honor
as an eagle of her aerie," and yet withal, soft and gentle as a woman to those he loved. His talents were of the very highest order, his cultivation the very best--not after the order of schools, but after the bent of his own genius. He had followed the instincts of his own inclination and made himself. With an intense thirst for knowledge, he had, alone and unaided, taken up and studied such subjects as were most pleasing to him. The sea and the science of war were his loves. He studied naval architecture and the charts of the sea, with its winds and water currents, with ardor. He studied the art of war and the science of tactics and strategy with an assiduity and thoroughness that made him one of the most finished and caustic critics of modern tactics. He published but little, but left many manuscripts of comment and criticism upon the campaign of the war. Politics and political economy also engaged his attention, and he became familiar with its writings from Ricardo and Machiavelli to Henry George. Polite literature he devoured as a pastime, the law he studied as an instrument.
The affection of the writer for the subject prompts the most extended notice the limits of these pages will permit, but his life and character justify far more than the space claimed. His character was the most unique, and his brief career in Memphis the most conspicuous of any that ever belonged to its bar. His life was a very romance of stirring and dangerous adventure. He was reared at Aberdeen, Miss., and before he was twelve, and while other boys of his age were playing marbles and ball, he was devouring Mayne Reid's "Boy Hunters," "Cooper's Tales", "Arabian Nights," and "Poe's Tales."He read Waverly in twenty seven consecutive heats, almost without pausing to take breath. An old friend tells of his establishing in the corner of the yard a wigwam made of an old blanket and some sticks, before which he would sit for hours wrapped another blanket and holding an old musket, playing Indian chief. At ten he rebelled against the authority of his father, headed a rebellion and secession of several other boys, and started down the Tombigbee to sea. At fourteen he joined the Confederate army, and served for some months in Virginia until the term of his enlistment was out. He was then sent to the military school at Tuscaloosa, from which he was expelled the first session for general deviltry. he then, without money, started for Texas and Mexico on foot, made his way across the Mississippi, his only companion a rifle, thence to Brownsville and Matamors, and thence down the Rio Grande to the mouth. Here he met the captain of a schooner bound for New Orleans, and he engaged to work his passage. He was at first dreadfully sick. "Such," he wrote afterwards, "was my introduction to the ocean, and rough as it was, I love the sea with an ardent passion." Arriving at New Orleans he shipped on another schooner for Philadelphia, at ten dollars per month. He finally landed at New York, ragged and with three dollars in money. In order to get South again he enlisted in the Fourteenth New York Cavalry, Colonel Mott commanding. Before the regiment left New York they were called to assist in quelling the celebrated riot there, and a few shots were fired and several killed. His regiment was finally sent around by an old hulk of a steamer to New Orleans, and thence to Opelousas, La., with the Confederates in front. Here he seized the first opportunity of picket duty and escaped to the Confederate lines. He was then sixteen years of age.
In December, 1863, he started on foot for Aberdeen, and crossed the Mississippi at night under the shadow of a Federal gunboat. Arriving at Aberdeen, he soon tired thre, and then went to Richmond, Va., Here, his father being a senator, and his youthful exploits becoming known, he was soon the talk of the town, and the lion of the hour. He again joined the Confederate army and served with distinguished gallantry until the end of the war. He then studied law assiduously for a year, and came to Memphis in August, 1866. Success was slow at first, and he lived very hard, sleeping, as he said, on the sofa in his office and eating where he could the cheapest. He then went to New York on some business, and while there fell in with prominent Fenians and engaged in an expedition to Ireland as colonel of cavalry. Finally reading the coast of Ireland, he and another landed, and while he was ashore the ship and crew were captured, and a five hundred pound reward was offered for the capture of Colonel Phelan, which was read to him by one of the detectives then searching for him. He soon escaped to England, visited Mr. Benjamin, from whom he borrowed enough to pay his passage to New York, and came thence to Memphis. He was then an experienced and full fledged Fenian, and at once organized a large Fenian circle in Memphis. The Irish were from this time forth his ardent admirers, sworn supporters, and steady constituents. Tiring of the monotony of Memphis and the law, in 1867 he went to Brazil to join its army. He was promised a colonelcy, but before his commission was given him he was out of money, and again shipped at Rio de Janeiro for Demarara before the mast. Touching at Georgetown he headed a remonstrance of the crew against the captain, and a row ensued. The captain drew his pistol to kill Phelan, but he coolly suggested to the captain that if he should accidentally miss, his dirk, which he always carried, "would lovingly seek his bowels." The captain took his suggestion, put up his pistol, and put Phelan ashore. Phelan made his way back to New York, when again he shipped for Brazil as quartermaster of a vessel, making the round trip and saving eighty dollars in money. With this he returned to Memphis and again proposed to practice law, confined principally to criminal practice. he rose to prominence in this practice, and seemed destined to great success. In 1870 he published, in the Memphis Appeal, a column article attacking with great point, vigor, and sarcasm the then Democratic executive committee. It was especially caustic on James Brizzolari, a young Italian, a lawyer and member of the committee, and making himself prominent in local politics. Brizzolari published a bitter personal denunciation of Phelan and Phelan challenged him at once. A duel took place between them across the river, and just below Memphis. It was witnessed by the passengers of a steamer, many ladies being witnesses. Two shots were fired, when at the second Brizzolari fell, wounded in the shoulder. Phelan was again the lion of the hour. His second in the duel slept with the night before. He relates that at the pip of day that morning, he was awakened by Phelan springing out of bed crying, in the language of Hotspur: "The sun doth gild our armor; up my lords!"
