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


appointment to advance him in rank, ant
TO relieve him from The fatisues that he
had to undergo" To this generous offer o.
General, he replied. 81 thank you sir
bur it is my determination TO share all
the hards hips, perils and dangers Of my
own company, and if | fall. to Re found
under the, folds Of my own banner" Ii
is also said. that on The morning Of the
18th of September, before the s,orniing ol
Chapulepec, General Qailman had So
cured him an appointment in his staff,
aud that Blocker declined taking it. say
Ing thai "he preferred leading his men,"
He manifested. however, at an early age a
quick aud ready apprehension, and was
characterised by bolduess and indepen.
dence Of character very unusual 10 one OF
his age, but which was happily tempered
on all occasions by an affectonale and du-
riful regard for the authority Of his parents.
And here i, is bnl proper that should
state, lha, even in The camp, III the ene-
my's country, surrounded by men and oh
jecls that were calculated 10 Withdraw his
affections from home, and 10 bluut the
finer feelings and emotions Of the heart,
he often spoke Of his parents. His Bible,
the gift of his dear mother oh his leaving
hore, he always carried in his boforn,
when he was not readeg it. Aad when
he was shot dowu within the gate Of The
city of Mexico, he took his Bible from his
bosom, and handing it to the friend on
whom bo was leaning for support, said
"Give this 10 my dear father. and tell him
fell while leading our company, the Old
'96 Boys in the charge" Lieutenant Ab-
ney, in a letter to Maj. B. NJ. Blocker.
says, "Havins been 50 severely whunded
myself, at The battle a( Churubhsco, as to
lose The use Of my left arm, and for long
lime confined 10 my bed, aud Lieutenant
Moragne haxins been utterly prostra'ed
by disease from the exposure he had un.
dersone in the command ofthe company,
the command of the company devolved
upon your sou. From an ambition COM
mon to yonug mon, in,ened 10 go od, in
the last fight, but was ordered by the
commander of the Regiment 10 take
charge of the sick and wounded Of our
Regiment. i then placed your gallant
son id command ofthe "96 Boys, knew
Ths would lead them TO honor and glory.
tfe babe ine farewell, and told me ifshe'
should fall, represent his cnnage15;,f3. his
the s,orihias Of Chapul,epec, and at'ihe;
sGari,a in manner that #on the admira.5
rion of the commander. The company was
inspired by his noble aud gallan, example,
and never fought better. At the latter
place be fell jy cannon shot, which kill.
ed him and iohr Of his men. His last
words to q friend on whose shoulder he
was leaning, were "TeIl my father | fell
while leading my companS in the charge.
l mention these incidents TO show that
lhoagh he had been soldier for many
months; he had no, forgotten ,ha, he was
man, and that he was even while un-
der the greatest excitement. actuated by
feelings and emotions which elevate and
enoble the character of man.. The brave
are alwuys aIeclionate and kind, and
generous and noble hearted-and such was
Sergeant Blocker.
Tie requisi,iou by ihe War Department
in 1886. on South Carolina, for Resi'
meDt of Volunteers, 10 serve in Mexico, Tor
twelve months. and tho appeal TO the chlV-
! airy Of old Edgefeld, to furnish Com.
pany Of that Regiment, opened at once a
field lor The display of those qualities.
which characterize the patriotic. and the
brave. And when the banner was un-
furled in Edge6eld, for The purpose oi
raising Company Of Volunteers, many
Of The most respectable v0Gng men Of the
District. laying all other considerations
aside; enrolled themselves dt ouce as Vol
unteers, aud among the first Of those gal.
Ian, Young meG, was Wm. Blocker. And
when there was more difficulty 10 raising
a Company in Edge6eld, than was at firs
expected, who was more active in endeav
oring 10 fill out the company than William
Blocker? We all know that he AMI
Whitfield Brooks. rode several days ovel
the District, eudeavoriug 10 persuade the
young men Of The country TO volunteer
and in this way, they at length succeeded
in filling out the Company. But before
thew were mustered Into service, the re
quislion of The general Government wa
changed; and instead Of Volunteers tt
serve only twelve months, a Regiment Il
serve during The war, was required. WheF
this change oflhe terms was made known
: many, who had already volunteered To-
twelve months, Withdrew their names
from the company, and it was for som'
time doubtful whether old Edgehelt
: would nave The honor of being represente.
in Mexico; by company composed o
her own sons.
During all this period Blocker, and seve
raj others thdt might name, remained
, firm and steadfast, and did all in thei
power to encourage The desponding, ani
TO induce others who had not yet volun
,eered TO put their names down on III
,, roll. By The strenuous exertions Of fes
energetic young men. the company wa
: again filed up aud organized. Blocke
had displayed sucl, energy and tirnness
character during this period Of doubt an
/, uncertainty. as to the raising of Compa
ny in Edgeield, as 10 place him IN ne,
liz h, before tho community. Ills friend
i had already began to anticipate his brlil'al
!. career, should he have AL opportunity
abo,v b;,pseif in bni,le and nany were IN