Jno J Dupuy
Covington, Tenn.
May 16th, 1882
Mr. Editor: –Some kind friend in your issue of the 11th ultimo has in unmerited terms of compliment urged my name to be submitted to the people for congressman from the 10th District. This is an honor which any patriotic citizen would most highly appreciate. And to receive the support of a district, in every county of which I have many warm friends, who have sustained and encouraged my aspirations in the past, would add new beauty to the laurels it brings, and new strength to my determination to devote my life to the service of my country. It is true, as the communication says — Old Hardeman has some claims upon this District in naming the candidate provided it is for the good of the District. And if my friends, who have, or who may wish to confer this honor upon me, or it any considerable number of or citizens indicate a desire to this effect, I shall not pretend to any assumed modesty by disclaiming a wish to receive it. And I can say to them that if they go into the convention determined to secure the nomination for Hardeman, they will not find in he other counties a fraction opposition as I have assurances most favorable and encouraging of a similar good will toward me. Yet it is my wish and determination not to become an obstacle in the way of Democratic unity and success for the sake of personal preferment. I hold it to be the patriotic duty of every democrat to lend his aid and voice to the full restoration of the people’s party to power, the party that has withstood the usurpations of the opposition party of corrupt rings, and of centralization in its past history and whose traditions and principles have ever been in accord with the instincts of the farmers of this government, and its constitution from the beginning.
In a close district like the 10th, let democrats stand shoulder to shoulder, selecting our standard bearer and when selected, “with a long pull, a strong pull and a pull all together.” we will carry that banner to victory. So mote it be.
I am very Respectfully,
Jno. J. Dupuy.
[ Jno J Dupuy | Bolivar Bulletin, Bolivar, Tenn., Thursday, May 25, 1882]
Jno J DuPuy – Born:1842 Died: Nov.29,1898 Memphis, Tenn. Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tenn.–Service Unit: Shelby Grays, Private/4th Tenn. Inf. Co. A/Ark. Inf. Rapley’s Battalion/Adjutant, Lt.-Confederate Veteran:v.7,p.172-Text:John J. Dupuy died in Memphis, Tenn., Nov.29,1898. Touching the war record of this noble man, Capt. J. Harvey Mathes, in his book, “The Old Guard in Gray,” furnishes the following data: John J. Dupuy enlisted as a private in the Shelby Grays of Memphis, from which, it is said, there were more officers commissioned that there were names on the original roll. This became Co.A-4th Tenn. Infantry, whose first battle was Belmont. He was in that and in most of the battles of the Army of Tennessee, and received wounds enough to have killed a dozen men ordinarily. At Shiloh, a Minie ball struck him in the right arm while on the skirmish line after his regiment had captured a seven gun battery. He was in the battle of Perryville, and at Camp Dick Robinson was detailed as aid-de-camp on the staff of Col. Strahl, commanding the brigade, and served in that capacity until after the battle of Murfreesboro. At Shelbyville he was commissioned adjutant of Rapley’s battalion of sharpshooters from Arkansas, composed of four hundred men. He reached the command at Bayou Pere on the retreat of Grant, and was in the battles of Baker’s Creek, and at Big Black Bridge, and then was locked up in the siege of Vicksburg. During that siege he received a flesh would from a shell. At the surrender of Vicksburg he was the senior lieutenant of the only two officers of the battalion left, and turned over a roll of forty men. When Lieut. Dupuy’s parole expired he returned to his old command, became aide-de-camp to Gen. Strahl, and was with him in close touch to the end of his military life, which occurred in that awful carnage at Franklin, Nov.30,1864. Lieut. Dupuy was wounded three times by a volley from sharpshooters, and lingered between life and death for months. He went to Virginia on crutches. He heard the last guns fired by Lee’s army, and was paroled at Lynchburg. After the war he lived in Bolivar, Tenn., and served two terms (sixteen years) as attorney general of his district. He went to Memphis in 1886, and practiced law there. He was illustrious Hugeuenot ancestry; was a typical high toned Confederate soldier, and has expressed a desire to be buried as his two soldier brothers were, in plain, simple, unostentatious style.”