In October, 1872, he married Miss Julia Hunt, the beautiful daughter of Col. W.R. Hunt, of Memphis. He wubsequently served a term in the Tennessee Legislature, and was quite prominent in State politics of the next few years. His health, however, soon failed him. Consumption, the dread curse of the race, had seized him, and the balance of his life was a brave but unsuccessful resistance to its ravages. One season, with only a negro cook, he spent on the prairies and among the Ute Indians of Colorado. Thrice, with a negro attendant, he spent the winter in a small sailboat between New Orleans and Jacksonville, Fla. Often, sick and alone, he would lay for days upon some small island of the coast, hovering between life and death. Finally his physician told him he had but little time to live, and no hope, and he gave up the fight and came home to die. He died in Memphis, September, 1882.
The story of this struggle for life, known only to a few, has more of courage and pathos than would furnish a novel. To use his own expression as to the final surrender, when he was told that his days were numbered: "Then I felt it was childish to contend longer with my fate. Better by far to wrap my toga around me and fall with dignity than to spend my last hours fighting with straws, and battling for a little more breath."
This is but a brief and meager outline of the principal events of his life, a poor portraiture of one of the brightest intellects that ever adorned the Memphis bar. Had his health permitted his steady pursuit of his high aims, and his life spared a few years, he would have attained the highest eminence.
Memphis Daily Appeal
September 26, 1882
Died
Phelan--Sunday, September 24 1882, at 6 o'clock a.m., George R. Phelan, aged thirty five years. Funeral will take place from residence, no. 287 Beale Street, this Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock.
Public Ledger
Nov. 12 1882
Local Paragraphs
The will of George R. Phelan was probated yesterday. mrs. S.E. Hunt was appointed yesterday guardian of the heirs of George R. Phelan.
Public Ledger
Nov. 13 1882
Courthouse Notes
The will of George R. Phelan, deceased, was admitted to probate Saturday. His wife is made sole legatee, and his mother is appointed guardian of his children.
"Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Bar Association of Tennessee, Held at Lookout Inn, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., July 17-19, 1895" pages 100-104
In 1866 there came to Memphis from Mississippi a young lawyer, George R. Phelan, who very soon became a conspicuous figure at the bar and in the politics of the State. He was the son of James Phelan, senator from Mississippi to the Confederate Congress, and afterwards practicing law in Memphis.
George Phelan was tall, slender, graceful, and dignified. his mouth was delicate but firm, his chin square and strong, his eyes keen, gray and well apart, and above towered a high forehead, backed by a magnificent head that gave evidence of much breadth. His whole appearance was that of alertness and courage. He was in character the very embodiment of the aristocratic youth of the South. Quick to anger, slow to forgive, vindictive, haughty, imperious, and jealous of honor
as an eagle of her aerie," and yet withal, soft and gentle as a woman to those he loved. His talents were of the very highest order, his cultivation the very best--not after the order of schools, but after the bent of his own genius. He had followed the instincts of his own inclination and made himself. With an intense thirst for knowledge, he had, alone and unaided, taken up and studied such subjects as were most pleasing to him. The sea and the science of war were his loves. He studied naval architecture and the charts of the sea, with its winds and water currents, with ardor. He studied the art of war and the science of tactics and strategy with an assiduity and thoroughness that made him one of the most finished and caustic critics of modern tactics. He published but little, but left many manuscripts of comment and criticism upon the campaign of the war. Politics and political economy also engaged his attention, and he became familiar with its writings from Ricardo and Machiavelli to Henry George. Polite literature he devoured as a pastime, the law he studied as an instrument.
