Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-05-03
For tie Advertiser.

For the Adrert,scr.
sOn Wednesday, the 18th Of March last,
a large assemblage of persons had collect
ed at Maj. B. NJ. BIocker's in this District,
TO attend The funeral solemni,ies Of Sergt.
VIM. B. Blocker, whose remains had ar
rived from Mexico few days previous
About l2 O'Clock, M.. The procession was
fUrned, under the direction of Col. John
Hill, and proceeded to the grave, where
w. w. Adams, Esq, pronounced The fol-
lowing eIlogy upon the deceased
The war with Mexico has cast
fiournfhl gllom over tho face of our whole
country. And many heart will be des-
litute, and many tear will be shed, long
after the war will have ceased. ltis true
we look with pride to the achievements Of
army in the mids, ofthe enelny's country.
We can boast that our army has NOT
suffered single defeat. during the whole
war, thsandihs the many bloody
bloody battles that have beeh. Ought
South Carolina has reason 10 be proud Of
the conduct of her gallant Palmcuo Regi,
ment, and Edgefield Of The sold s96s
Boys" But our pride Is n6t uiiniSeI with
grief. The father hears The praises Of his
brsve aud gallant son. who fell on the /
battlefield, nsbly dischargibg his duty ,as:
soldier, with mixed emotions If pride
has cost hiia zhelaas ~ !
ed boy, aud he is borne down grith grel
in spite of himself, al the cohSri iodsness of
his bereavement, The fond mother hears
the deidil of her cons gallant ldeeds 10 the
face OF danger. on the battle field, and mat
he fell while executing a dangerous charge
and her bride IS kindled for. a moment,
but she cannot forget that he is her son.--
She remembers the hopes lorthed while
he vet nestled in her bosom. aud she i
moSrns that she can nevcrilo6k ,ep6n, his
cherished, have vanished in assirgle Bright
face again, and that all her hopes sb fondly
moment. Memory will. 10 spite Of US.
call up the name. Of the many gallant,
men whom we saw leave their homes o
little more than year ago, to fight for
the honor of their country, 10 foreign
land. We saw them go forth Blooming
with health aud vigor, and pfomise Of fu-
,ure usefulness; with their hearts buoyed
'up with the hope OF winning for them
selves name 10 be engraved upon, the
.escutcheon of their country's glory. They
have been gone little more than a!year,
and when we now call over the list Of
those whose names were most famillla! 10
us. how few of Them able 10 answer to
answer to their names Where is the no
hIe and gallant Col. Butler, who led the
Palmetto Regiment from their peaceful
homes 10 the scene of war? he fell Oh
the plains of Churubus.co at the head OF
his Regiment and expired in the embrace
jofe glory, and his remains are now entom6-
ed in The Capital of his native Stale
Where are the brave aud gallant young
soldiers, Lieutenant David Adams aud
Whitfield Butler Brooks? They fell 10.
;Eether at Churubusco, nobly discharslng
their duty, and they too repose in their
native soil. Aud where is Sergeant Will
liam Butler Blocker! II IS answered. he
fell on the 18Th of September last. within
The gate, of the city Of Mevico, gallantly
leading the "Old 80 Boys" in terrible
charge upou the enemy He too has been
brought home and his remains lie before
uS.
We have assembled to-day, Fellow Cit.
izeus, TO paythe last melancholy tribute OF
respect snd qonor 10 The remains of the
brave aud gallant young soldier and hero
William Butler Blocker. He fell at his
pos, notify dischargins his duty as sol
,dier. His deeds were deeds were deed:
of valor, and cannot fail to secure him ar
honorable place 10 the brightest pages o
Cardinals history. We have all known
him from his cradle upward, aad therefore
lis unnecessary for me on this occasio"
TO dwell with any minuleness upon thf
events Of his early youth. He was bori
on the 4th of March, 1921, and was edu
Gated principally in this community. II
the quiet and peaceful avocalons OF h'
fathers family there was little room 70
the exercise Of those Qualities ofmind ant
those traits of character, BY which he af
terwards became distinguished. We lul'
thought when we knew him an active
sprishrly boy. that he was destined soor
to become hero, by his brave and gal
Iau, conduct displayed on the battle field
and to be the object Of admiration an'
praise from generals in command OF vic
iorious army. General Qui,man, unde
whose eye he Tough. at Chapultopec, an
at she Garita, says Of bin, II mol onI