The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-12-23
Hon. w. w. Boyce.

relief of the children and heirs OF Baron Dekab:
Mr. Chairman, (said Mr.. BoycE,) | beg
leave to make a few remarks upon this oeca-
sion. | represent the district Of kershaw,
upon the soil of which the battle took place in j,
which Dekalb lost his life. feel that would
be doing injustice to the generous sentiments
Of this portion of my constituents, If were TO
remain silent at this time. After the very full
report Of the committee, and. the expositions
made by gentlemen who have addressed the
House upon the subject it would be useless
ption of time for ME to go into an elab-
crate investigation of The case. cannot, how.
ever. refrain from alluding to sne objection
! which has been urged against the bill. 1t is
said that De kalb was not citizen of The
United States, and had not given notice Of his
intention to become citizen. But / do not
think this objection well taken. Before hehad
time to do So he fell in q desperate contest,
at the head of your army, fighting for your lib
/ crty. 1t was notice which he sealed with
his blood. and which he illustrated with his
glory. Cold must be the heart which docs not
receive this notice. s,.....
If this be meritorious claim in itself, sure.
| " it could not have stronger recommenda-
tons than spontaneously force themselves upon
us at the name Of De Kalb, and the memory
of his services. The events of the disastrous
battle in which he fell are familiar to us all.
The American Army were encamped near
| Rugely's Mills, some ten or fifteen miles north
of Camden, where the British army lay. under
the commaDd of Lord CORVALLIS. General
Gates, flushed with his victory over Burgoyne,
determined to surprise CORVALLIS, and he ac.
cordng y-made a night march towards Cam.
den for that purpose. BY very singular CO.
incidence, Cornwalls had the same purposes.
and made the same movement towards Gates.
| The result was, that the two armies met unex-
pectedly. some seven miles above Camden, be-
fore day break. y mutual pause took place.
until there was light enough to see by. At
daylight the British army advanced at the
charge step, with fixed bayonets. Unfortu.
nately, at this moment, the American militia,
who were in the front rank, were endeavoring
to change position, in pursuance of an order
from General Gates. The advance of the
British at this juncture disconnected these raw:
troops; they became dsordered; panic seiz-
cd npon them; they threw down their arms,
and fled inglnriousy from the field and Cen.
Gates fed after tllem as he said, to rally the
fugitives. De Kalb commanded the second
rank, the Contnentals What did he do2-.
Did he follow the example of lis commanding
general? No; he remained firm; he dsdained
hv; he remained to die He closed up the
ranks Of the Comnentals; he refused to sur,
render; he fought with desperation; he held
for some time the fate of the day in suspense,
and at last, overwhelmed by superior numbers,
l,l..., h. 4 fnrfu ho
lainrd our honor, and learned brave menshow
to die for their country. He fell in the midst
of the enemy, pierced with numerous wounds,
and fighting to the last. ffthe AmericansAr.
my had been actuated by his resolve instead
of day of terrible disaster, it would have been
Il resplendent victory.
hen GCnaral Lafayette was In Camden,
on his last visit to the United States, the, cti.
gems of that town, with peculiar propriety, re-
moved the remains of DE kalb from the battle.
field where they rested, and buried them with
signal respect, IN Il beautiful spot in the very
heart of Camden, and they erected over these
glorious remains a ch iste monument an eyi.
dence Of their gratitude and their patriotism.
| could not be insenSible to claim presented
by the descendants of De Kab without jarring
upon their sen>ibiliticS. Indeed 1t would seem
to me, if did, would hear voice from the
grave, crying shame shame, shame.
THE MAILs-A statement appears in the
Washington National MhWgcncer, that the
great Southern mail is hereafter TO be carried
on the Railroad from Goldsboro to Raleigh,
! (just finished,) and by Railroad and Stages
beyond that point to Charlotte.
1t has been suggested to MS that Mr. Camp.
| bell is determined, if possible, to condesccnd
to the lowest species Of espionage in order to
"cut" the officers Of the South. Carolina Rail-
road, and we believe he is fully competent to
the undertaking. He is but fourtl.rate
PHILADELPHIA Lawyer, and not qualified for the
important office to which Mr. Pierce assigned
him.
Finding that he had hunged his contract
with Mr.. Douglass, and that that gentleman
could, without any impropriety, transport the
mails by the several Railroads, (as we have
been informed.) at their prices, and make mo.
ney by the operation, he has attempted to
foreslaIl the contractor by serving him with an
injunction which we hope and believe Mr..
Douglass will not regard.
The whole affair proves conclusively that
Mr.. Post Master Campbell is wholly unfit for
the office to which he was appointed, and is,
therefore, unworthy position in the Cabinet
of President Pierce Carolina Times.
AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS FOR TIE RUSSIAN
SERvIcE.-Mr. Roosevelt, lawyer of New
York, who sailed in the Baltic last week, en-
route for St. Petersburgh, it is said is to be
raised to Generalship in the Russian army.
Several other Americans, it is reported, went