M.S. IRESON
M.S. Ireson, who died at his home, in Tazewell County, Va., on the 18th of June, 1915, was born in Washington County, Va., near Abingdon, July 9, 1840. He volunteered in the Washington Mounted Rifles, a company of cavalry raised and organized by Capt. William E. Jones in April, 1861, which was afterwards known as Company L until the reorganization in April, 1862, when it was changed to Company D., 1st Regiment of Virginia Cavalry, whose first colonel was the renowned cavalry leader of the Army of Northern Virginia, J.E.B. Stuart. This regiment bore a conspicuous part in all the battles and skirmishes from First Manassas to Appomattox. Sometime in the latter part of 1861 Captain Jones was promoted to colonel of the 1st Regiment. Comrade Ireson was appointed bugler of the regiment, and then in 1862 he was appointed corporal, from which he rose to second sergeant. Later he was orderly sergeant until the end of the war. He was in command of the remnant of the old company at Appomattox as the senior officer present.
"Mike" as his comrades always called him, was a noble, whole-souled, generous, kind-hearted, courteous gentleman, and as brave and loyal to duty as any of the heroic band of troopers who followed the plume of "Jeb" Stuart. He was one among the few who passed through the four years of carnage without a wound, not even his clothing was pierced by a bullet.
In 1894 Comrade Ireson was happily married to Miss Eliza G. Whitten, of Tazewell County, Va., and she survives him with a son and daughter. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and a zealous worker ; he was superintendent of the Sunday school for several years, until his health failed. He was also a Master Mason of some note and served his order long and well.
[From resolutions prepared by committee composed of J.W. McBroom, L.T. Cosby, Thomas W. Colley.]
