The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-06-07

LIEUT.. J. WILLIS CANTEY.

The following is the llth number OF th'
series of "Reminiscences of the Palmetto Re
siment,'' ia the course Of publication in III.
Elge6eld Advertiser:
,I.icntenan, Willis Cantcy. 2d Lieut., Com
panv c.. Kershaw District. was the snn nj
the present Adintant General ofthe State
nobc son Of worthy sire. OF all thai
can render character eSlimabe and love s.
he was the happy possessor Gentle, mod
est, unpretendIng, yet brave, generous and
high minded, he inspired all around him will
feelings Oft the warmest friendship and adml
,raliob. he was fine specimen "llh Car
oiina Gentleman, and true representative
oi lie exalted character of his chi, a.ric IA.
mIv. Delicate in hts feelings, and NICE in
his sense of honor, he had always peculiar
regard for the sensitive feelings OF others
and carefully avoided giving offence to auy.
Ant though slow in off"nding, he was among
the first To show resentment when an insult
ar indgniiv was wantonly offered him. By
his example. he always iiIcuicatcd high
and genlemanIy bearing. lie could no,
brock low and unsecm Y conduct-strc!v ~
honorable himself. ard exalted in his sc;iI-
tueniS, he was quick in condcmnng VIA, 20
his nee sense of honor, seemed unbecom!ng
or offensive; and if any thing slrIkingly uI-
jasl or degrading came wllh:u !Ils ";ew, he
met il with sharp rcbuk", which gained
not lille force by peculiar twlrI oi the
lips he always gave when highly t;Srlcascd
or dissatisfied.
In his general intercourse with others, s,'
Caaiey was retiring, and inclined to tacllur
n:tv: hu; III the circle of his immediate and
chosen friends, lie was cheerful, commun-
ca,irc and jovia. in his alliances .! ticni-
ship. he was candid, sincere and constant.
Lt,!e hasr is forming these tics, he was
conaHv backward in dSSulrlng lhcm when
once contracted. when broken, the fault
seldom lav on his side lie may be said 10
have been charact, ri:,ica y benevolent
lie sought pcrpcluaI!v To do good. lie was
ALWAYS ready to bestow acts Of Kindness, and
could the men u,.der his command sbeak
from the dead, they would have much to re-
late of his heartfelt sympathy and his liberal
generosity.
"Ile had tear for pitys and hand
Open as tho day, for melting ch 'rIiy."
IF we view the character uf Lieut.. Cahtcy
in a strictly military point ot view, we VIII
not find less to admire. Though third in
command in his company. he was, from PC
cuiar circumstances, often placed trSt, and
he proved himself as capable of filing this
as he was offilling his own immediate post
lie was fully competent 10 command and to
lead his company under, all circunStan-
ccS. lie made, il is true, little sho'c of his
military knowledge. but he always proved
himself equal to The performances OF any
task that might he assigncd him. lie was
quiet and mild in his instructions to his cnni-
panv: bu, he instructed well, and his inAn-
eace was strongly felt. Asa d'sciplmaran.
he might appear somewhat rSil III c'mpar
ison with other officers nf his coupanv.-
HIS discipline, however, was only the sug
ycsfion cf rcsnlntc mind, impcled by high
notions of excellence and prompted by a
strong desire to excel But if leaning on
the side of rigor (Which we think was not
the faci.) his discipline was stripped OF eve
nv semhlancc of severity 10y the bland and
concilia,orv spirit with which it was admin
is,crcd. If ii melted to duty, it certainly
gave no Just cause Of offence: 1t was tcm-
pcrcd with so much kindness and good na-
lure. 1t had likewise, another peculiarly.
1t worked easily and quielIy-It created no
,Iis.urbancc-it worked no ill-wi!l-it put a
check, il IS true, upon the strong w!llcd and
the wrong. headed; bnt the restraint was al
ways enforced by mild, yet firm and manly
cntreatv. This wa; first exhausted and force
was applied to Only waen nothing short OF
force would answer the purpose. The force
of the law was always the dernicr resort.
in the spirit with which he bore the long
sickness that afflicted him, and his gaIIantry
on The field Of battle, Lieut.. Cantey gave
evidences Of for,tude and bravery. which
deserve to place him high in tho affections Of
his countrymcn. For months he was pros.
tra,e on bed of sickness, afflicted with the
disease Of the climate. Under their blight,
inv influence, he grew pale, feeble and cma
ciated; but the spirit within wrought
with manly fortitude, and showed clearly the
staninee Of which he was made. Prov
dencc smiled upon his spirited virtues, ant
once more the flush of health began tt
glow in his cheeks. When tho regiment
left Puebla for the city of Mexico, he girdac
on his sword again, and though much expo
sed and threatened with return Of his dis
Ia ,,bl, od ,r, xx,bof ba copsiln