The affection of the writer for the subject prompts the most extended notice the limits of these pages will permit, but his life and character justify far more than the space claimed. His character was the most unique, and his brief career in Memphis the most conspicuous of any that ever belonged to its bar. His life was a very romance of stirring and dangerous adventure. He was reared at Aberdeen, Miss., and before he was twelve, and while other boys of his age were playing marbles and ball, he was devouring Mayne Reid's "Boy Hunters," "Cooper's Tales", "Arabian Nights," and "Poe's Tales."He read Waverly in twenty seven consecutive heats, almost without pausing to take breath. An old friend tells of his establishing in the corner of the yard a wigwam made of an old blanket and some sticks, before which he would sit for hours wrapped another blanket and holding an old musket, playing Indian chief. At ten he rebelled against the authority of his father, headed a rebellion and secession of several other boys, and started down the Tombigbee to sea. At fourteen he joined the Confederate army, and served for some months in Virginia until the term of his enlistment was out. He was then sent to the military school at Tuscaloosa, from which he was expelled the first session for general deviltry. he then, without money, started for Texas and Mexico on foot, made his way across the Mississippi, his only companion a rifle, thence to Brownsville and Matamors, and thence down the Rio Grande to the mouth. Here he met the captain of a schooner bound for New Orleans, and he engaged to work his passage. He was at first dreadfully sick. "Such," he wrote afterwards, "was my introduction to the ocean, and rough as it was, I love the sea with an ardent passion." Arriving at New Orleans he shipped on another schooner for Philadelphia, at ten dollars per month. He finally landed at New York, ragged and with three dollars in money. In order to get South again he enlisted in the Fourteenth New York Cavalry, Colonel Mott commanding. Before the regiment left New York they were called to assist in quelling the celebrated riot there, and a few shots were fired and several killed. His regiment was finally sent around by an old hulk of a steamer to New Orleans, and thence to Opelousas, La., with the Confederates in front. Here he seized the first opportunity of picket duty and escaped to the Confederate lines. He was then sixteen years of age.
In December, 1863, he started on foot for Aberdeen, and crossed the Mississippi at night under the shadow of a Federal gunboat. Arriving at Aberdeen, he soon tired thre, and then went to Richmond, Va., Here, his father being a senator, and his youthful exploits becoming known, he was soon the talk of the town, and the lion of the hour. He again joined the Confederate army and served with distinguished gallantry until the end of the war. He then studied law assiduously for a year, and came to Memphis in August, 1866. Success was slow at first, and he lived very hard, sleeping, as he said, on the sofa in his office and eating where he could the cheapest. He then went to New York on some business, and while there fell in with prominent Fenians and engaged in an expedition to Ireland as colonel of cavalry. Finally reading the coast of Ireland, he and another landed, and while he was ashore the ship and crew were captured, and a five hundred pound reward was offered for the capture of Colonel Phelan, which was read to him by one of the detectives then searching for him. He soon escaped to England, visited Mr. Benjamin, from whom he borrowed enough to pay his passage to New York, and came thence to Memphis. He was then an experienced and full fledged Fenian, and at once organized a large Fenian circle in Memphis. The Irish were from this time forth his ardent admirers, sworn supporters, and steady constituents. Tiring of the monotony of Memphis and the law, in 1867 he went to Brazil to join its army. He was promised a colonelcy, but before his commission was given him he was out of money, and again shipped at Rio de Janeiro for Demarara before the mast. Touching at Georgetown he headed a remonstrance of the crew against the captain, and a row ensued. The captain drew his pistol to kill Phelan, but he coolly suggested to the captain that if he should accidentally miss, his dirk, which he always carried, "would lovingly seek his bowels." The captain took his suggestion, put up his pistol, and put Phelan ashore. Phelan made his way back to New York, when again he shipped for Brazil as quartermaster of a vessel, making the round trip and saving eighty dollars in money. With this he returned to Memphis and again proposed to practice law, confined principally to criminal practice. he rose to prominence in this practice, and seemed destined to great success. In 1870 he published, in the Memphis Appeal, a column article attacking with great point, vigor, and sarcasm the then Democratic executive committee. It was especially caustic on James Brizzolari, a young Italian, a lawyer and member of the committee, and making himself prominent in local politics. Brizzolari published a bitter personal denunciation of Phelan and Phelan challenged him at once. A duel took place between them across the river, and just below Memphis. It was witnessed by the passengers of a steamer, many ladies being witnesses. Two shots were fired, when at the second Brizzolari fell, wounded in the shoulder. Phelan was again the lion of the hour. His second in the duel slept with the night before. He relates that at the pip of day that morning, he was awakened by Phelan springing out of bed crying, in the language of Hotspur: "The sun doth gild our armor; up my lords!"
In October, 1872, he married Miss Julia Hunt, the beautiful daughter of Col. W.R. Hunt, of Memphis. He wubsequently served a term in the Tennessee Legislature, and was quite prominent in State politics of the next few years. His health, however, soon failed him. Consumption, the dread curse of the race, had seized him, and the balance of his life was a brave but unsuccessful resistance to its ravages. One season, with only a negro cook, he spent on the prairies and among the Ute Indians of Colorado. Thrice, with a negro attendant, he spent the winter in a small sailboat between New Orleans and Jacksonville, Fla. Often, sick and alone, he would lay for days upon some small island of the coast, hovering between life and death. Finally his physician told him he had but little time to live, and no hope, and he gave up the fight and came home to die. He died in Memphis, September, 1882.
The story of this struggle for life, known only to a few, has more of courage and pathos than would furnish a novel. To use his own expression as to the final surrender, when he was told that his days were numbered: "Then I felt it was childish to contend longer with my fate. Better by far to wrap my toga around me and fall with dignity than to spend my last hours fighting with straws, and battling for a little more breath."
This is but a brief and meager outline of the principal events of his life, a poor portraiture of one of the brightest intellects that ever adorned the Memphis bar. Had his health permitted his steady pursuit of his high aims, and his life spared a few years, he would have attained the highest eminence.
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