The Three Crosthwaite Brother's



Frank B. Crosthwaite.



Frank Burton Crosthwaite was born in Ruhterford County Tenn.  Where the war began, he was living in Iowa.  He left home, bussiness and all, and came back to his native State, and enlisted in Company E., of the Twentieth Tennessee Infantry.  At reorganization at Corinth, Miss., he was chosen First Lieutenant of the company.  He had Previously been chosen one of the color guards, which placehe filled with distinction.  At Vicksburg, Miss., He was promoted to Third Lieutenant of the company, and served in that capacity until killed at Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862.  He was one of nature's noblemen.  He was hardly old enough to be called a man, only about twenty, yet he was one of the best of friends, one of the most benerous of foes, and all in all a braver or more generous-hearted man or soldier could not be found.

He became impressed with the idea that he would be killed in this battle, and tried in every way to shake off the presentiment, but to no purpose.  His friends tried to prevail on him not to go into the fight.  Captain Ridley advised him not to go, offering to excuse him and hold above criticism.  But he preferred to give up his life to being even exposed to a shadow of criticism.  "No emphatically no, I will not accept an excuse, but will go into the fight, and die for what I know to be right."



Bromfield Crosthwaite.



Lieutenant Crosthwaite was not only very intellectual, but was one of the most amiable of young men.  To know him was to love him, and to know him butter was to love him more.  Language seems inadequate to pay full tribute to such a noble youth.  "Peace to his memory."  A younger brother, Bromfield, was a member of a Missouri regiment, and was killed at Corinth, in the fall of 1862.  He was regarded as one of the bravest and most gallant of "Pap Price's" army.

Shelton Crosthwaite was born in Rutherford County, Tenn.  When the great war broke out, he came from his adopted home in Iowa, and enlisted in Company E., of the Twentieth Tennessee Infantry as a private, and served as such until killed in the battle Fishing Creek, January 19, 1862.  It would but mildly put it to say he was decidedly the most indtellectual as well as the best informed man in the Company.



Shelton Crosthwaite.



He did not want promotion, and was satisfied with his position as a private.  No man could possibly have displayed more heroic courge then did he on the battlefield at Fishing Creek.  Early in the action he received a wound, but pressed right on saying, "Boys they have shot me, but I can still shoot," nor did he stop until he was pierced through by a ball, and fell dead on the field.  He was indeed a model youngman, and no man could say ought against him; he was punetual, gentle, and brave.  In his death Company E., lost one of the best men, and the South one of its most deserving patriots.

Note. Frank B. Crosthwaite was born in 1842.  Bromfield Crosthwaite was born in 1844.  Shelton Crosthwaite was born 1840.